Imp Tail cut-off to 19 Mile trailhead

I'm looking at a map of the Carters, and pondering the route I'll use to make it back to 19 Mile from Imp Trail. It looks like there are two likely routes. I think the common route leaves Imp at about 1600 feet, and turns towards 19 mile, skirting the back of Camp Dodge. The second route that I see as possible would be to leave Imp at about 1900 feet, crossing the saddle of a minor bump, and follows a drainage to a teeny pond, just before reaching 19 mile at about 1700 feet.

Am I correct in assuming that choice #1 is the usual route?

Anybody ever try the 2nd route?

I cant comment on the second route, but the 1st route gets heavy traffic and is real obvious

As peakbagger mentioned, the 1st one is very obvious. There is a point where the trail crosses an old logging road. If you turn left on this logging road it takes you a short distance right to a field behind Camp Dodge. Just follow the driveway out to the road and it is a relatively short walk out.

Brian

Here is a Wikiloc map of the first alternative.

Thanks, all. Mohamed, I have that track. It might be fun to try the other route

I guess it'll depend on how beat I am, and what the snow is like by next weekend.

A friend and I considered something similar to #2, but found Cowboy Brook to be too high to cross.

Doug

I have done the 2nd route a couple times, it works.

For the 1st route you don't normally skirt Camp Dodge, you just follow the woods road to Camp Dodge and walk out the driveway. I've never heard of anybody being kidnapped and forced to do trail work

It looks like the 2nd route was once a trail, at least before the '38 hurricane.
http://docs.unh.edu/NH/grhm37sw.jpg

Jason Berard said:

It looks like the 2nd route was once a trail, at least before the '38 hurricane.
http://docs.unh.edu/NH/grhm37sw.jpg

Click to expand...

The Manway seems to head uphill from Rte 16, I would say that most bushwhack users head downhill from the ridge