Mount Cardigan:
Mount Cardigan has been a popular mountain destination since the early 1800s. In 1855, a devastating forest fire burned over the summit and removed all the vegetation, including the thin soil. Well over a century-and-a-half later, the summit remains bare of all but a few lichens. A wooden fire lookout, built in 1904, was replaced by a steel tower in 1924. The State of New Hampshire acquired 700 acres in Orange in 1918 and formed the Mount Cardigan State Reservation. Today the reservation contains more than 5,000 acres in Orange and Alexandria. A big boost came to the park in 1933 when the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built trails and a new entrance road, and extended a telephone line to the fire tower. The reservation has been, and continues to be, the beneficiary of a remarkable civilian effort.
Getting There:
You get to the Mount Cardigan parking lot by taking Route 4 into Canaan NH, turning onto Route 118 North, and following signs for Cardigan Mt. State Park.
(For a little more detail beyond simply "following signs": From the intersection of Route 4 and Route 118, proceed 0.6 miles north on Route 118, and then, at a Cardigan Mountain State Park sign, turn right onto the road to Orange. Pass the town hall and later the school house on the left, cross the bridge over Orange Brook, and stay right at the fork 2.7 miles from Route 118. At 3.4 miles from Route 118, enter Cardigan Mountain State Park and turn left at the top of the hill onto the dirt road that leads uphill 0.7 miles to the picnic area and trailhead.)
Cache History:
This cache was placed by Will, Mark & Lorena on August 5, 2001. The cache was originally hidden quite near to the trail, but was moved further from the trail on October 28, 2022, to reduce the likelihood of accidental finds. The original cache was a one gallon rubbermaid container, containing a welcome letter, a log book, an audio book on tape sampler, a small container of SPF8 sunscreen, a small stuffed Big Bird, a small stuffed Linux Penguin, and "the inappropriate cow." (If you had seen it, you'd know why it was called that!)
The original hiders, Will, Mark & Lorena, continued to regularly maintain the cache for quite a few years. The solid-rock-seekers maintained the cache during their first visit to Mount Cardigan, replacing the log book on July 23, 2005. They officially took responsibility for ongoing cache maintenance in September 2007.
Cache Status and Tips:
On October 28, 2022, "No Sweater Needed" was moved to a slightly different location further from the trail, due to the cache again going missing. Previously, on June 19, 2021, the container had been upgraded to an ammo can, to be more fitting for such an old cache. The prior container had been a camouflaged lock & lock container since October 6, 2007.
From the picnic area, follow the West Ridge Trail as it ascends a small staircase from the upper end of the parking lot. Stay on the West Ridge Trail and you'll come to the vicinity of the cache not too long after crossing "Cliff's Bridge."
If the weather is cooperative, we'd strongly suggest making the rest of the climb up to the fire tower; it's not that much farther, and is a beautiful view! The summit rises 200 feet above timberline. The final quarter mile of trail to the summit (beyond the cache) is over exposed bare rock. Weather conditions above the timberline often change drastically and without warning. Do not attempt this climb unless you are properly equipped to face the possibility of severe weather changes and conditions.
Additional information, including a map of the hiking trails, is available at the NH State Parks Web Page. The Dartmouth Outing Club also has an excellent Mount Cardigan Hike Decription on their web page.
Please note that Mount Cardigan State Park is a carry-in / carry-out park. Please take your trash, including biodegradables, out with you and dispose of them properly. There is no drinking water available at the park. Camping is not permitted on the mountain.