| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Middle Carter, South Carter, Carter Dome, NH |
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 | Trails: |
NH 16, Camp Dodge Cutoff, Imp Trail, North Carter Trail, Carter Moriah Trail, Carter Dome Trail, Nineteen Mile Brook Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, April 18, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Nineteen-Mile Brook Trail was 3/4 full when I arrived, nearly empty in the afternoon. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Wet/Sticky, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All easy rock hops |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trees across the S. Branch of Imp trail - one just past the cut-off to Dodge Camp, one at 1.6 miles in, and one just below the junction with N. Carter Trail. The Carter Dome Trail above Zeta Pass could use some brushing out, and a couple of leaners to duck under. Otherwise, trails are in good condition. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Another beautiful day in The Whites, with mostly clear skies, mild temperatures, and no wind. More than made up for having to deal with the Spring surface conditions. Not many people out today - I met only seven hikers on the ridge, and then a group of around eight on Nineteen-Mile Brook Trail heading to the notch to spend a couple nights at the hut.
Trails were dry at lower elevations with the first consistent snow and ice starting around 3,000 feet. The new snow from the past two days was wet and super sticky, and adhered to the underlying soft ice so well that I was able to bare-boot all the way to the junction with Carter-Moriah Trail. The new snow was so sticky that even my bare boots were balling up; there was no way I was going to wear spikes and I went straight to crampons once on the ridge. YMMV. They stayed on all the way to Carter Dome and back down Carter Dome Trail below Zeta Pass until just before the first stream crossing. From there until the Nineteen-Mile Brook Trail junction the trail was equal parts snow/ice, mud, and dry. No traction was going to be easy on this section, and I carefully negotiated the slippery spots with bare boots.
Except for that section of mixed conditions on Carter Dome Trail, the rest of the trails were ideal for fast travel. There were very few rocks showing on the Carter-Moriah and upper Carter Dome Trails, and I was able to fly across the ridge in crampons. One word of caution - the Carter Dome Trail above Zeta Pass is in need of brushing out. The trail is narrow and traverses a steep slope. In a moment of inattention it is possible to have the brush push someone off the trail. There are a lot of trees along the trail, so you wouldn't slide very far, but it could still be a very unpleasant experience. |
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 | Name: |
Tom Harris |
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 | E-Mail: |
tdharris911@comcast.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-04-19 |
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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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