Vegan.Hiker
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- Jul 5, 2014
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November 22nd and 23rd, 2014
This past Friday I left work early and headed to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The plan was to shack up in a motel Friday night and get an early start on Saturday to hike a section of the Carter Range summiting Mount Hight (yup that's the right spelling) and Carter Dome. From the summit of Carter Dome I would descend 2,000 feet into Carter Notch and spend the night at the AMC (Appalachian Mountain Club) Carter Notch Hut. Sunday I planned to leave my pack at the hut and summit Wildcat Mountain before returning to the hut to pick up my pack and begin my hike back.
After the 6 and a half hour drive I checked into a motel and started organizing my gear for the next morning. Not sure about you guys, but a lot of my trips seem to start with my gear sprawled on the bed of a strange motel in a strange town. Figuring out the volatile weather in the Whites can be tricky any time of the year, but especially so during the shoulder season. After checking the high summits forecast one last time at the trailhead Saturday morning I ended up leaving the crampons in the trunk opting for just microspikes and bringing an extra layer, glove liners, and sleeping bag liner since the forecast called for sub-zero temps with the wind chill. Turned out to be pretty cold, but the winds turned out to be relatively calm.
New Hampshire and Vermont are known for their covered bridges. There are quite a few in the Whites.
The snow on the drive there didn't look bad at all but according to the AMC website there was 5" at the Carter Notch Hut and a few more than that on the summits.
The Pemigewasset River on the drive in.
Heading up the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail there was only about 1" of snow but the microspikes came in handy because there was lots of ice right off the bat.
When I got to the Carter-Moriah trail and up into the Alpine Zone there was considerably more snow as you can see here. It was the winter wonderland I had hoped for.
After an increasingly difficult climb, I reached the summit of Mount Hight. which gives a nice 360 degree view.
Looking south from Mount Hight towards Mount Washington, Mount Jefferson, and Mount Adams of the Presidential Range.
Another shot of the Presidential Range. I was really surprised at how calm the winds were.
Looking east towards Carter Dome, my next destination point.
A pano of Carter Dome and Mount Washington.
Entering back into the alpine forest across the ridge to Carter Dome on the Carter Dome Trail (this section is also part of the Appalachian Trail.)
I thought this trail was the most beautiful section of the trip. A few times I could have sworn I heard sleigh bells. It was also nice that even though I didn't see anyone else on the trail that first day, the trail had already been broken.
The summit of Carter Dome isn't above treeline (you can actually see the summit sign towards the left if you look hard) but there are short paths through the trees to lookouts both north and south.
Looking north from Carter Dome towards the section of the Whites that are in Maine.
Looking south towards , you guessed it... still the Presidentials.
After a really steep descent from Carter Dome into Carter Notch (2k feet in less than a mile and a half) you finally arrive at the two small Carter Lakes and the Carter Notch Hut.
The lodge has a fireplace, tables and a kitchen. Guests have full use of the kitchen, pots, pans, utensils, etc.
The kitchen
The collection of northeast hikers mingling in the lodge. Lazy backpackers like myself ate freeze dried backpacker food while others took advantage of the kitchen and brought brownie mix and cookie dough and baked for everyone.
There are two separate bunkhouses. There is no heat or electricity but they provide shelter from wind and also have comfy sleeping pads and pillows. I know what you're all thinking right now.. that we're soft over here. I can't really think of a counter argument at the moment so I'll have to get back to you on that.
The inside of the bunkhouse
Unfortunately Sunday morning we were in a dense fog that was forecasted to last the entire day. I decided it wouldn't be worth the hard and steep climb in the ice and snow just to stand in a cloud, so I headed down the 4.5 mile direct trail back to where my car was parked and got a head start on the long drive home.
