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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Carter Dome, Mt. Hight, South Carter, Middle Carter, NH
Trails
Trails: Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Carter Moriah Trail, North Carter Trail, Imp Trail, Imp Connector, Route 16
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parked at 19MB Trailhead well plowed one vehicle on arrival 5 on return 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Bridged with no issues 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Minor walk unders throughout a couple notable blowdowns just before and after Carter FPA sign. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Not today 
Bugs
Bugs: Snowfleas and a spider  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Plan b hike of these peaks after originally planning Mt Washington/Southern Presidential Traverse Conditions were out of my comfort zone.Like the song goes "you gotta know when to hold them". Minimal new depth on a well established track until 1/2 mile before intersection of Wildcat Ridge trail where there were numerous drifts. I ended up hiking across the well frozen pond before ascending to Carter Dome.This stretch specifically before outlook was a tough ascent with heavy drifts over a solid crust. Crampons at this point wouldn't have been overkill. At the very least aggressive snowshoes. I did a lot of kickstepping to gain traction in this section even so I was having a tough go. Outlook wasn't broken out but yielded excellent views as the skies cleared. There are spruce traps there as well. A big Thanks to Cynical Santa who broke through the drifts and whose tracks I followed up to Carter Dome. It was nice hiking with Santa onto Mt Hight and to just below South Carter. We broke Mt Hight out as well which had deep snow on both sides and trail was hard to follow in a couple spots. From Zeta Pass the trail was well broken out but snow was becoming sticky as the sun warmed things up. It was nice briefly chatting with the three hikers just before Middle Carter. From this point through Imp Connector I followed one set of ascending snowshoe tracks and a barefooter down by the Imp trail loop sign. At lower elevations despite a nice track snow was soft and even with snowshoes I was postholing. Shortly after arriving at Rt16 light snow started.38/48 attempt SSW48

 
Name
Name: scottb 
E-Mail
E-Mail: Mainebeefman@gmail.com  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2021-02-24 
Link
Link: https:// 
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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