| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
South Carter, Middle Carter, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Carter Dome Trail, Carter-Moriah Trail, Imp Shelter Spur |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, October 5, 2024 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Nineteen-Mile Brook trailhead parking area was full when we got there just before 9 AM. We were the third car to park along the road. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The two crossings on the lower Carter Dome Trail were easy. No other crossings. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Only a few blowdowns and mudpits. All signs are in place. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
They would need to be very comfortable on steep ledges for the descent off of North Carter. |
|
 | Bugs: |
None. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
This was Day 1 of a backpacking trip that was originally intended to be 3 days, but which was ultimately just two days because of the nasty weather forecasted for Monday. The trails were damp for most of the day, and the leaf cover hid slippery rocks, but overall the conditions weren't too bad for most of the hike. Views from the open areas near the summit of Middle Carter were excellent. The descent off of North Carter, however, was extremely difficult - it's mostly on these very steep slabs, many of which were wet and slippery, and getting traction with heavy packs was almost impossible in places. There was plenty of butt-sliding here - it probably took us about a half-hour to get down this two or three tenths of a mile stretch. These are the sort of slabs and scrambles that, in Maine, would have iron rungs to help us (as in the Mahoosucs) - perhaps something like that could be done here. The portion of Carter-Moriah Trail below those scrambles wasn't so bad though.
We stayed in the shelter at the Imp Campsite - there were maybe 8-10 people in the shelter, and several others, including a college group, on the tent platforms. The caretaker, and all the other hikers, were friendly. It was a cold evening and night - I needed all the cold-weather gear I had brought. |
|
 | Name: |
GN |
|
 | E-Mail: |
ghnaigles@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2024-10-07 |
|
 | 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. |
|
