| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Carter Dome, South Carter, Middle Carter, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Carter Dome Trail, Carter Moriah Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, March 1, 2013 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
1-2" of new snow in the plowed lot. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Some small drainages had running water, but they were easy to cross. Otherwise the snowbridges were fine for snowshoers. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
We took out a couple of blowdowns across the trail up on the ridge between South and Middle Carter. There's places where the path goes around small trees that are bent over in the trail. We knocked a lot of snow off branches drooping into the trail but any new snow will be ready to dump down one's neck. There are a few places where the trail fights its way through spruce-fir branches, and one needs to pay attention to avoid eye pokers or face slappers. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Pepper and Cinnilla were magnificent today. We kept them behind us when breaking trail, but they still had to plow through some unconsolidated snow in temps that encouraged snowballing on the legs. Pepper, with his short legs, grew some real big ones. Their paws did okay, Cinnilla's having been treated with Musher's wax and Pepper's with Vaseline. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
We saw two poles stuck in the snow on 19 Mile by the intersection with Carter Dome on the hike in. I don't recall if they were still there on our hike down. |
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 | Comments: |
Snowshoes essential. We broke trail the whole way up, but sharing the load between four strong hikers worked well; we were just slower than usual. The hikes back down on the partially packed paths were so nice, for snowshoers and dogs alike. No views and almost no wind except light breezes in the exposed areas, but the woods were pretty with their snowcovered branches. We saw only one other hiker above 19 Mile and that was late in the hike. 19 Mile on our hike out was barebootable if one doesn't mind the lost traction; but up Carter Dome and above snowshoes remain essential.
Per and Cinnilla, Georg and Steve (Little Brown Mushroom) all did yeoman's work on this hike, which turned into a great snowshoe despite the lack of views and trail breaking. Such fine companions too. Steve gave a couple of hikers who came across Wildcat Ridge a ride back to their car; they had come up the ski trails and found it hard work breaking trail. We waited until late last night to join this hike, and it was great. Thanks all. |
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 | Name: |
Pepper and Me |
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 | E-Mail: |
windriversjohn at gmail dot com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-03-01 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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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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