Trip Report/Photos from Gandalf
It was another bluebird, crisp, clear day. I took the Manning Trail up, which loops over to Firescrew Mtn then traverses over to Mt Cardigan via the Mowglis Trail. Up and back was 6 miles and used MicroSpikes the entire day following a snowshoe track. Manning trail starts off onto an old woods road, ascended easily and then turned off from this road when the trail became to climb more moderately. Conditions going up Firescrew were good with the steep scrambling up the Firescrew ridge mitigated with all the snow!
I also wanted to see Mt Cardigan from a nearby peak, as you can see from my pictures it is gorgeous from Firescrew! This was the start of a little under two miles of open ledge walking with expansive views. The rocky peak atop Firescrew was crusty snow.
The windmills were turning and quaintly lined parts of the landscape. Newfound Lake was covered with ice. Atop Firescrew Mountain, the view was breathtaking. Beside it you see Mt Cardigan glistening from its icy surface. It looked like a piece of sparkling jewel.
Mt Cardigan was the total opposite of Firescrew Mtn at the peak. It was windy and cold! I decided to skip lunch here and wait until I returned to the other side of Firescrew where it was less windy and sunny.
I returned the way I came up for a very fast descent.
Glorious day.
