| 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, North Carter Trail, Imp Trail, Camp Dodge Cutoff |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, March 8, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Nineteen Mile Brook parking was icy and crowded by 8 AM. Not yet full at that time, but only a few more slots left (and that's after folks (presumably together) had box themselves in to save space). |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Currently snow bridged. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Blowdowns on all listed trails. I cut out half a dozen or so on either end of South Carter, but many remain. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Nineteen Mile Brook Trail to the first junction was a sidewalk this morning. Snowshoes were fine, but others in our group were fine with spikes. A few feet of snowpack.
Carter Dome Trail was similar until nearing Zeta Pass, at once point the drifting had made things less solid. Everyone in our group had snowshoes on at this point. Snowpack on the ridge is 4-5 feet deep (blazes only a few inches above the snow in quite a few places).
Carter Dome/Carter Moriah up to Carter Dome was not well consolidated, due to drifting, etc. Certainly softening up in the spring sun. There are extended stretches with 7 feet of snowpack (yes, the tree tops are buried or at one's ankles), so to go up here without SNOWSHOES is a risky endeavor. It will be a mess when temperatures climb and the Massachusetts Microspikers inevitably attempt it. SNOWSHOES well into April.
We skipped Hight due to the wind and because the footbed looked pretty rough (particularly on the north side).
Snow was softening as we ascended South, and more so as we reached Middle. SNOWSHOES were ideal.
North Carter Trail was tight due to brush. Late day Massachusetts Microspikers were beating up the trail, with divets, postholes, and of course the classic urinate-on-the-trail-because-you-can't-step-off-of-it.
Imp Trail was very soft as it approached Cowboy Brook; looked like a few Massachusetts Microspikers postholed into running water. Evidence of the trail broken out on the Imp Face side.
Camp Dodge Cutoff was fine. Camp Dodge Road is plowed, as it looks like they're building new cabins.
Clear skies, breezy, but warm out of the wind. |
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 | Name: |
rocket21 |
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 | E-Mail: |
rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-03-08 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos |
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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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