Double Bow
New member
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2005
- Messages
- 1,172
- Reaction score
- 219
On Sunday Rols, Tuco, and I decided to do Middle and South Carter. The idea of doing Carter Dome as well had been dicussed but due to time constraints, we decided that two peaks would be good enough. We met at the Imp trailhead and spotted a car at the Nineteen Mile Brook trailhead.
As we started up, we believed that we were heading up the north loop to go over Imp face. Tuco and I had never done either part of the Imp trail so we had nothing to go on. Rols had done it long ago and had recollections of it which the landscape wasn't matching up with. However, the sign at the trailhead gave every indication that the way we were going was indeed the way up the Imp Face.
While the trail started fairly dry and level, it wasn't too long before we felt the need for traction. Rols and Tuco put on STABILicers and I put on my crampons which I had repaired from the clip breaking the day before. Soon, we began climbing and we couldn't believe just how much ice was there. We knew it was going to be icy from reading others Trip Reports but we had no idea! The ice flows were huge. In some places, we could tell the ice was well over a foot thick! The warm temp had softened the ice a little but we were very glad to have traction.
As we continued up, I commented about how I wouldn't think that the north loop would be so well packed and Rols kept saying that it didn't seem right. When we reached the juction with the North Carter Trail, we knew the truth. We had been on the south loop. This was fine as time was important and there's always another time.
The North Carter trail was spectacular. The woods were so beautiful. There were time when the sun cam e shining through and that just enhanced it. It was sort of the best of both worlds. It was warmer, like spring but had the appearance of winter. This made the steeper climbing more enjoyable. It was also enjoyable to be able to periodically turn around and see the very stormy looking Northern Presis. For most of the day, they had dark clouds covering the summits and it made the views very interesting. As a contrast, the Evans Notch area was sunny with blue skies!
When we hit the ridge, we layered up as the wind was blowing and was a bit cold. As we hiking along the ridge, we kept stopping and taking pictures because it was so spectacular. The deep packed snow gave us much better views than we'd get in summer coming this way. We reached one point, just before the final climb up Middle Carter, where the repair I had made to my crampon broke. This was actually the best possible spot for it to break since we were in the col and were well sheltered. Fortunately, Rols once again had the supplies in his pack to help out one of his partners. He gave me some hanger wire and soon my crampon was back on and we were climbing again. Soon we were at the summit and were taking even more pictures in ever direction. Then, it was off again towards South Carter.
The distance between the two went by quickly and once we were there, Rols and I congratulated Tuco of #24 of the 48. I poked around a little and found a Partial Presi Peek which I tried to take a shot of but the cloudy conditions and branches made it hard to get. As we were going to leave, we met Troy G. and his friend. They were coming from a night at Imp Shelter and were bound for the hut. The next day, they were going to continue on. It was a great story to hear since we learned that Troy's friend had had heart surgery only 7 months earlier! Way to go guys.
As we left them and started down, we reached a very steep and icy section. It proved too much for STABILicers and Tuco took a fall and slid into a tree!
Fortunately, as he slid, he managed to get himself into a position to minimize the impact. Once we reached the bottom of that steep section, Rols and Tuco put on their crampons. Tuco has obviously sore and a little banged up but luckily, it was nothing too serious and we continued on. After a little while we reached Zeta Pass and turned onto the Carter Dome trail.
We were worried about what we'd find on the Carter Dome trail as we had heard earlier about the many blowdowns that were there. Luck continued to be ours as we found that ALL the blowdowns had been cut. We had no issues (other that my crampon needed to be fixed again) getting down to Nineteen Mile Brook. Once there, we found the trail extremely well used with sections of ice intermingled with sections of bare trail. It was very easy to tell that this is a heavily used trail. It was a lot more bare than when I'd been in there a month earlier. I could have barebooted the way out but kept my crampons on just because I didn't want to take a spill at the end of the day.
