Stash
Active member
I like the Carters. Many rave about the Presidentials but to me the views are best from the Carters. The entire length of Carter Moriah trail has wonderful views of the Presidentials to the west and Maine to the east. And they’re a short drive from Maine. So I’ve decided to spend this winter playing on the Carters.
My second trip this winter was a loop up Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, past Carter Hut, up Carter Moriah Trail, down Carter Dome Tail and back on Nineteen Mile. It’s a loop I’ve done in the other direction but because of the expected soft snow I decided to try going up the steep at the southern end of Carter Moriah. I think it turned out to be a good call.
Driving up Route 16 from 302 I saw the temperature inversion many have written about. 32 degrees at the base and bouncing from 36 to 39 as I approached the trail head under overcast skies. I was expecting soft conditions but found Nineteen Mile to be rather firm and MicroSpikes worked just fine without damaging the path. Things did soften a bit as I approached the Carter Dome Trail intersection so I stopped there to switch to snow shoes, agreeing with my own decision as I worked my way to the hut.
A quick sandwich at the hut and was on my way up that wonderfully steep part of Carter Moriah Trail. I came down that on a sunny 45 degree day a few winters ago and recall switching a few times between crampons and snow shoes trying to find the right tool for tor the job – I never did. Going up was much better this time. The temperature was such that balling of snow on my snow shoes was not a problem and someone had preceded me bare boot or with, at most, MicroSpikes. I found I was able to step into their foot-deep footprints with my snow shoes, turning them into rather nice steps. It wasn’t long before I was at the top of the section and the post holes from my predecessor all but disappeared as the trail flattened and I walked through the pines to the top of Carter Dome.
Just as I arrived at the peak the overcast cleared and sunny blue skies encouraged me to pause for a bit, shedding a layer I should have shed much earlier. The pines are of a height where there aren’t a lot of views from the top but it was a nice clearing to sit and relax for a few moments.
Continuing on to the north the snow was softening and more holes were appearing in the trail. Though I had planned to take Carter Dome Trail over Mt Height the holes went in that direction where the trails split. I decided to stay on Carter Moriah which had now smoothed out and followed it to where Carter Dome Trail rejoins without the reappearance of the holes. Seemed I knew where my friend was.
I walked the rest of the way at a good pace, stopping at Zeta Pass for a sandwich, and down Carter Dome Trail to Nineteen Mile and the trail head. There were many footprints on Nineteen Mile that would have indicated I could have stopped and removed the snow shoes without damaging the trail but I was walking at a nice rhythm and really don’t mind them.
Another nice hike in the Carters was completed. I’ll be back in a few weeks for another loop. Probably up Nineteen and down Imp in another repeat hike. Is there ever truly a repeat hike? I’ve yet to see it.
A few pictures along the way.
My second trip this winter was a loop up Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, past Carter Hut, up Carter Moriah Trail, down Carter Dome Tail and back on Nineteen Mile. It’s a loop I’ve done in the other direction but because of the expected soft snow I decided to try going up the steep at the southern end of Carter Moriah. I think it turned out to be a good call.
Driving up Route 16 from 302 I saw the temperature inversion many have written about. 32 degrees at the base and bouncing from 36 to 39 as I approached the trail head under overcast skies. I was expecting soft conditions but found Nineteen Mile to be rather firm and MicroSpikes worked just fine without damaging the path. Things did soften a bit as I approached the Carter Dome Trail intersection so I stopped there to switch to snow shoes, agreeing with my own decision as I worked my way to the hut.
A quick sandwich at the hut and was on my way up that wonderfully steep part of Carter Moriah Trail. I came down that on a sunny 45 degree day a few winters ago and recall switching a few times between crampons and snow shoes trying to find the right tool for tor the job – I never did. Going up was much better this time. The temperature was such that balling of snow on my snow shoes was not a problem and someone had preceded me bare boot or with, at most, MicroSpikes. I found I was able to step into their foot-deep footprints with my snow shoes, turning them into rather nice steps. It wasn’t long before I was at the top of the section and the post holes from my predecessor all but disappeared as the trail flattened and I walked through the pines to the top of Carter Dome.
Just as I arrived at the peak the overcast cleared and sunny blue skies encouraged me to pause for a bit, shedding a layer I should have shed much earlier. The pines are of a height where there aren’t a lot of views from the top but it was a nice clearing to sit and relax for a few moments.
Continuing on to the north the snow was softening and more holes were appearing in the trail. Though I had planned to take Carter Dome Trail over Mt Height the holes went in that direction where the trails split. I decided to stay on Carter Moriah which had now smoothed out and followed it to where Carter Dome Trail rejoins without the reappearance of the holes. Seemed I knew where my friend was.
I walked the rest of the way at a good pace, stopping at Zeta Pass for a sandwich, and down Carter Dome Trail to Nineteen Mile and the trail head. There were many footprints on Nineteen Mile that would have indicated I could have stopped and removed the snow shoes without damaging the trail but I was walking at a nice rhythm and really don’t mind them.
Another nice hike in the Carters was completed. I’ll be back in a few weeks for another loop. Probably up Nineteen and down Imp in another repeat hike. Is there ever truly a repeat hike? I’ve yet to see it.
A few pictures along the way.
