JudyMount CardiganMount Cardigan LodgeSummerWickethiking

Mount CardiganSummerhiking

Indian Pipe Monotropa unifloraMount CardiganSummerhikingwildflowers

Mount CardiganSummerhiking

Poor photo, but this was one of many thrushes that were singing their beautiful melodious songs to keep us company in the thick mist. Not really sure what type of Thrush-wish I had thought to record their song to compare...

Mount CardiganSummerbirdshikingfog

Still see him? This was my view trying to find him- probably never would have noticed if he hadn't been singing...

Mount CardiganSummerbirdshikingfog

Soon the trail becomes ledges. They were wet and slippery, and a bit treacherous as you shall see, as we ascended through the rain & fog sopped evergreens...

Mount CardiganSummerhikingfog

Wicket smiling because she thinks she's found the summit... Sorry girl, not quite there yet...

Mount CardiganSummerWickethikingfog

Mount CardiganSummerhikingfog

Mount CardiganSummerhikingfog

Mount CardiganSummerhiking

A frog? A hand holding a tree with it's thumb & forefinger?

Mount CardiganSummerhikingfog

There were rills like this all along the trail where usually at this time of year it would be dry...

Mount CardiganSummerhikingwaterfallsfog

Mount CardiganSummerhikingwaterfallsfog

... and mushrooms everywhere!

Mount CardiganSummerhikingmushroomfog

Mount CardiganSummerhikingmushroomfog

Can you see the trail blaze above the rill? Many times we had to find a way around the actual trail because it had become a stream...

JudyMount CardiganSummerWickethikingfog

Finally some level walking and good footing for a few yards...

JudyMount CardiganSummerWickethikingfog

JudyMount CardiganSummerWickethikingfog

Ripening Bunchberries...

Bunchberry Cornus canadensisMount CardiganSummerhikingwildflowersfog

More steep and slick ledge...

Mount CardiganSummerhikingfog

Wild Sarsaparilla...

Mount CardiganSummerWild Sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulishikingwildflowersfog

Is this it? I don't know, Wicket, we must be close to the summit of Firescrew, but we're going along a little further to Mount Cardigan...

JudyMount CardiganSummerWickethikingfog

Something somewhere between a glacial tarn and a vernal pool- large PUDDLE between Firescrew & Cardigan...

Mount CardiganSummerhikingfog

Getting steeper & slicker, luckily it was better traction than it looks because of the makeup of the rock- to me it seemed very similar to the quartzite/mica-schist of the Northern Presidentials, extremely rough & abrasive... as you will see...

JudyMount CardiganSummerWickethikingfog

JudyMount CardiganSummerWickethikingfog

Mountain Cranberry was very close to being ripe. It is edible, and of course, very tart like other cranberries... someday I want to bake a pie of them with wild low bush blueberries...

Mount CardiganMountain Cranberry Vaccinium vitisidaeaSummerhikingwildflowersfog

Mount CardiganMountain Cranberry Vaccinium vitisidaeaSummerhikingwildflowersfog

There is an excellent, legible new trail-sign now at this junction, but I was drawn to these old ones...

Mount CardiganSummerhikingfog

While researching past visits to this hill we were shocked to find we hadn't been in 11 years! This is the same trail sign from a trip in good weather 11 years prior...

Mount CardiganSummerhikingfog

Back to the present...

Mount CardiganSummerhikingfog

A few weeks ago I actually bought a trail first aid kit. We had always carried a few emergency items, but sadly inadequate. Fortunately I had it and I was able to clean this up a bit. "It's not a hike until someone bleeds..." has long been a motto, not sure why it always has to be me! Honestly though, if it has to be someone, then I would prefer it be me than Judy or Wicket- Mount Cardigan: Paid for with an ounce of flesh!

KevinMount CardiganSummerWickethikingfog

Great views as we approach the summit...

JudyMount CardiganSummerhikingfog

Huh! I guess we're almost there! About 50'...

FiretowerMount CardiganSummerhikingfog

The breeze & damp were just enough that we barely stopped at the fire-tower. We stopped for 2nd lunch once we got down off the ledges...

FiretowerJudyMount CardiganSummerWicketdaily photohikingfog

Finding our way down in the fog...

Mount CardiganSummerhikingfog

Mount CardiganSummerhikingfog

Mount CardiganSummerhikingfog

Days like this make me pay closer attention to the minute details of the forest...

Mount CardiganSummerhikingspider webfog

I think the fog was getting even thicker if it were possible...

Mount CardiganSummerhikingfog

Mount CardiganSummerhikingfog

These falls along Bailey Brook were running beautifully!

Mount CardiganSummerhikingwaterfallsfog

Mount CardiganSummerhikingwaterfallsfog