Cardigan Highlanders Volunteer Trail Crew

The most current project on the top.

Sat 7/12: West Ridge Trail, Mt Cardigan

Sat July 12  we are on the West Ridge Trail, uphill from Cardigan State Park. We meet at Cardigan SP parking lot at 0900, sign waiver, take tools, and hike uphill.Work plan depends on who turns out, their abilities, and their interests. The usual details apply: safety first, BYO gear for forecast, plus food & water. BYO gloves, or we issue a pair. Tools supplied. We quit about 1500, then a round of drinks at the store.

This day is level 1 rake/re-dig drains, then barricade herd paths. It is also level 2, R&R some log steps. build new ones etc. We hope to work from the top down, but if there be enough of us we'll split into teams, each working to its greatest advantage. Having experienced people as team leaders makes that much safer and easier.

If you wish to join us, contact me at cardiganhighlanders@gmail.com. LINKS: Cardigan SP on Google Maps     Cardigan Hiking Map PDF

Yours,
Craig Sanborn,  CHVTC
Trailmaster

Sat 6/21/25: Winslow Trail 0830, Build Fixtures with Stone & Wood

We meet on Mount Kearsarge at Winslow SP upper parking lot 0830, sign waiver and take tools uphill past 0.3 miles for work this day. We'll mostly just build and fix stuff as we see a need for it. We prefer to use rock, but lacking good enough rock handy, and having solid blowdowns nearby, we'll salvage them.

Usual gear list for forecast, wear long pants, tools supplied or BYO, gloves issued or BYO, bugnets lent. . We work safe, and smarter not harder.  Cold drinks after work, which ends about 1500.

If you wish to join us, contact me at cardiganhighlanders@gmail.com.

LINKS: Winslow SP on Google Maps          Mt. Kearsarge Trail Map PDF

All the Best, Craig Sanborn,  CHVTC Trailmaster

Sat June 14: New season on Mt. Kearsarge

We are on Winslow Trail on Mt. Kearsarge.Meet Winslow State Park 0900. Hike up to boreal (mossy fir) forest altitude uphill of 1/2 way. Harvest more dead trees to barricade herd paths on  the mossy ground. Clean the few drains up there. Chainsaw sawyer wanted to harvest trees from beyond sight of trail.

Meantime, below 1/2 way, if enough of us, continue cleaning drains and building fixtures downhill of where we left off last Fall.

Usual gear list for forecast, wear long pants, tools supplied, gloves issued or BYO, bugnets lent for the day. We work safe, and smarter not harder. Cold drinks after work, which ends about 1500.

If you wish to join in, contact me at cardiganhighlanders@gmail.com.

Many thanks,  Craig               LINKS: Winslow SP on Google Maps          Mt. Kearsarge Trail Map PDF

Plans for the Next Couple of Weeks

Hello Trail Crew,

This is being posted on 5/30/25 and the gate to Mt. Cardigan State Park is open! Forecast 1"+ rain Sat 5/31, so for the starting 6/2, we go there ~0800 weekdays on for a few hrs a day, go home when State Bird (black fly) becomes too aggressive. Long pants, long sleeves, boonie hats, bug nets lent for the day.  Patrol: cut blowdowns, clean waterbars, note jobs for later this season. Specific days will depend on crew interest and availability. So if you want to get involve, email cardiganhighlanders@gmail.com and let us know when you can go. PDF of Cardigan Trail Map

The next likely workday may be June 14 on Mount Kearsarge; up Rollins or Winslow with a chainsaw. More details to come.

Summit chair Mt. Sunapee begins for summer 6/14, so some weekday we'll ride up and work downhill.

Many thanks, Craig

Sunday 5/25/25: Mount Sunapee, Andrew Brook Trail

I plan to start uphill from Mtn Rd 1000, rake drains uphill to 3rd Xing of brook, view work done just uphill last year, descend to 2nd Xing by 1330.

If you wish to lend a hand, contact me at cardiganhighlanders@gmail.com

Many thanks,  Craig

UPDATE: As of 5/13/23, the road to Cardigan SP is still closed and when it will open is not yet known. Soooooo, to quote Emily Litella in regards to the notice below... never mind.

Here comes the sun...seasonal optimism for trailwork…

So far this season, we've patrolled Cole Pond Tr, and Rollins Tr.  14 hr.
Thanks to DNCR and our volunteers, FOUR of us are now certified sawyers!

So, here's 5" rain these first 10 days of May.   All trails we adopt on Mt. Sunapee, we must ford a brook to reach them.  Not this week; besides we raked all the drains on them last November.

Therefore, the following plan is forming...

On Cardigan, we face no such barrier. Going by past years, NH DOT will unlock the gate on the access road this week. We can then drive up to the summer parking and start from there. Likeliest days are Tue-Wed-Thu, 5/13-15.  One of them, depending on gate open and crew interest.

If you think you might be interested, contact Craig at cardiganhighlanders@gmail.com To vote for yor day of preference. This notice will be replaced with a more detailed notice when plans firm up.

Sun. 4/27/2025: Season Opener! Spring Patrol Rollins & Winslow Trails

Hello Trail Crew,

With a light snow year (52") and a warm Spring, we can begin the 2025 season on Mt Kearsarge on Sun 4/27. Sat 4/26 is 0.52" rain. We'll patrol for blowdowns, rake drains, perhaps barricade herd paths. Easier with more people, so please email cardiganhighlanders@gmail.com and come join the fun. Trails are Rollins, and upper part of Winslow.

Meeting time 0900 at McDonald’s in Warner NH. We'll convoy up to Rollins State Park. Hand tools lent for the day. Gloves issued, when worn out you can turn them in for a new pair. Clothes and gear for the forecast weather, I suggest long pants and wellies. BYO food and 2 qts of water. Usual quitting time 1500-1600 (3 PM - 4 PM).

You are welcome, with experience or with none. Exact logistics depend on crew interest. Please email cardiganhighlanders@gmail.com with your choice of dates and other questions.

LINKS:      Meeting Sot on Google Maps                 Kearsarge Trail Map PDF

Yours,

Craig Sanborn,  CHVTC Trailmaster