NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Carter Dome, South Carter, Middle Carter, NH
Trails
Trails: Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Carter Dome Trail, Carter Moriah Trail, North Carter Trail, Imp Trail, Camp Dodge Cutoff, Route 16
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Monday, December 20, 2021
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: NMB lot not plowed, but only 2-3 inches. Our 3 cars at 7AM one more at 5:30. Plenty more space. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: 3 larger crossings (2 on NMB & 1 on CDC) were rock hopable, but poles were very helpful. Many smaller crossings and patches of water easy to get around (all trails except CMT) 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Few step overs on all trails 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Left Coop at home again due to ice on trails. There are a few very tricky spots with significant ice flows that could be issues for even the experienced pup.  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Trails are icy under the snow!!! Starting out the snow level was about 4" on NMB but we used spikes (mostly Hillsounds) due to the presence of ice patches under the snow. Snowshoes went along, but would have been overkill since the snow levels were not quite high enough to hide all the rocks, and getting around all rocks hiding under snow plus patches of running water would have been difficult to traverse.

More snow on CDT (6-8"), but stuck with spikes (no snowshoes); again, not quite enough snow and those pesky rocks... And to make things interesting, under the snow were a few patches of with ice flows to watch out for, especially from Zeta pass to Carter Dome.

From Zeta pass to South Carter the trail was pretty similar, 6-8", rocks hiding under the snow, and ice flows to watch out for.

Between South and Middle things started getting interesting. Two locations had significant ice flows (wall of ice). Had to switch to Trail Crampon Pros, not sure spikes (even longer Hillsounds) would do the trick; need the traction of something more significant. And a longer ice pick (pick on end of hiking pole), really came in handy to cross over in one of the locations.

Left on crampons for travel down NCT, but they were not needed. At the first sign of water and rocks, we switched back to the Hillsounds for the remainder of the hike. Overall conditions were similar to NMB; decreasing snow levels w/elevation, rocks, ice patches/flows under snow to watch for and some running / open water on trails.  
Name
Name: CookiesOnTop 
E-Mail
E-Mail: schwarzmc at yahoo 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2021-12-20 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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