In all, it was a great day with a little bit of everything condition-wise. It was good to get out again with a couple of really great guys and it was nice to get back to the Carters again. In the two and a half years since my last visit, I'd forgotten how nice they are.
Here are a bunch of pics
As we started up, we believed that we were heading up the north loop to go over Imp face. Tuco and I had never done either part of the Imp trail so we had nothing to go on. Rols had done it long ago and had recollections of it which the landscape wasn't matching up with. However, the sign at the trailhead gave every indication that the way we were going was indeed the way up the Imp Face.
While the trail started fairly dry and level, it wasn't too long before we felt the need for traction. Rols and Tuco put on STABILicers and I put on my crampons which I had repaired from the clip breaking the day before. Soon, we began climbing and we couldn't believe just how much ice was there. We knew it was going to be icy from reading others Trip Reports but we had no idea! The ice flows were huge. In some places, we could tell the ice was well over a foot thick! The warm temp had softened the ice a little but we were very glad to have traction.
As we continued up, I commented about how I wouldn't think that the north loop would be so well packed and Rols kept saying that it didn't seem right. When we reached the juction with the North Carter Trail, we knew the truth. We had been on the south loop. This was fine as time was important and there's always another time.
The North Carter trail was spectacular. The woods were so beautiful. There were time when the sun cam e shining through and that just enhanced it. It was sort of the best of both worlds. It was warmer, like spring but had the appearance of winter. This made the steeper climbing more enjoyable. It was also enjoyable to be able to periodically turn around and see the very stormy looking Northern Presis. For most of the day, they had dark clouds covering the summits and it made the views very interesting. As a contrast, the Evans Notch area was sunny with blue skies!
When we hit the ridge, we layered up as the wind was blowing and was a bit cold. As we hiking along the ridge, we kept stopping and taking pictures because it was so spectacular. The deep packed snow gave us much better views than we'd get in summer coming this way. We reached one point, just before the final climb up Middle Carter, where the repair I had made to my crampon broke. This was actually the best possible spot for it to break since we were in the col and were well sheltered. Fortunately, Rols once again had the supplies in his pack to help out one of his partners. He gave me some hanger wire and soon my crampon was back on and we were climbing again. Soon we were at the summit and were taking even more pictures in ever direction. Then, it was off again towards South Carter.
The distance between the two went by quickly and once we were there, Rols and I congratulated Tuco of #24 of the 48. I poked around a little and found a Partial Presi Peek which I tried to take a shot of but the cloudy conditions and branches made it hard to get. As we were going to leave, we met Troy G. and his friend. They were coming from a night at Imp Shelter and were bound for the hut. The next day, they were going to continue on. It was a great story to hear since we learned that Troy's friend had had heart surgery only 7 months earlier! Way to go guys.
As we left them and started down, we reached a very steep and icy section. It proved too much for STABILicers and Tuco took a fall and slid into a tree!
Fortunately, as he slid, he managed to get himself into a position to minimize the impact. Once we reached the bottom of that steep section, Rols and Tuco put on their crampons. Tuco has obviously sore and a little banged up but luckily, it was nothing too serious and we continued on. After a little while we reached Zeta Pass and turned onto the Carter Dome trail.We were worried about what we'd find on the Carter Dome trail as we had heard earlier about the many blowdowns that were there. Luck continued to be ours as we found that ALL the blowdowns had been cut. We had no issues (other that my crampon needed to be fixed again) getting down to Nineteen Mile Brook. Once there, we found the trail extremely well used with sections of ice intermingled with sections of bare trail. It was very easy to tell that this is a heavily used trail. It was a lot more bare than when I'd been in there a month earlier. I could have barebooted the way out but kept my crampons on just because I didn't want to take a spill at the end of the day.
In all, it was a great day with a little bit of everything condition-wise. It was good to get out again with a couple of really great guys and it was nice to get back to the Carters again. In the two and a half years since my last visit, I'd forgotten how nice they are.
Here are a bunch of pics
