Woke up at 4:15am for the second straight day and drove to the Nineteen Mile Brook Trailhead. Started hiking about 7:30am. Hiked on the Nineteen Mile Brook trail to the Carter Dome Trail. Took the Carter Dome Trail to Zeta Pass. The Carter Dome Trail was interesting and filled with many blowdowns. Eventually after crawling on the ground, bushwacking around, and sacrificing my snow pants to a branch that tore a foot long rip on my ass, we finally made it to Zeta Pass. From here it felt like a cake walk to the summit of Carter Dome. Since there was no views, we skipped Mt. Hight. It took little convincing to return by the Carter-Moriah Trail down to the hut and make a loop. The Carter-Moriah Trail from Carter Dome summit to the lake was steep, but nice. Not enough snow or ice for crampons, but you had to be careful in a few spots. Then we took the Nineteen Mile Brook trail all the way back to the trailhead. It was snowing through much of the day. There was quite of bit of ice on the upper sections of Nineteen Mile brook trail (stabilizers would have been useful, but crampons not necessary.) A little more snow on the summit, but not enough for snowshoes. The weather was warmer than the previous day (in the 20s) and there was no wind.
Carter Dome Summit
Sun trying to come out, but the snow was winning the battle
Bill and Betsy at the Summit
Group Photo
Group Photo with me
Descending down the Carter-Moriah trail looking down on the lake and the hut
Looking at the Wildcat Mountains.
Steve
The lake near Carter Notch Hut. If you look carefully you can see the snow falling
Small Waterfall on Nineteen Mile Brook Trail
