| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
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: |
Thursday, March 29, 2018 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking lot has basically melted out entirely, and the ground is fairly wet and muddy. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None significant, though it's becoming apparent that spring is upon us. The snow bridges held, but they're starting to melt in earnest. The few places where there wasn't a snow bridge, the water levels were low enough to just walk across, or there were ample stepping stones. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Brought a small pruning saw, so some of the blow-downs aren't as problematic as they were. Someone with an axe or hatchet could make swift work of the larger boughs and trunks that my saw couldn't manage. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Four pups that were very well behaved around this human. All of them having their 1,359th consecutive best day of their lives. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Monorail is solid for the 19 Mile Brook trail. On Carter Dome trail, it's mostly solid. On Carter-Moriah, it's getting spongy. You can easily discern the places that are getting traffic. 19 Mile Brook was apparently fine for people to bare-boot it in the morning, but I made a few tentative steps in the afternoon, and quickly put my snowshoes back on. It had gotten a bit soft during the day. Spikes are fine if you're just going to the hut, but you're well prepared if you wear snowshoes if you're planning on summiting.
Heading to Middle Carter: The trail is broken out just fine from South summit onward, and once you get past the blow-downs by South Carter summit, you'll have zero problems finding your way. Bear to the right, and you'll see the path around/through the blow-downs. It's not hard to find. On the col, there's a spot where you'll realize you're walking over trees. As they say on the London Underground, "Mind the Gap." Stay on the monorail and you'll avoid unwanted surprises. It's spongy as can be in places up there, but snowshoes will keep you moving with little hindrance. |
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 | Name: |
Protean Wanderer |
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 | E-Mail: |
c1@magicdragonfly.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2018-03-29 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.proteanwanderer.com/2018/03/30/trip-report-middle-carter-mountain/ |
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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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