| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
South Carter, Middle Carter, Mt. Hight, Carter Dome, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Carter Dome Trail, Carter Moriah Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, February 24, 2018 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
19-Mile Brook trailhead parking was an ice rink at 7:15 AM. Had to sit down while leaning against my car to put on microspikes- though they gripped nicely once on. Slushy snd without traction problems on 1:30 PM return. About 8 cars at start, lot nearly full with several cars parked along Route 16 when I finished. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, 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/Ice - Postholes, Slush |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction, Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All unbridged crossings were easy step-overs or rock hops. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Many blowdowns between Zeta Pass and just beyond South Carter- especially for the first 0.3 miles out of Zeta Pass. Made navigation a bit confusing at times, and required crawling under a couple of times for lack of better options, but all were passable. Recent work to clear these much appreciated! |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Descent via Carter Dome Trail or Carter-Moriah Trail might be hazardous due to ice. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
At least before Sunday's expected snow, there was insufficient coverage for snowshoes to be of much help, and they would have been difficult to maneuver over narrow monorail, and short patches of bare rock and open water. Microspikes worked perfectly on 19-Mile Brook Trail in both directions, even though it was a bit slushy (especially below the Carter Dome junction) in the afternoon. Carter Dome Trail was stable monorail most of the way, but there were a couple of sketchy, sidehill ice flows a bit below Zeta Pass. It was uncomfortable ascending these with microspikes, and some might want full crampons, especially for descent. Carter-Moriah Trail to South/Middle Carter was stable monorail with a few patches of ice- microspikes perfect. Middle Carter summit not marked- very easy to go right past it (which I did) over several minor humps. Stable (very steep) monorail up to Mt. Hight; somewhat softer with a bit of loose snow towards Carter Dome, but microspikes were still fine. Descending Carter-Moriah towards the hut was not easy due to steep pitch, and ice patches obscured by loose snow- but felt safer in microspikes than the descent down Carter Dome would have been. |
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 | Name: |
Jason |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2018-02-24 |
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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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