Tom Rankin
Well-known member
We met Paradox and Ishmael and spotted a car at Upper Imp and drove to 19MB. We started around 8:15. Worst part of the day was the icy drive to the trailhead. Off we went on snowshoes on a fairly hard packed trail, that would change later!
We got to the Zeta turn off in about an hour. Another hour and we were at the junction to go to Carter Dome. Another hour or so and we hit the top. Views were great. We could see the Pressies and quite a bit more. The wind abates right at the summit, but was not terrible anywhere, even out in the open sections.
We turned around and booked back to the Junction and then up to South Carter. Continued on to Middle Carter. Even managed to hit the top of Lethe with a few spruce traps off trail. Views just kept getting better all day! (Full disclosure - we did not do North Carter, but it seemed like with all those bumps there must be a dozen Carters here and there).
The temps kept getting higher all day too. The snow turned into mashed potatoes, especially in the sunny areas going down the Imp trail. I had a few good butt slides up high, but it was too slushy down lower. The ice bridges are starting to deteriorate. Back to the car around 5:00. A longish day, about 13 miles, and 5,000' or so of elevation according to Paradox's GPS.
Nice to run into Blue and her fiance along the way!
We got to the Zeta turn off in about an hour. Another hour and we were at the junction to go to Carter Dome. Another hour or so and we hit the top. Views were great. We could see the Pressies and quite a bit more. The wind abates right at the summit, but was not terrible anywhere, even out in the open sections.
We turned around and booked back to the Junction and then up to South Carter. Continued on to Middle Carter. Even managed to hit the top of Lethe with a few spruce traps off trail. Views just kept getting better all day! (Full disclosure - we did not do North Carter, but it seemed like with all those bumps there must be a dozen Carters here and there).
The temps kept getting higher all day too. The snow turned into mashed potatoes, especially in the sunny areas going down the Imp trail. I had a few good butt slides up high, but it was too slushy down lower. The ice bridges are starting to deteriorate. Back to the car around 5:00. A longish day, about 13 miles, and 5,000' or so of elevation according to Paradox's GPS.
Nice to run into Blue and her fiance along the way!