Love Goat Films: A Trifecta on the Carters

Trip Details
Date: January 26^th, 2018
Total Distance: 14.04 mi (via Garmin fenix 5X)
Total Time: 8 hours 6 minutes
Total Elevation: 5217 ft gained
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BishopX and I got a later than normal start this winter so we went for a trifecta on a cold and windy, but otherwise beautiful day on the mountains. Unfortunately, I am still paying for this hike as the toll it took on my immune system allowed the plague to win over hence why I am writing this a bit later than I wanted.

Since I hiked these mountains just a few months back there is not much new to report. Some highlights were:

The Imp Trail and North Carter Trail had a monorail that was covered by crusty new snow. We used spikes throughout this point. Two large blow downs on the Imp Trail required you to work your way around them in the woods.
We put snowshoes on once we got on the ridge. They probably were not necessary, but as we got further on the ridge (closer to Zeta Pass and Carter Dome) the drifts became evident and they helped through there. There was evidence of someone on the ridge bare booting so traction was not all necessary.
Middle Carter had a few feet of snow on it as the geocache that was previously over BishopX's head was now at chest level.
After Middle Carter the blow downs start piling up one after the other and they continue till about Zeta Pass. This trail is going to need some serious trail work come springtime. A lot of them requiring you to crawl under them.
There is a blow down resting on the summit of South Carter.
The forecast predicted for dying winds as the day went on and by the time we got to the summit of Mt. Hight the wind had dyed down enough that we could take some photos and enjoy the amazing 360º views.
I was not nearly in the shape I was during previous years (plus the cold coming on probably did not help) so 616 ft ascent of to Mt. Hight was killer.
The cliff outlook right at the start of the steep descent into the Carter Notch was sheer ice so we strapped on our new Black Diamond crampons to test them out. We had hoped for some butt sliding down the entire descent from Carter Dome, but the snow was too icy so it was not fun. We still took advantage of it where we could and got a couple of decent runs in on the steep part.
Nineteen-Mile Brook is a monotonous slough that I hope to not do again in the near future.

Here is some pictures from our journey:

Camp Dodge is closed for the season!

The Imp Trail is faintly visible.

This is the second blow down on the Imp Trail. The trail goes right through it. A bushwhack is forming to the right through the thick woods.

Our first view of the Presidentials from the outlook before Middle Carter.

Northern Presidentials

Looking down Pinkham Notch.

BishopX on Middle Carter's summit. The cairn is buried in the snow.

The geocache is in tree (you would have to zoom in to see it as I did not when I took the photo...sorry). It is now at chest level, which is probably close to two feet lower than normal.