| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Carter Dome, Mt. Hight, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Carter Dome Trail, Carter-Moriah Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, January 7, 2016 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Fairly large dirt lot; Fee area; No facilities. Had some ice and packed snow but generally not a problem. About 5-6 cars both when I arrived and when I left. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Bridged on 19 Mile Brook. Two crossings on Carter Dome trail. First is a "double crossing" which had enough packed snow on rocks and a small log to make for an easy crossing. Second was weakly snowbridged (very short distance) with some holes but surprisingly held my weight out and back (about 265 lbs with pack). Short bridge and water underneath appeared shallow. No issues. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Excellent. There were several leaners/widow makers on Carter Dome Trail that are not an issue now but will become duck unders as the snowpack builds. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Very friendly dog route. Good footing and easier grades. |
|
 | Bugs: |
n/a |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
n/a |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Trails in very good shape overall. 19 Mile Brook had a well trodden packed granular surface for most of it's length, with some occasional ice flows and bare wet patches (and unfortunately lots of piss holes in the snow and dog poop in the early sections). Carter Dome Trail was a little more packed powder than granular but still very firm and grippable, again with occasional ice flows and bald spots. Carter Moriah Trail was more of a packed powder track, with occasional small drifts that had been broken up by previous hikers. Of note, I retraced my steps from Hight toward Carter Dome rather than descending the steeper North pitch to complete the loop. Microspikes didn't grip well on the loose powdery surfaces of the few steep pitches I hit so I figured it would be easier to just back track on the easy grades. Time and distance added was negligible. Entire route could easily be bare booted and was not really quite deep enough yet to warrant snow shoes. Maybe an 8-10" snowpack in the trees at the upper elevations.
Barely a breath of wind the whole day. Nice warm sunshine on the ridge once I climbed out of the valleys and only saw a handful of people in the beginning stretches of 19MB brook. Had the upper trails and summits all to myself today. Wish I could hike midweek more often. |
|
 | Name: |
DayTrip |
|
 | E-Mail: |
bblanchette0709@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2016-01-08 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
