king tut
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I was thinking of doing this hike on saturday if monsoon season is over by then. Any thoughts on the best trail to take to the top and where to park?
carter dome
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marty
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I may be doing the Carters and Carter Dome on Thursday. If so, I will send you a PM and will also post on NH Trail Conditions. Regards, Marty
Mark_Goodearl
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19 Mile Brook Tr
I recommend 19 Mile Brook Tr (park there) to Carter Dome Tr then over Mt Hight (I hope you get to see the views) then Carter-Moriah Tr over to Carter Dome. Go back the same way but taking the route below Hight on the return. I hope monsoon season is over by then, too!king tut said:
David Metsky
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For a bit more variety, take 19 Mile Brook to Carter Notch hut, climb Carter Dome on the AT (steep), hit the summit and Mt Hight, down to Zeta Pass and out via the Carter Dome and 19 Mile Brook trails. The visit to Carter Notch and the hut, plus the Ramparts and the climb up Carter Dome are worth the extra work if you have enough time.
-dave-
-dave-
I will second Dave's route. In particular, you want to go up the steep Carter-Moriah Trail from the Notch and come down the much mellower Carter Dome Trail.
And ... the Carter Dome Trail between the switchbacks and the 19-Mile Brook Trail is generally wet. Not ever dangerously so, it's just like walking in a couple inches of water in places when it acts as a drainage. So if you do splash and get your feet wet, it might as well be on the way out, not the way in.
The few unbridged "crossings" (at the lower end of the C-D switchbacks, and one up high on 19 as you start to rise up to the height-of-land), are never more than a few inches deep by a few feet wide and are really more like puddles. I do recommend gaiters so that any splashing doesn't get water in your boots.
And ... the Carter Dome Trail between the switchbacks and the 19-Mile Brook Trail is generally wet. Not ever dangerously so, it's just like walking in a couple inches of water in places when it acts as a drainage. So if you do splash and get your feet wet, it might as well be on the way out, not the way in.
The few unbridged "crossings" (at the lower end of the C-D switchbacks, and one up high on 19 as you start to rise up to the height-of-land), are never more than a few inches deep by a few feet wide and are really more like puddles. I do recommend gaiters so that any splashing doesn't get water in your boots.
sapblatt
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I like Dave's route as well - I would add that the CM from the hut is steep, but it is not too long - it is about a mile to the Dome and only about half of it is steep - and that part is all nicely constructed rock steps. SOme nice views back to the Carter Lakes, hut and notch...and you will see all the snow on Mount Washington too!
I like Dave's route as well - I would add that the CM from the hut is steep, but it is not too long - it is about a mile to the Dome and only about half of it is steep - and that part is all nicely constructed rock steps. SOme nice views back to the Carter Lakes, hut and notch...and you will see all the snow on Mount Washington too!
slowandsteady
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Alternative to Nineteen Mile Highway
Nineteen Mile Brook Trail can see alot of hikers although less so this time of year. Another way to climb Carter Dome if solitude is desired is via a loop starting/ending at Carter Notch Road in Jackson. Did this two years in a row and saw only a handfull of other hikers each time. Also the probablility of seeing a moose/bear is high. It is moose hunting season until the 23rd but we did not see/hear anything last year. Take Bog Brook Trail to the Wildcat River Trail to Carter Notch, stop by the Ramparts and the Hut. Climb the AT up Carter Dome (steep but not very long). Spend some time exploring the various outlooks on Carter Dome. Then down the Rainbow Trail over the unnamed (to my knowledge) peak/table land with better views than Carter Dome to the Wild River Trail to Bog Brook to car. The Wildcat river and brook crossings can be interesting but not dangerous (can use the Boggy Brook XC trail as an alternate which has bridges) and there may be a few flooded sections of the Bog Brook Trail (beavers) but the scenery and solitude is worth it IMO.
Nineteen Mile Brook Trail can see alot of hikers although less so this time of year. Another way to climb Carter Dome if solitude is desired is via a loop starting/ending at Carter Notch Road in Jackson. Did this two years in a row and saw only a handfull of other hikers each time. Also the probablility of seeing a moose/bear is high. It is moose hunting season until the 23rd but we did not see/hear anything last year. Take Bog Brook Trail to the Wildcat River Trail to Carter Notch, stop by the Ramparts and the Hut. Climb the AT up Carter Dome (steep but not very long). Spend some time exploring the various outlooks on Carter Dome. Then down the Rainbow Trail over the unnamed (to my knowledge) peak/table land with better views than Carter Dome to the Wild River Trail to Bog Brook to car. The Wildcat river and brook crossings can be interesting but not dangerous (can use the Boggy Brook XC trail as an alternate which has bridges) and there may be a few flooded sections of the Bog Brook Trail (beavers) but the scenery and solitude is worth it IMO.
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Mike P.
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Coming from ROute 113 will offer more solitude but harder to do a loop if that is a criteria. May be possible but I'm not as familar with those trails.
3rd on the loop mentioned by Dave if views warrant going to Hight which has best views in the Carters in many people's minds. If no view likely at 4675 feet I'd consider heading back by Carter Notch.
Loop is very nice, my experience on Carter Dome Trail between the Switchbacks & 19 Mile is that it's quite wet after a rain or during melt season.
3rd on the loop mentioned by Dave if views warrant going to Hight which has best views in the Carters in many people's minds. If no view likely at 4675 feet I'd consider heading back by Carter Notch.
Loop is very nice, my experience on Carter Dome Trail between the Switchbacks & 19 Mile is that it's quite wet after a rain or during melt season.
king tut
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Thanks for all the info from everybody. I just saw the weather forecast and they say that saturday should be rainfree. I'm kinda curious if they got any snow up in the Carters, after seeing all those reports from mt washington. It looks like the hike is about 11 miles from the reports that i have seen. I'm going to plan to start around 9'ish, if anyone feels like coming out for a hike send me a message.
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