If you're curious about what the White Mountains look like in the summer you can check out this report and/or video that I made in August:
Report - http://backcountrypost.com/forum/threads/mt-lincoln-mt-lafayette-new-hampshire-video-added.3543/
Video - Post Your Videos
Thanks for reading
Featured image for home page:
This past Friday I left work early and headed to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The plan was to shack up in a motel Friday night and get an early start on Saturday to hike a section of the Carter Range summiting Mount Hight (yup that's the right spelling) and Carter Dome. From the summit of Carter Dome I would descend 2,000 feet into Carter Notch and spend the night at the AMC (Appalachian Mountain Club) Carter Notch Hut. Sunday I planned to leave my pack at the hut and summit Wildcat Mountain before returning to the hut to pick up my pack and begin my hike back.
After the 6 and a half hour drive I checked into a motel and started organizing my gear for the next morning. Not sure about you guys, but a lot of my trips seem to start with my gear sprawled on the bed of a strange motel in a strange town. Figuring out the volatile weather in the Whites can be tricky any time of the year, but especially so during the shoulder season. After checking the high summits forecast one last time at the trailhead Saturday morning I ended up leaving the crampons in the trunk opting for just microspikes and bringing an extra layer, glove liners, and sleeping bag liner since the forecast called for sub-zero temps with the wind chill. Turned out to be pretty cold, but the winds turned out to be relatively calm.
New Hampshire and Vermont are known for their covered bridges. There are quite a few in the Whites.
The snow on the drive there didn't look bad at all but according to the AMC website there was 5" at the Carter Notch Hut and a few more than that on the summits.
The Pemigewasset River on the drive in.
Heading up the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail there was only about 1" of snow but the microspikes came in handy because there was lots of ice right off the bat.
When I got to the Carter-Moriah trail and up into the Alpine Zone there was considerably more snow as you can see here. It was the winter wonderland I had hoped for.
After an increasingly difficult climb, I reached the summit of Mount Hight. which gives a nice 360 degree view.
Looking south from Mount Hight towards Mount Washington, Mount Jefferson, and Mount Adams of the Presidential Range.
Another shot of the Presidential Range. I was really surprised at how calm the winds were.
Looking east towards Carter Dome, my next destination point.
A pano of Carter Dome and Mount Washington.
Entering back into the alpine forest across the ridge to Carter Dome on the Carter Dome Trail (this section is also part of the Appalachian Trail.)
I thought this trail was the most beautiful section of the trip. A few times I could have sworn I heard sleigh bells. It was also nice that even though I didn't see anyone else on the trail that first day, the trail had already been broken.
The summit of Carter Dome isn't above treeline (you can actually see the summit sign towards the left if you look hard) but there are short paths through the trees to lookouts both north and south.
Looking north from Carter Dome towards the section of the Whites that are in Maine.
Looking south towards , you guessed it... still the Presidentials.
After a really steep descent from Carter Dome into Carter Notch (2k feet in less than a mile and a half) you finally arrive at the two small Carter Lakes and the Carter Notch Hut.
The lodge has a fireplace, tables and a kitchen. Guests have full use of the kitchen, pots, pans, utensils, etc.
The kitchen
The collection of northeast hikers mingling in the lodge. Lazy backpackers like myself ate freeze dried backpacker food while others took advantage of the kitchen and brought brownie mix and cookie dough and baked for everyone.
There are two separate bunkhouses. There is no heat or electricity but they provide shelter from wind and also have comfy sleeping pads and pillows. I know what you're all thinking right now.. that we're soft over here. I can't really think of a counter argument at the moment so I'll have to get back to you on that.
The inside of the bunkhouse
Unfortunately Sunday morning we were in a dense fog that was forecasted to last the entire day. I decided it wouldn't be worth the hard and steep climb in the ice and snow just to stand in a cloud, so I headed down the 4.5 mile direct trail back to where my car was parked and got a head start on the long drive home.
If you're curious about what the White Mountains look like in the summer you can check out this report and/or video that I made in August:
Report - http://backcountrypost.com/forum/threads/mt-lincoln-mt-lafayette-new-hampshire-video-added.3543/
Video - Post Your Videos
Thanks for reading
Featured image for home page:
Last edited:
