Erica was here all week from Ohio helping her brother Brian prepare for his wedding August 18.  On Tuesday August 14 Erica, Bruce, Dickens and Fenster climbed Mt. Cardigan.  It was the 3rd ascent for Erica and Bruce but the first ascent for us doggies.
     We started at 10:25 AM on the West Ridge trail.  Along the way we met some families with children and the kids enjoyed meeting two friendly doggies.   Dickens and Fenster appreciated the two streams we crossed with cool water to keep them fresh. 
     At 11:40 AM we hit the top and had lunch.  There were incredible views of Killington, Pico, Camel's Hump, Moosilauke, Lafayette, Lincoln, Mt Monadnock, Ragged Mtn, Mt Sunapee, and Newfound Lake.  It was quite breezy up at the top but calm elsewhere.    There were about 20 other hikers (and two other dogs) up at the summit.
     When we were approaching the summit we met a man from Sylvania, Ohio who noticed that Erica was wearing a Toledo Mudhens cap. 
     On the way down we took the South Ridge trail which goes over South Peak and Rimrock.  This was a lot of fun.  The way off the mountain heads steeply down a long slope of bare slant rock.  It was adventuresome and exciting to negotiate this slope.  Once down to the lower ridge, there were many beautiful lookouts to enjoy.  Near Rimrock we saw some lichen with miniscule red flowers or fruits on them.
     The trail into the woods was also enjoyable.  Dickens and Bruce climbed up onto a high, steep boulder and Erica took their picture (which is now posted in the My Family photos).  In the woods we saw some flowering whorled wood asters, a sure sign of late summer.  We were back at the parking lot by 2:30 PM, plenty of time for Erica to get back and help with more pre-wedding activities.

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