Bob Kittredge
Active member
Had planned to do Madison, but it was raining when I arrived with a chance of thundershowers. It can wait.
The South and Middle Carter loop seemed like a reasonable Plan B, given that most of it is in the woods, so I headed for 19 Mile Brook. Being solo, I couldn't spot a car at the Imp trailhead, so instead I walked up the road to Camp Dodge and turned in. Taking the fork to the left I walked into where there are a bunch of tent platforms and continued on into the woods where the road is overgrown but easy to follow. In about a quarter of a mile it crosses the Imp Trail. The mosquitos were swarming so I didn't linger long to admire the wildflowers. From there on it was the usual rainy day slog up Imp, North Carter and Carter-Moriah trails. At least the temperature was comfortable, and it didn't pour outright. I duly bagged M. Carter (42) and S. Carter (43). Coming down into Zeta Pass I finally met a other hikers for the first time that day, a couple of guys headed for Gorham. Then down Carter Dome Trail with a few blowdowns and some very nice wildflowers. Those wildflowers were really the only bright spot of the entire day.
It had mostly stopped raining by the time I got back to route 16, took of my boots and stuck my feet in the brook (aahhh!). Then off to Hikers Paradise which was mostly deserted.
The South and Middle Carter loop seemed like a reasonable Plan B, given that most of it is in the woods, so I headed for 19 Mile Brook. Being solo, I couldn't spot a car at the Imp trailhead, so instead I walked up the road to Camp Dodge and turned in. Taking the fork to the left I walked into where there are a bunch of tent platforms and continued on into the woods where the road is overgrown but easy to follow. In about a quarter of a mile it crosses the Imp Trail. The mosquitos were swarming so I didn't linger long to admire the wildflowers. From there on it was the usual rainy day slog up Imp, North Carter and Carter-Moriah trails. At least the temperature was comfortable, and it didn't pour outright. I duly bagged M. Carter (42) and S. Carter (43). Coming down into Zeta Pass I finally met a other hikers for the first time that day, a couple of guys headed for Gorham. Then down Carter Dome Trail with a few blowdowns and some very nice wildflowers. Those wildflowers were really the only bright spot of the entire day.
It had mostly stopped raining by the time I got back to route 16, took of my boots and stuck my feet in the brook (aahhh!). Then off to Hikers Paradise which was mostly deserted.
