Bushwhack from Nineteen-Mile Brook to Imp trail?

[pedxing]

How easy is it to find a good spot to bushwhack from Nineteen-Mile Brook to Imp trail? Any tips for finding it?

I'm going to try to do the Carters Friday. One of my companions for the trip wants to do it as a loop, bushwhacking from from Nineteen-Mile Brook to Imp. It looks like an easy Bushwhack from the topo and from what I've seen posted on the net, but none of us have done it before. We are looking at doing the Bushwhack in this direction to allow the alpha-hikers in the group (I am not one) the option of attempting Carter Dome if time and conditions are right at the decision point.

Thanks,

David

 

[Mike P.]

Your trying to from 19 Mile to Imp? As Kevin answered & I believe most people do, they do it the other way from Imp to 19 Mile where the Imp comes close to Cowboy Brook at the big turn to the North.

Farmer Bob & I back in 2002 did South & Middle & headed into the woods a bit further north & wandered onto an old road that ran into the back of Camp Dodge. It looked like the road headed towards Imp Trail but unsure if it did cross the trail further north of where we left it.

19 mile & Carter Dome trail is broken out to Zeta Pass, C-Dome trail is broken out to Carter Dome & that likely will survive Monday snow & the weeks predicted snow showers. The Carter-Moriah Trail was barely broken out north of Zeta Pass, requiring snowshoes on Monday & north of the South Carter Summit spur it looked to be unbroken. (I had planned South & Middle bushwhacking from Imp to 19 Mile & opted to do just South Carter)

 

[DougPaul]

It's pretty straightforward. Watch for where the trail makes a big sweeping turn to the right, and a couple of hundred yards or so (the woods will be a big more open here) begin the bushwack. You have one brook to cross (Cowboy) but it shouldn't be a big deal with the cold and snow. Really can't miss - you either hit 19 Miles Brook trail, or NH16.

When we did the loop (up 19 Mi Brk, down S. Imp) Cowboy Brook was too high to cross. We headed downhill from S Imp Tr shortly after it turns N away from Cowboy Brook. A trivial bushwack--came out at Joe Dodge Camp. A 10min walk along Rte 16 back to the car at 19 Mi Brk Tr.

(Actually, Kevin and Brutus had done it (independently) just the day before us.)

Going in the other direction, just enter at Joe Dodge Camp and keep Cowboy Brook on your right (but stay out of its ravine). You can't miss S. Imp Tr.

Doug

 

[pedxing]

Thanks for the info on the trail and crossing.

We were planning on bushwacking to Imp (rather than the usual direction) - so that people could make a decision about trying to tag Carter Dome after we'd done most of the hard stuff (i.e. Middle and North Carter). We figured we'd head to Cowboy Brook well where it meets Imp and follow it up to the crossing. Has anyone done it this way? Maybe, however, Doug's suggestion of going from Joe Dodge Camp is best.

 

[DougPaul]

We were planning on bushwacking to Imp (rather than the usual direction) - so that people could make a decision about trying to tag Carter Dome after we'd done most of the hard stuff (i.e. Middle and North Carter). We figured we'd head to Cowboy Brook well below where it meets Imp and follow it up to the crossing. Has anyone done it this way?

That works. I'd say the big choice is whether you start at 19 Mi Brk Tr head or walk the road to Joe Dodge (only about a 10min walk) before you head in. The first requires crossing Cowboy Brook, the second avoids it by using the Rte 16 bridge.

Doug

 

[pedxing]

Thanks Doug!

 

[Dennis C.]

As DougPaul mentioned, walk down the street from 19 Mile Trail and take the road into Camp Dodge. On the left of all the buildings, there's a field with what appears to be an unmaintained "trail" that heads into the woods some distance, eventually takes a left, and then intersects the Imp trail at an unmarked intersection. This eliminates any need for the bushwhack. Camp Dodge most likely doesn't sanction this route, but you can bet they know it's there.

 

[MadRiver]

Is that on the left of the toolshed?

 

[DougPaul]

When we did the bushwack, we found several old logging roads which we followed part of the way. We came out in the parking lot fairly close to the south side of the camp. Didn't spot a trail.

The woods behind Dodge camp were pretty open, except for a few patches close to the camp. Hardly any bushes to wack...

Doug

 

[RoySwkr]

As DougPaul mentioned, walk down the street from 19 Mile Trail and take the road into Camp Dodge. On the left of all the buildings, there's a field with what appears to be an unmaintained "trail" that heads into the woods some distance, eventually takes a left, and then intersects the Imp trail at an unmarked intersection. This eliminates any need for the bushwhack.

What Dennis calls an unmarked trail I call an old woods road. Going into Camp Dodge come to an intersection, go L for Staff rather than R for volunteers. Maybe another .1 miles look for woods road heading off to L which crosses Imp Trail after another .2 miles. Easier to find in reverse of course.

If you have a group with more than one car, you could just shuttle people to start of Imp Trail.

 

[DougPaul]

If you have a group with more than one car, you could just shuttle people to start of Imp Trail.

There was nowhere to park at Joe Dodge when we did it--just enough room to pull off the road to load/unload. One could, of course, drop off all gear and everyone except the driver, drive the car down to 19 Mi Brk Tr, and walk back.

Doug

 

[pedxing]

Thanks much for the input and advice. I'm heading up in the morning for Flume and Liberty.

I'm looking forward to Friday's hike Mad Man. This will make it three consecutive Februaries that we've hiked together.

 

[Mike P.]

The road walk to Camp Dodge probably is less than 5 minutes. The old woods road/trail works out well too