PETCH
New member
Carter Dome via Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Carter Dome trail, Carter Moriah Trail
Date: 9/12/09
Participants: Joe (JDR6453), CrazyBob, Petch
Trail Conditions: Some muddy spots here and there, nothing major. One good size blowdown on the Carter Dome Trail. Stream crossings, no problem with relatively low water levels.
Commentary: Crazy Bob and I met Joe at the Nineteen Mile Trail head parking area and distributed the equipment that Joe brought. We hit the trail promptly at 8am. Joe and CrazyBob led the charge up the trail, with me in tow (as usual). Skies were overcast, with passing low clouds. We cranked up the trail and made it to the Carter Dome summit at 11am. The top of Carter Dome is a tree'd summit with trees up to 14' high (by my guess). Wind was non existent. Views were absent with clouds/fog cruising across the summit. We took out the gear and assembled the PVC piping that created a flag pole about 20+' high. Next we ran the guide wire ropes and then we hung the flags: one American flag and one Remembrance flag. Then we raised the mast of our sail and secured it to the base of one of the old fire tower footings. Joe's rig worked out real nice.
The mast stood proudly, but no wind to fly the sail......It was dead calm at the summit. On occasion while were eating and conversing, you could hear a slight flutter of a flag. Quickly, Joe and CrazyBob would jump to their feet to try to preserve the moment in pictures. But as soon as they would ready the cameras, the ever so infrequent breeze would simply dissipate. It was a process that occurred over and over. Both comical, and frustrating. But, eventually a few pictures were captured of the flags waving.
About 8 or so hikers came across the summit while we were there. Three of which were thru hikers doing the AT. One of them was a gentlemen who had been traveling with his dog all the way from Georgia. I guess his dog had a rough day earlier in the week going over the Northern Presi's. I don't have paws, but I can relate to that. The guy is a vet who got back last year from Iraq. He joined the army just after 9/11. He thanked us for our participation in the FOT48 event. We in turn thanked him for his years of service to his country. Our contribution pales in comparison to his. After he completes the AT, he's planning on starting up a non-profit organization to help vets returning from Iraq. He plans to introduce them into hiking as apart of the transition back into civilian life. A great idea and noble undertaking.
We also met 2 other groups of folks who were flying flags on Wildcat A, and South Carter. One of the couples had been participating in the FOT48 for years, and had lost a son in Iraq, sad stuff.
At 2pm we took down the apparatus and packed up everything. "Leave no trace". There has been quite a lot of discussion on how the Forest Service is trying to make sure there are no signs of man along the trails and in the wilderness areas. But stashed in the woods at the top appears to be the entire wreckage of the old fire tower. To boot, there appeared to be a shattered pane of glass near the base of the tower. Why wasn't this stuff removed? Anyway, I digress......
We departed our post, and hammered the downhill, traversing the 5 miles in about 2 hours and 10 min. Joe and CrazyBob are fast hikers. I struggled to keep up (as usual).
The weather wasn't great, but we were able to stay warm and dry. It was great to be a part of this event and great to see so many people who enjoy the outdoors get involved in the remembrance of 9/11. For those who want to learn more about the event: http://www.flagsonthe48.org/
Thanx Joe and CrazyBob, and everyone who participated.....
Hiking Stats: Around 10 miles, about 5 hours, 10 min
Cool flag Pictures:http://picasaweb.google.com/mpetcher
Ascent List:http://peakbagger.com/climber/climblistc.aspx?cid=1767
Petch
Date: 9/12/09
Participants: Joe (JDR6453), CrazyBob, Petch
Trail Conditions: Some muddy spots here and there, nothing major. One good size blowdown on the Carter Dome Trail. Stream crossings, no problem with relatively low water levels.
Commentary: Crazy Bob and I met Joe at the Nineteen Mile Trail head parking area and distributed the equipment that Joe brought. We hit the trail promptly at 8am. Joe and CrazyBob led the charge up the trail, with me in tow (as usual). Skies were overcast, with passing low clouds. We cranked up the trail and made it to the Carter Dome summit at 11am. The top of Carter Dome is a tree'd summit with trees up to 14' high (by my guess). Wind was non existent. Views were absent with clouds/fog cruising across the summit. We took out the gear and assembled the PVC piping that created a flag pole about 20+' high. Next we ran the guide wire ropes and then we hung the flags: one American flag and one Remembrance flag. Then we raised the mast of our sail and secured it to the base of one of the old fire tower footings. Joe's rig worked out real nice.
The mast stood proudly, but no wind to fly the sail......It was dead calm at the summit. On occasion while were eating and conversing, you could hear a slight flutter of a flag. Quickly, Joe and CrazyBob would jump to their feet to try to preserve the moment in pictures. But as soon as they would ready the cameras, the ever so infrequent breeze would simply dissipate. It was a process that occurred over and over. Both comical, and frustrating. But, eventually a few pictures were captured of the flags waving.
About 8 or so hikers came across the summit while we were there. Three of which were thru hikers doing the AT. One of them was a gentlemen who had been traveling with his dog all the way from Georgia. I guess his dog had a rough day earlier in the week going over the Northern Presi's. I don't have paws, but I can relate to that. The guy is a vet who got back last year from Iraq. He joined the army just after 9/11. He thanked us for our participation in the FOT48 event. We in turn thanked him for his years of service to his country. Our contribution pales in comparison to his. After he completes the AT, he's planning on starting up a non-profit organization to help vets returning from Iraq. He plans to introduce them into hiking as apart of the transition back into civilian life. A great idea and noble undertaking.
We also met 2 other groups of folks who were flying flags on Wildcat A, and South Carter. One of the couples had been participating in the FOT48 for years, and had lost a son in Iraq, sad stuff.
At 2pm we took down the apparatus and packed up everything. "Leave no trace". There has been quite a lot of discussion on how the Forest Service is trying to make sure there are no signs of man along the trails and in the wilderness areas. But stashed in the woods at the top appears to be the entire wreckage of the old fire tower. To boot, there appeared to be a shattered pane of glass near the base of the tower. Why wasn't this stuff removed? Anyway, I digress......
We departed our post, and hammered the downhill, traversing the 5 miles in about 2 hours and 10 min. Joe and CrazyBob are fast hikers. I struggled to keep up (as usual).
The weather wasn't great, but we were able to stay warm and dry. It was great to be a part of this event and great to see so many people who enjoy the outdoors get involved in the remembrance of 9/11. For those who want to learn more about the event: http://www.flagsonthe48.org/
Thanx Joe and CrazyBob, and everyone who participated.....
Hiking Stats: Around 10 miles, about 5 hours, 10 min
Cool flag Pictures:http://picasaweb.google.com/mpetcher
Ascent List:http://peakbagger.com/climber/climblistc.aspx?cid=1767
Petch
