| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Carter Dome, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Bog Brook Trail, Wild River Trail, Rainbow Trail, Carter-Moriah Trail, Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Wildcat River Trail, FR233 |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, May 11, 2012 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at Bog Brook trailhead, only car there. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Crossings on Bog Brook Trail were running a bit high, be prepared to get your boots wet if you decide to take this route in the next day or two. The only crossing on Wildcat River Trail was easily rock hoppable. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Mud and blowdowns were the words of the day. Bog Brook Trail was a mess, boot sucking mud in parts, rotting bog bridges in others, exacerbated by many, many blowdowns. Wild River Trail was probably in the best shape of all the trails today, only one or two stepovers and minimal mud. The first 0.5 of Rainbow Trail was blowdown hell, all easily stepped over/ducked under, but the sheer amount of them was overwhelming. There were further blowdowns along the length of the trail, though lessening in number beyond the birch glades. Carter-Moriah wasn't in terrible shape up high, just a small step over, though there was a large one that had to be gone around on the steeps. Wildcat River Trail wasn't bad, some flagging along the route (likely for bog bridging), some mud, and some blowdowns as well. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw a lady trail-running with her dog on the lower section of Wildcat River Trail when I was descending, he looked to be having fun. |
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 | Bugs: |
None until I got on FR 233, and even then, they were not plentiful or aggressive. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
After seeing Pancks and Tesco Heaney's posting from a few days ago about this back route to Carter Dome, I decided to make a loop of it. Perhaps it wasn't in my best interest to do it after several days of rain, but it all worked out. I started out on Bog Brook Trail about 9:15, with the sun shining and the summits in the clouds, and covered the distance to the Rainbow Trail by 11, decent considering the mud and blowdowns I encountered. The birch glades on the Rainbow Trail were fantastic, and the higher I went, the more the views to the east seemed to open up, and upon reaching the south peak the Carters and Wildcats were in the clear, so I went for it, making Carter Dome summit at 1. There was a dusting of snow above 4100 feet on Rainbow Trail, and down to about 3700 feet on Carter-Moriah. The cloud capped Presidentials were ever present to the west, and once I reached Pulpit Rock all but Washington was in the clear.
Cruised down to the hut, getting there by 2:15 and leaving by 2:30. I put it into overdrive down Wildcat River Trail, easy with such soft footing, and made the trailhead by 4:10. A bit cold once at elevation, and the wind was pretty biting at times, but I kept moving and that solved the problem. Only saw 3 people all day, two at the hut (didn't see the caretaker) and one on Wildcat River. A must do loop on a drier day, great way to get to Carter Dome and the notch. |
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 | Name: |
Bill Robichaud |
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 | E-Mail: |
bill.robichaud@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2012-05-11 |
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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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