The first time I climbed Mount Cardigan was in the summer of 1992. It had rained the day before, and the rocks were slippery.
I cut my hand on a rock shaped like a butt that was just below tree line. It was actually a large boulder on the trail, with a crack in the middle.
Climbing up this butt-shaped boulder was tough, but once it had been crested, we were near tree line.
The top section of Cardigan is on rock, and very fun to climb.
The first time we climbed, we got stuck on a large rock on the way to the top. At this point there was no more trail to follow.
It was wet, and footing was hard to get, so I was stuck there for a few minutes, contemplating how to reach the next boulder, and get back on track to reaching the summit.
I had never been in that situtation before: Stuck on a steep rock; and I really didn't know what to do. I was 13 years old at the time, and had only done a minimum of climbing in my life.
Of course, I made it up the rock eventually. In the meanwhile, an overweight kid got stuck on the rock and starting screaming like a 3 year old. "HELP ME, HELP ME!!!"
We pulled him up the rock as he panicked and whined, and it made my concern look small.
We all eventually reached the summit, and I returned 1 or 2 years later. I really can't remember when it was we returned, just that I looked forward to it. Now this was an experience I barely remember, but pieces remain in my head and I wish I could go back, because Cardigan was a fun climb and holds distant memories that I want to keep.
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Dartmouth-Sunapee Region
