NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks South Carter, Middle Carter (attempt), Carter Dome, NH
Trails
Trails: Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Carter Dome Trail, Carter-Moriah Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Thursday, March 22, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parking area is melting nicely.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Spring Snow 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Snow bridges are still very much in place. Ice on the waterfalls is quite beautiful. Won't last long!  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Blow downs are few on 19 mile brook trail, but seemingly everywhere on the ridge to South Carter.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Encountered one skittish rescued pup, who after a short bit, learned that not all scary humans are bad people. Much happiness ensued.  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Any report from outside this website that suggests Carter-Moriah is clear to Middle Carter is misinformed. Mere yards beyond South Carter summit proper lie impenetrable blow-downs and snow drifts. Another route to the Middle Carter summit (if available) is advised. You ain't gettin' there from South.

I tried spikes initially, but the snow is getting spongy. Snowshoes make for surefooted and swift travel.

Apart from that, with current conditions, getting to South Carter summit and looping over to Carter Dome, the hut, and back to one's car, is quite doable within one not-unreasonably long day. The exposed part of the ridge is suffering from drifting snow, but so far, the trail is still quite apparent -- beat up, but apparent. Note that snow on the steep sections of Carter-Moriah descending to the hut is entirely unconsolidated, and you'll do a lot of sliding. The hut's caretaker told me he went up recently, but I don't see that as a viable option for most people.

Photos on my blog.  
Name
Name: Protean Wanderer 
E-Mail
E-Mail: c1@magicdragonfly.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-03-22 
Link
Link: https://www.proteanwanderer.com/2018/03/23/trip-report-carter-mountains/ 
Bookmark and Share Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense.

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