una_dogger
Well-known member
Peaks: South and Middle Carter
NH4k #14 & 15/Winter #5 & 6
Route: Nineteen Mile Brook Trail -> Carter Dome Trail -> Carter-Moriah Trail
Distance: 11.8 miles
Gain: 3650 ft
On saturday morning after observing a huge lenticular cloud hovering over the entire breadth of the Presidentials, MichaelJ and I scrapped our plans at bagging Jeffie, Adams and Madison; and instead headed over to the Nineteen Mile Brook Trailhead. We threw on our snowshoes and started up the trail, after squeezing into the last spot in the lot.
The trail was extremely well packed down along the entire 1.9 mile distance up to the junction of the Carter Notch Trailhead. We crossed over at least half a dozen swirly, blue ice flows along the trail. We had alot of fun testing out the grip of our MSRs on the ice.
We quickly reached the junction where a large group had assembled for a snack break. The youngest member of the group eagerly asked us if we were headed up to Zeta Pass, where he said they were planning on camping that night. We said "YES!" and he asked us to break out the trail for them -- we noticed they were wearing only crampons. Naturally, my response was that we were on the job -- after all, I love breaking trail!
We began our climb up to Zeta Pass and I glanced down the trail and noticed the same hiker heading up behind us with an ENORMOUS pack. I began to speculate that he was guiding the group and carrying most of the stuff. By the time we hit the switchbacks we had lost him. This was my first time on these trails and I was really enjoying the way the trail hugs the sides of the mountain while it climbs up the ravine. As the trail continued upward, it was hardpacked by many previous snowshoers and a pleasure to climb.
We soon reached Zeta Pass and had some lunch and hot cocoa. As we turned northward on the AT, we saw the group assembled a short distance below us on the Carter Notch Trail, looking to set up camp. We headed off the bag South Carter. The trail was a pleasure to follow and we were quickly upon the summit. We looked over to the Presis and saw that everything above treeline was shrouded in dark clouds, but the skies to the East of us toward Maine were clear and bright. We looked north on the AT and saw the hulking summit of Middle Carter looming in the distance. I asked MichaelJ, "is that Middle? Or North Carter" half hoping it was North C. "Nope, that's Middle".
Onward we went, careening down some steeps in our snowshoes, having a total blast. Within ten minutes we had reached an exposed ridge, and saw how close we were now to the summit of Middle --- that wasn't so bad!!!
After a few more views and snapshots, we were off and hotfooting it up to the summit. We reached it quickly and stood on a large shelf of snow that had blown its way into the spruce and made a sweet viewing platform. We continued a bit northward and gained another great view of the Presis.
We started back and our thoughts turned to heated car seats and Mexican food
. In the col between South and Middle we met up with the group once again, barebooting it up to Middle. We let them pass, MJ shouted in a friendly voice, "Enjoy that packed trail!" all well intended. We turned our attention to packing down the trail again, and headed back up South Carter. The steeps weren't so easy to get up now that the hardpack had been erroded by so many crampons! Ah well....that's what snowshoes are for!
After reaching the summit of South Carter again, we whooped it up, "all down hill from here!". We flew down the trail, making great time and really enjoying our snowshoes. Earlier in the day we had toyed with the idea of grabbing Carter Dome as well on our way back, but had Carrigain planned for the next day and opted to just enjoy this day and save strength for sunday.
We headed back down the same way we came up, enjoying the warmer weather and well packed trail. At one point I turned to hear more clearly what MJ was joking about, and somehow did a trip/sail/twirl/faceplant flat on the trail! We were both laughing too hard to be too concerned about me falling off the side of the trail into the ravine. Doh! We dubbed this new snowshoe technic "T boning".
For the final mile down the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail we hiked by headlamp in a snow squall. I was in the lead and MJ noticed that my MSRs were sparking on the rocks....smokin'!! By the time we reached the car the snow had really picked up strength and the plows were out on Rt 16.
All in all a great hiking day, warmer temps than we've experienced our last few times out this winter and even a little sunshine. It was my fifth and sixth 4k this winter and my 14th and 15th NH4K overall. (now that I am officially counting!)
