October 28, 2023

Start/End: Signal Ridge Trailhead, Sawyer River Road

Peaks: Carrigain (4,700')

Elevation Gain: 3,440 ft

RT Mileage: 9.69 mi

Duration: 6 hours, 23 minutes

Rock Difficulty: Class 1

I had thought I was done for the season after Tecumseh, but when an exceptionally warm stretch presented itself right at the end of October and melted all the snowpack, I wasn't going to turn it down. I decided to continue with the theme of single 4,000ers and went with Carrigain.

Leaving home at 5:40 AM, I arrived at the trailhead at 8:20 and was on the trail ten minutes later. With the deciduous vegetation bare of both leaves and snow, the first part of the trail had a nice, open feel which you don't get often in the Whites. Carrigain, Lowell, and some of the other neighboring peaks were also visible through the trees. After 1.8 miles, I went off-trail to shortcut an unnecessarily-long section. The bushwhack had a few stream crossings, all pretty simple.

After meeting back up with the trail, the approach to the base of Carrigain was done and the trail began gaining elevation. The next 2.1 miles were an unrelenting ascent to gain the Signal Ridge, though never too steep or rocky especially by Whites standards. The whole trail until the Signal Ridge was reminiscent of Bondcliff. I gained the ridge at 11:30, where I was greeted by unique views of Carrigain and Carrigain Notch.

I spent about ten minutes on the ridge before continuing on towards the summit. The last section of trail was, expectedly, the steepest. If the Signal Ridge was the equivalent of Bondcliff, then Carrigain was the equivalent of Bond. I summited just after noon, immediately before a large group for whom this was #48.

The views from the summit fire tower were decent despite rain showers in the area. I spent around a half hour on the summit before beginning to make my way back down. The descent of the Signal Ridge Trail was fairly tame compared to most descents in the Whites but still a little rough on the knees. The trail leveled off at 2,100 ft and the remaining 2.5 miles to the trailhead were smooth sailing. I made it back to the parking lot at 3:15 PM, and 4,000er #23 was in the books.