8/11/07
Carter Dome 4832’ and Mount Hight 4675'

10.8 Miles 3500' Elevation gain

Kevin, Jude and Emma

On a backpack trip to Imp Shelter at the end of May it was our intention to hike to Carter Dome the next day, then return to the shelter. We did not make the trip all the way to Carter Dome, turning around at South Carter. We had run into some snow and ice still on the trail between Imp Shelter and North Carter, then the grueling climb up North Carter combined with not the best nights sleep and we decided to keep the hike enjoyable. Carter Dome would be there another day, and this was the day! And a perfect day it was. Starting out on the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, the temps were moderate and again we marvelled at the lack of biting insects. The hike along Nineteen Mile Brook was beautiful with the sun filtering through the trees and illuminating the many drops and pools beside the trail. Emma found ample opportunity to delve in and cool off, lapping up the cool water to hydrate herself, seemingly knowing that the higher we climb the fewer opportunities there would be to wade and lap to her hearts content. Jude was nursing another sprained ankle. The same ankle she had sprained twice on the Hancock Loop. This time the injury occurred at the dog park and not on the trail. She was run over by an Irish Water Spaniel. A fancy name for a poodle, if you ask me. At any rate, she made this climb despite having the worst ankle sprain she has yet had only days previous. And Major League ball players are put on the DL for blisters! Well, no DL for Jude, despite most of her foot looking like a ripe bunch of Concord Grapes. She's always been more of a hockey player than a baseball player anyway! We soon found ourselves turning southeast on the Carter Dome Trail, and soon after that we were counting the switchbacks up to Zeta Pass. We were astounded at the lack of other hikers on the trail on a beautiful summer weekend, and enjoyed the solitude. Over the course of seven hours we only saw about a dozen people as we went to Carter Dome then looped back over Mount Hight and then back to Zeta Pass before descending the way we had come. On previous trips we had included the other Carters in peakbagging frenzy. In our minds, that is about as close to a "Sufferfest"as we want to get. I've recently read about running to Owlshead and back, the Pemi Loop in 12 hours and a double Presidential Traverse. I'm sure these people probably enjoy doing these unbelievable feats, I wouldn't. We took our time, partly because of Jude's ankle, but mostly because it was a beautiful day and we were in the place we love best, the White Mountains of New Hampshire. We spent plenty of time on the summit of Carter Dome, eating lunch, watching several hawks circle overhead and watching the clouds roll over the Presidentials, which had all been visible when we arrived. As we moved over to Mount Hight the Presidential summits had been swallowed by the fog monster, but all around us there were wonderful views in all directions. Mount Hight truly lives up to its reputation of one of the best views in the White Mountains. The views north to the remaining Carters and Moriah, then on to the Mahoosucs, then east to Caribou and Speckled, the Royces and the Baldfaces, then further south to the Doubleheads and Kearsarge North, the Moats and Chocorua. Then to the west the whole of the Northern Presidentials Range, what a place! How do you enjoy that if you're running?