Elevation gain: 3435 feet
Trails used: Imp Trail, North Carter Trail, Carter-Moriah Trail.
Highlight(s):
This weekend I decided to re-attempt doing Middle Carter as several years ago when Brian and I tried it from the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail side, we encountered deep snow, heavy winds and I was a bit under the weather (no pun intended). So we turned back shortly after reaching South Carter Mountain and well short of the objective. This time I would redeem myself with a successful ascent. The weather even promised to not be that bad.
Middle Carter Mountain is located in the Bean's Purchase Township and is part of the Carter-Moriah Range, which is to the east of the Presidential Range. Middle Carter is the highest peak in the Carter-Moriah Range which also consists of North Carter Mountain, Mount Lethe, South Carter Mountain, Mount Hight and Carter Dome. Only South Carter Mountain and Carter Dome are recognized four thousand footers.
Middle Carter Mountain is on the New Hampshire 4000 footer's list, the New England/New Hampshire 100 Highest/New Hampshire 200 Highest List, and the New Hampshire 3k List.
We took the southern branch of the Imp Trail up to get to the North Carter Trail. We passed under this power lines at the start of the hike.
Early on we would get some views (through the tree's) of Mount Madison and the southern Presidential Range.
The trail was hardpacked enough that we managed to bareboot our way up the Imp Trail.
Brian eating a snack at the North Carter Trail and Imp Trail junction. There was no activity on the Imp Trail when we headed up, but there were snowshoe tracks when we came down.
The North Carter Trail was well packed down as three snowshoers passed us on the way up. There were a few tree's across the trail requiring us to duck under to continue on.
We started getting views of the Presidential Range just before the junction with the Carter-Moriah Trail. While it was cloudy for a bit, and we got around 5 minutes worth of snow, it was a mostly sunny kind of hike.
Some really nice views of North Carter Mountain, Mount Moriah and Shelburne Moriah and the northern Mahoosuc Range extending into Maine from along the trail heading over towards Middle Carter Mountain's summit.
Our destination for the day's hike: the summit of Middle Carter Mountain. It was about to get hit with a brief bout of snow.
Brian walking up the Carter-Moriah Trail towards the summit of Middle Carter Mountain.
I honestly don't remember getting this many views from this trail. This is looking towards the Baldface Mountains and surrounding area.
Surprisingly the Presidential Range managed to almost stay out of the clouds for the duration of this hike.
The view from Middle Carter Mountain looking towards Mount Hight and Carter Dome.
Me on the summit of Middle Carter Mountain (elevation 4610'). This make 44 4000 foot peaks in New Hampshire in winter for me.
Views north into New Hampshire from Middle Carter Mountain. The Crescent Range and the Weeks Mountains, Mount Waumbek and Mount Cabot all visible.
Another shot of the Presidential Range and Mount Washington.
Back to where we started the hike from. This is the Imp Trail head which is off of Route 16. There was room for a few cars at the somewhat plowed out trailhead.
While it wasn't a perfect winter day, it was a heck of a lot better than the last time we attempted this peak. The result's were a lot better as well. The amount of snow brought out the views that I didn't remember being there but it was a plus to the day. The weather also managed to be a plus as it didn't snow on us and it wasn't as cold as our February hiking had been the past few years.
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