Roxi
Active member
The Nineteen Mile Brook trail started out wet on a gorgeous, sunny, and humid day. I was soaked by the time I reached the Carter Dome trail, not because of heat or sweat, but because of humidity. Rocks were slippery due to the moisture covering them. The Carter Dome trail was similar, although slightly steeper. From Zeta Pass I took a right on the Carter-Moriah trail and headed up to Mt. Hight on a dry trail which got steeper as it got closer to the summit. Hight’s 360 degree views were well worth the effort to get there! I met an AT thru hiker on Hight who said that a hiker he met on Carter Dome had told him the views on Hight were socked in while he was there this am. Apparently Mother Nature liked the thru hiker as she sent the fog/cloud on its way by the time he and I reached that peak from opposite directions. What a view! The northern presidentials to the west were awesome, as was Carter Dome to the south, the other Carters to the north, and the Baldfaces to the east. I’ll go back to Hight for the views alone, which were worth savoring, but soon it was time for me to head to Carter DOme as the thru hiker continued north.
The ridge walk was nice, and dry, and in a little while I reached the expansive summit of Carter Dome where plenty of seating was available for lunch. The remnants of the old fire tower were visible and I met a couple who had bypassed Hight. The woman noticed I had an LL Bean Cecilia Day Pack like hers, only purple. We spent a few minutes sharing how much we liked them while her husband quietly listened. He had the Bigelow pack, also very good.
After lunch I continued south as I wanted to stop in at the Carter Notch Hut, having never seen that particular hut before. The map said it was a little over a mile, so off I went expecting to make good time, afterall I was going down. I knew from reading about the trail that it would be steeper than approaching Carter Dome from the north, but I didn’t realize how much steeper. My pace slowed considerably as I picked my way over the rocks, several were wet and slippery. After a ways, a small sign on the left indicated a view. I climbed up the short spur and was rewarded with a breathtaking panorama overlooking Carter Notch. The steepness of the trails coming up out of Carter Notch became readily apparent. I could see the hut and what looked like additional buildings. Wildcat A loomed over the notch on the opposite side, while to my left was an enormous boulder with a crack down its backside, perched precariously on top off a cliff. Beneath the cliff was an area littered with chunks of boulders that presumably tumbled down in previously years. I can foresee the same thing happening to this large boulder some day, much like the Old Man crashing down. I hope when it does descend, it doesn’t have enough momentum to reach the hut.
I continued slowly picking my way down the steep trail to Carter Notch Hut, and it reminded me very much of the steep trail between Galehead Hut and the summit of South Twin. This is the kind of trail that your knees will remember. I was glad I was going down it rather than up, and if I ever return to Carter Dome, I will again approach it from the north, rather than climb up from Carter Notch.
After what seemed like hours, the trail dumped me out right next to the larger of the Carter Lakes, both really about the size of ponds. Mother Nature decorated it beautifully with many yellow water lilies! The smaller of the “lakes” was also very picturesque and I enjoyed hiking between their coastlines as I made my way to the hut.
The Carter Notch hut itself seemed dark and small, and I didn’t spend lots of time there, preferring to be outside in the sunshine. I lingered as I walked past the “lakes” again and began the final section of my hike down the portion of the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail that I had not yet traversed. It, too, had a lot of rocks and took some time to descend. I loved the stream crossings which were bridged with wide planks. The trail is a feast for the senses. Besides being very pretty to look at, and the scent of balsam drifting through the air, the brook gets louder the closer it gets to the trailhead. I never tire of the sound of moving water....
...my feet, however, were very tired at the end of this loop hike, but in the best sense. You know that feeling of complete and utter contentment as your body wants nothing more than a shower, some food, and sleep. Someday I will return to Mt Hight, and maybe even Carter Dome (my 46th) from the north, but when I return to the beautiful Carter Lakes, it will be via the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail. My knees will thank me.
The ridge walk was nice, and dry, and in a little while I reached the expansive summit of Carter Dome where plenty of seating was available for lunch. The remnants of the old fire tower were visible and I met a couple who had bypassed Hight. The woman noticed I had an LL Bean Cecilia Day Pack like hers, only purple. We spent a few minutes sharing how much we liked them while her husband quietly listened. He had the Bigelow pack, also very good.
After lunch I continued south as I wanted to stop in at the Carter Notch Hut, having never seen that particular hut before. The map said it was a little over a mile, so off I went expecting to make good time, afterall I was going down. I knew from reading about the trail that it would be steeper than approaching Carter Dome from the north, but I didn’t realize how much steeper. My pace slowed considerably as I picked my way over the rocks, several were wet and slippery. After a ways, a small sign on the left indicated a view. I climbed up the short spur and was rewarded with a breathtaking panorama overlooking Carter Notch. The steepness of the trails coming up out of Carter Notch became readily apparent. I could see the hut and what looked like additional buildings. Wildcat A loomed over the notch on the opposite side, while to my left was an enormous boulder with a crack down its backside, perched precariously on top off a cliff. Beneath the cliff was an area littered with chunks of boulders that presumably tumbled down in previously years. I can foresee the same thing happening to this large boulder some day, much like the Old Man crashing down. I hope when it does descend, it doesn’t have enough momentum to reach the hut.
I continued slowly picking my way down the steep trail to Carter Notch Hut, and it reminded me very much of the steep trail between Galehead Hut and the summit of South Twin. This is the kind of trail that your knees will remember. I was glad I was going down it rather than up, and if I ever return to Carter Dome, I will again approach it from the north, rather than climb up from Carter Notch.
After what seemed like hours, the trail dumped me out right next to the larger of the Carter Lakes, both really about the size of ponds. Mother Nature decorated it beautifully with many yellow water lilies! The smaller of the “lakes” was also very picturesque and I enjoyed hiking between their coastlines as I made my way to the hut.
The Carter Notch hut itself seemed dark and small, and I didn’t spend lots of time there, preferring to be outside in the sunshine. I lingered as I walked past the “lakes” again and began the final section of my hike down the portion of the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail that I had not yet traversed. It, too, had a lot of rocks and took some time to descend. I loved the stream crossings which were bridged with wide planks. The trail is a feast for the senses. Besides being very pretty to look at, and the scent of balsam drifting through the air, the brook gets louder the closer it gets to the trailhead. I never tire of the sound of moving water....
...my feet, however, were very tired at the end of this loop hike, but in the best sense. You know that feeling of complete and utter contentment as your body wants nothing more than a shower, some food, and sleep. Someday I will return to Mt Hight, and maybe even Carter Dome (my 46th) from the north, but when I return to the beautiful Carter Lakes, it will be via the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail. My knees will thank me.