NH4k #14 & 15/Winter #5 & 6
Route: Nineteen Mile Brook Trail -> Carter Dome Trail -> Carter-Moriah Trail
Distance: 11.8 miles
Gain: 3650 ft
On saturday morning after observing a huge lenticular cloud hovering over the entire breadth of the Presidentials, MichaelJ and I scrapped our plans at bagging Jeffie, Adams and Madison; and instead headed over to the Nineteen Mile Brook Trailhead. We threw on our snowshoes and started up the trail, after squeezing into the last spot in the lot.
The trail was extremely well packed down along the entire 1.9 mile distance up to the junction of the Carter Notch Trailhead. We crossed over at least half a dozen swirly, blue ice flows along the trail. We had alot of fun testing out the grip of our MSRs on the ice.
We quickly reached the junction where a large group had assembled for a snack break. The youngest member of the group eagerly asked us if we were headed up to Zeta Pass, where he said they were planning on camping that night. We said "YES!" and he asked us to break out the trail for them -- we noticed they were wearing only crampons. Naturally, my response was that we were on the job -- after all, I love breaking trail!
We began our climb up to Zeta Pass and I glanced down the trail and noticed the same hiker heading up behind us with an ENORMOUS pack. I began to speculate that he was guiding the group and carrying most of the stuff. By the time we hit the switchbacks we had lost him. This was my first time on these trails and I was really enjoying the way the trail hugs the sides of the mountain while it climbs up the ravine. As the trail continued upward, it was hardpacked by many previous snowshoers and a pleasure to climb.
We soon reached Zeta Pass and had some lunch and hot cocoa. As we turned northward on the AT, we saw the group assembled a short distance below us on the Carter Notch Trail, looking to set up camp. We headed off the bag South Carter. The trail was a pleasure to follow and we were quickly upon the summit. We looked over to the Presis and saw that everything above treeline was shrouded in dark clouds, but the skies to the East of us toward Maine were clear and bright. We looked north on the AT and saw the hulking summit of Middle Carter looming in the distance. I asked MichaelJ, "is that Middle? Or North Carter" half hoping it was North C. "Nope, that's Middle".
Onward we went, careening down some steeps in our snowshoes, having a total blast. Within ten minutes we had reached an exposed ridge, and saw how close we were now to the summit of Middle --- that wasn't so bad!!!
After a few more views and snapshots, we were off and hotfooting it up to the summit. We reached it quickly and stood on a large shelf of snow that had blown its way into the spruce and made a sweet viewing platform. We continued a bit northward and gained another great view of the Presis.
We started back and our thoughts turned to heated car seats and Mexican food
. In the col between South and Middle we met up with the group once again, barebooting it up to Middle. We let them pass, MJ shouted in a friendly voice, "Enjoy that packed trail!" all well intended. We turned our attention to packing down the trail again, and headed back up South Carter. The steeps weren't so easy to get up now that the hardpack had been erroded by so many crampons! Ah well....that's what snowshoes are for! After reaching the summit of South Carter again, we whooped it up, "all down hill from here!". We flew down the trail, making great time and really enjoying our snowshoes. Earlier in the day we had toyed with the idea of grabbing Carter Dome as well on our way back, but had Carrigain planned for the next day and opted to just enjoy this day and save strength for sunday.
We headed back down the same way we came up, enjoying the warmer weather and well packed trail. At one point I turned to hear more clearly what MJ was joking about, and somehow did a trip/sail/twirl/faceplant flat on the trail! We were both laughing too hard to be too concerned about me falling off the side of the trail into the ravine. Doh! We dubbed this new snowshoe technic "T boning".
For the final mile down the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail we hiked by headlamp in a snow squall. I was in the lead and MJ noticed that my MSRs were sparking on the rocks....smokin'!! By the time we reached the car the snow had really picked up strength and the plows were out on Rt 16.
All in all a great hiking day, warmer temps than we've experienced our last few times out this winter and even a little sunshine. It was my fifth and sixth 4k this winter and my 14th and 15th NH4K overall. (now that I am officially counting!)
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