NeoAkela
Active member
Date of Hike: Thursday, 04/16/2009
Trail Conditions:
Imp Trail: Dry start, continuing to monorail, then full packed snow sidewalk. Easy ascent with light traction at top of trail.
Carter-Moriah Trail: Trail almost nonexistent between col and North Carter, but packed hard enough for not too much postholing. Trail between Middle, South, and down to Zeta Pass fairly solid and easy to follow despite lack of any cairns or markers. Snow on side of trail 2-3 feet deep, so a foot or so to either side caused deep postholing. Some areas drifted over between Middle and South Carter, but trail still evident.
Mount Height Loop: Northern end of loop on ascent to Height extremely steep and icy, covered in ice crystals fallen from trees which did not help traction. Would not like to descend this way - a slip would mean a very harsh ride! Southern end of loop much better for descent. Sign at intersection of southern Height loop and Carter Dome Trail missing (or buried under the snow) - easy to miss this intersection if going North.
Carter Dome Trail and 19 Mile Brook Trail: Carter Dome trail smooth, flat, easy going with Microspikes... lower end becoming more of a monorail which crumbles in spots over runoff streams. 19 Mile Brook trail well packed, icy in many spots, especially the last mile nearest the trailhead. Almost more snow on the lower 19 mile trail than there was on the Carter Dome trail.
Special Equipment Required: Used Microspikes the entire way and felt they were sufficient traction except for the last quarter mile of the trail up Mount Height... though the microspikes worked well, I would have felt a tad more comfortable with crampons for this little bit. Snowshoes not needed at all the entire trip.
Comments: Looks like someone has been up recently and cleared all the blowdowns. Great job - smooth sailing all the way! Beautiful day - t-shirts the entire time and hardly any wind!
Your name: NeoAkela
Your E-mail address: [email protected]
Trail Conditions:
Imp Trail: Dry start, continuing to monorail, then full packed snow sidewalk. Easy ascent with light traction at top of trail.
Carter-Moriah Trail: Trail almost nonexistent between col and North Carter, but packed hard enough for not too much postholing. Trail between Middle, South, and down to Zeta Pass fairly solid and easy to follow despite lack of any cairns or markers. Snow on side of trail 2-3 feet deep, so a foot or so to either side caused deep postholing. Some areas drifted over between Middle and South Carter, but trail still evident.
Mount Height Loop: Northern end of loop on ascent to Height extremely steep and icy, covered in ice crystals fallen from trees which did not help traction. Would not like to descend this way - a slip would mean a very harsh ride! Southern end of loop much better for descent. Sign at intersection of southern Height loop and Carter Dome Trail missing (or buried under the snow) - easy to miss this intersection if going North.
Carter Dome Trail and 19 Mile Brook Trail: Carter Dome trail smooth, flat, easy going with Microspikes... lower end becoming more of a monorail which crumbles in spots over runoff streams. 19 Mile Brook trail well packed, icy in many spots, especially the last mile nearest the trailhead. Almost more snow on the lower 19 mile trail than there was on the Carter Dome trail.
Special Equipment Required: Used Microspikes the entire way and felt they were sufficient traction except for the last quarter mile of the trail up Mount Height... though the microspikes worked well, I would have felt a tad more comfortable with crampons for this little bit. Snowshoes not needed at all the entire trip.
Comments: Looks like someone has been up recently and cleared all the blowdowns. Great job - smooth sailing all the way! Beautiful day - t-shirts the entire time and hardly any wind!
Your name: NeoAkela
Your E-mail address: [email protected]
