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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Wildcat A, Wildcat B, Wildcat C, Wildcat D, Carter Dome, Mt. Hight, South Carter, Middle Carter, NH
Trails
Trails: Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail, Carter Moriah Trail, North Carter Trail, Imp Trail, Camp Dodge Cutoff
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Friday, March 10, 2017
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Plenty of room at Nineteen Mile Brook TH 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable) 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Easy step-overs 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: A few leaners here and there. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: This was a two day trip with an overnight @ Carter Notch Hut.

DAY ONE: THU MAR 9

Hike up to the hut was straightforward. Sometimes stable, sometimes rotten monorail with light snow starting to fall.

After dropping off pizza, cookie dough, and beer at the hut, we struck out for the Wildcats. The sidehilling on the WRT before the hairpin turn was really tough on the ankles no matter what the traction. I wore snowshoes with the televators up while my friend opted for spikes to stave off his plantar fasciitis. Crampons may have been a better choice because the wind constantly deposits floury snow back over the monorail. We spaced the hairpin turn and wandered up a pretty open gully before quickly realizing we were off trail. GPS put us right back on track and from there on out, we found the route easy to follow. The thought of pizza, beer, and cookies made the ups and downs tolerable. Though the snow does drift along this trail, we found it well protected from the wind (and it was pretty cold and windy!).

DAY TWO: FRI MAR 10

The steep section on the Carter-Moriah Trail from the hut to ~4200ft was comfortably spikeable. With today's snow, crampons might make some folks feel even more secure. There are a few very short icy stretches that we found easy to avoid by stepping on rocks. Mt. Hight is so worth the extra 0.2!! At Zeta Pass, the CMT had a few paths leading up the ridge and we briefly followed one of the wrong ones. GPS set us straight again in no time. From there on out, the ridge walk to the North Carter Trail was a breeze--much less drifting on this ridge than on Wildcat Ridge. Snow squalls were moving in as we descended, so expect a few inches up there. North Carter Tr had lots of affectionate firs. Imp Trail is a knee and quad grinder (on the descent). "Whack" to Camp Dodge was a breeze.  
Name
Name: icegulch 
E-Mail
E-Mail: icegulch [at] gmail 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2017-03-10 
Link
Link: https:// 
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