This is Ryan at one of the roadside waterfalls on Sawyer River Road. We had to walk an extra two miles each way because the road was still gated for winter.
We got to the actual trail at 11:30 on a warm spring day, 75 degrees and sunny!
It didn't take long before we had to cross a series of swollen rivers and brooks. After careful consideration and some bushwacking, we decided this was the only dry way across the largest one, on a fallen tree
The first three miles of trail were easy going other than brook crossings. We saw moose, bear, bobcat and fox tracks. The last two miles were a long draining slog in heavy wet steep snow with hundreds of fallen trees, most likely from the storm we just had
We finally reached Signal Ridge, a narrow open ridge half a mile from the summit. Until then the hike was pretty grueling
Once you get here you forget about all that. The views are amazing from this ridge and get better as you go along
Ryan on the ridge, only half a mile from the summit tower you can see on top
The view across Carrigan Notch to Mt. Lowell and the Presidentials in the background is spectacular
The trail dips back into the woods, where we lost it in the deep snow and downed trees. We had to bushwack the last half mile to the summit
A close up of the tower
Ryan bushwacking the last few hundred feet
The summit is the boundary of the Pemmigiwassett wilderness area, the largest in the state. It is also regarded as one of the top two viepoints in the White's, which is why they built a tower to see over the tree's on this particular mountain
The Pemi wilderness, Franconia and Bond ranges
Ryan and the ridge in the background
Signal Ridge with Mt. Tremont and Sawyer Pond beyond
Close up of the ridge
A clear day and a great view of the Presidentials...
...the Tripyramids near Waterville Valley...
...and the Osceolas
We walked up the tower in our snowshoes. It was about 40 degrees up there with some wind
Ryan decided it was easier to throw his off rather than walk down the steps in them
The Franconias, Owl's Head and the Bonds in the afternoon sun
Headding back down the ridge
The sunset was beautiful but not usually something you want to see seven miles from the car
One last picture from Signal Ridge as the sun sets
Comming down the downed trees sliced our arms up pretty good and slowed us up considerably. It looks like we wrestled with a wildcat or something. Around 8:00, and still 4 hours from the car, we put our headlamps on to finish off our toughest hike yet. It was my 44th 4000 footer and Ryans 39th
