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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Lethe, Middle Carter, South Carter, Carter Dome, Wildcat A, Wildcat B, Wildcat C, Wildcat D, NH
Trails
Trails: NH 16, Camp Dodge cutoff, Imp Trail, North Carter Trail, Carter-Moriah Trail, Carter Dome Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail, ski trails
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Monday, September 19, 2022
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parked on dirt surfaced, large trail head lot for 19 Mile Brook Trail off NH 16. Kiosk. No privy. AMC shuttle stop. Times posted on kiosk. I was the only car at 7am. Two others on my return at 4pm. I can confirm this lot is plowed after storms in winter. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: No water crossings of any significance. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes:  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: All trails good for dogs. No water on Carter-Moriah between the junction with the North Carter Trail and Zeta Pass. Limited water in the col at Zeta Pass. No water on the Wildcat Ridge (other than lakes- in mean puddles- on the trail). 
Bugs
Bugs: Nope! Heh, heh, heh!! 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Add to recommended equipment: waders. :)

After thru hiking the 140 mile Northville-Placid Trail in NY earlier this month, I needed a route that would stretch my legs and get them back into “Whites Shape.” This route delivered.

Also finished gridding the Carters!

Route:
Road walk NH 16 > Camp Dodge Rd > herd path > Imp Trail > North Carter Trail > Carter-Moriah Trail (AT) > Carter Dome Trail > Carter-Moriah > Wildcat Ridge Trail > ski slopes > road walk on NH 16 back to parking.

Camp Dodge rd: still open to vehicle traffic. Foot traffic permitted year round. Road connects directly with herd path next to the tool shed.

Imp Trail: not blazed on this segment. Simple to follow footbed. Rocks wet, but not too slick. Some water running on trail towards the junction with North Carter- where it always is. No mud- surprising.

North Carter Trail: junction signed. Not blazed. Simple to follow footbed. No mud here either. Strange. Plenty of running water directly on trail. Nothing deep enough to attempt avoiding. Rocks and roots wet, slick.

Carter-Moriah: this is the AT and is blazed in standard white blazes. All junction signs up. The one at Zeta pass is a bit hard to read. Bog bridges mostly intact for the duration. Mud present- either walk through it (I found it nearly all shallow) or come up with some kind of rock hopping choreography. After the rain I endured in NY, I elected to just walk through it to save time and effort. Rock ledges very slick. I took my time and still got in some pre-season skiing practice. :) The thru hiking and summer season has left many herd paths and side trails in the tender alpine-like soils. The section that descends into Carter Notch is unforgivably steep. I mean knees in the chin steep. It was challenging to negotiate today with the rain and wet rocks. Very slow going.

Carter Dome: with zero views in the forecast today, I bypassed Mt Hight taking this sheltered route back to its junction with Carter-Moriah then subsequently onto the summit. It is blazed in updated blue blazes. No mud, but plenty of wet slick rocks. Footbed rough- very rocky.

Wildcat Ridge: this is also the AT and is blazed in standard white blazes. The rain began in earnest as I started this trail. Mud and water pools present. Rocks had running water on them. It is a steep ascent out of the notch, but I found footing mostly decent with care. The remainder of the ridge was fairly quick moving as I did not care to avoid the mud or puddles. I kinda ignored the trail as it was one of those days where clouds obscure all views so one keeps the head down and the feet moving. Two of only the three people I saw all day on this trail.

Ski trails: consult the Wildcat Ski Resort site for authorized route. It was very muddy, slick and steep for me today. Awesome dude met on an e-bike heading up the ski trail access road. I warned him about the slick mud. Man, I wanted to try that bike…  
Name
Name: Remington34 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2022-09-19 
Link
Link: https:// 
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