South Carter Mountain

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Nineteen-Mile Brook Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail, Carter Dome Trail, Carter Moriah Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

First 1.8 miles to Carter Dome junction is mostly bare ground with some easily avoidable icy spots, bare boots are fine. Between the junction and Carter Notch, rock spikes work best for now, half the trail has running water that has undermined the snow and ice, and the other half is a foot or two of snow, which was solid on Sunday morning. Wildcat Ridge Trail to A Peak is snow with a few icy spots, some side-hilling going on. I went up in my rock spikes, but put on sharper ones for the descent. Carter Notch to Carter Dome starts with bare ground and ice in between rocks. I kept my sharper spikes on and walk up the ice, but rock spikes and hoppingfrom rock to rock through the steeps would be fine too. Afterthe outlook, it becomes more snow than ice. The trailwas firm,but it was a bumpy ride. Carter Dome to Zeta Pass begins with some impressive old rotting snow drifts. As it gets warmer,expect to sink to your knees/waist coming off the summit. Between the two junctionsfor Hight, there is an annoying but firm, for now, side hill, anywhere from a foot to three feet above the ground. Zeta Pass to Middle and South Carter has some bare ground, ice, and snow. Rock spikes work best. Carter Dome Trail descending from Zeta Pass is an ice flow for the first 0.25 miles until 3600'. Pretty impressive and slow going. Below 3600' it's mostly bare ground with some ice flows around drainages, which can all be tiptoed around with care. Below the water crossing, there's a little more ice in the trail, but it's not too difficult and was soft by late morning. Bring your rock spikes and patience if hiking the Cats and Carters over the next few weeks, expect slippery conditions!

Parking

Quiet day at Nineteen-Mile Brook Trailhead. three cars at 7am and about ten at 12PM

Water Crossings

The minor crossing on Carter Dome Trail can be rock hopped. The crossing just below the switchbacks can be rock hopped with care, or you can cross on an elevated log.

Also on this trip

Trails Used

19Mile Brook, Carter Moriah, Carter Dome trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

19Mile Brook was ice and bare rock all the way to the hut. And mostly melted or slush on the way back down late in the day. Plenty of water and mud and wet leaves on this trail. Headed up to Carter Dome from the hut, we put on snowshoes for some deeper, soft, slippery snow and kept them on to Middle Carter and back to Carter Dome Trail. Everyone else out there had on spikes and leaving lots of post holes. Snow was just deep enough that I’m glad I had snowshoes. Spikes down Carter Dome trail and back to the car. Trail was narrow in spots between Carter Dome and South Carter, where snowshoes made it a little tricky, but was not going to switch traction.

Parking

Easy parking

Water Crossings

Rock hopping on the Carter Dome Trail with melting ice

Wildlife

Not yet

Also on this trip

Trails Used

19Mile Brook, Carter Moriah, Carter Dome trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

19Mile Brook was ice and bare rock all the way to the hut. And mostly melted or slush on the way back down late in the day. Plenty of water and mud and wet leaves on this trail. Headed up to Carter Dome from the hut, we put on snowshoes for some deeper, soft, slippery snow and kept them on to Middle Carter and back to Carter Dome Trail. Everyone else out there had on spikes and leaving lots of post holes. Snow was just deep enough that I’m glad I had snowshoes. Spikes down Carter Dome trail and back to the car. Trail was narrow in spots between Carter Dome and South Carter, where snowshoes made it a little tricky, but was not going to switch traction.

Parking

Easy parking

Water Crossings

Rock hopping on the Carter Dome Trail with melting ice

Wildlife

Not yet

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Nineteen Mile Brook, Carter Dome Trail, Carter Moriah, North Carter Trail, Imp Trail, Dodge Cut off

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Surprisingly good conditions meant the snowshoes went for a ride and I kept the spikes on from the Nineteen Mile Brook Trailhead until just before the turn off to Camp Dodge. It was crunchy ice down low, then a combo of ice and 2" of powder up high. Was lucky enough to join up with a few college hikers who did a good job of breaking out the tiny amount of drift and chopping up the trail in the best possible way. Exchanged their efforts for a guided trip out via Imp rather than backtracking to Zeta. All in all, very nice conditions for March. Post holes could be counted on one hand.

Parking

Plenty of parking at 19MB trailhead all day.

Water Crossings

All are bridged, but some of those bridges are starting to collapse. Proceed with caution.

Wildlife

None :)

Also on this trip

Trails Used

19-mile Brook Trail, Carter Dome Trail, Carter-Moriah Trail, North Carter Trail, Imp Trail, Camp Dodge cutoff

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

19-mile Brook Trail was hard-packed the whole way, and the river-crossing was very manageable. Snow became more powdery as we approached South Carter. The pass was not broken out at all. Our leader broke it in with snowshoes. We owe him many beers. I was convinced to leave my own in the car--a mistake I deeply regret. In case anyone is tempted to do the same--you need snowshoes between South and Middle Carter, pretty much all the way until the North Carter descent. The Imp trail is currently very patchy, with lots of melting snow and piles of leaves. This makes it hard to follow, and I wouldn't want to do it at night at the moment. The Camp Dodge cutoff is definitely not obvious right now. We would have missed it if someone's Garmin hadn't beeped. If it's helpful to anyone, there's a yellow blaze on the Imp right at the left turnoff. Other than that, we had an excellent day. Very few people were hiking this loop. The temperature was cold and the peaks were breezy. We couldn't ask for better views.

Parking

Lot still had spaces at 9:30 AM

Water Crossings

Hoppable, with care. Watch for unstable snow bridges.

Wildlife

None