Middle Carter, South Carter, Carter Dome, October 9, 2011, White Mountain National Forest

View from Carter Dome

We hit the Imp Trail at daybreak for this pretty cool two-day section hike along the Carter-Moriah ridge. Our destination: Carter Notch Hut for an overnight stay. The blue bird weather afforded perfect trail conditions and nice views of the colorful foliage. We made quick work of all three Carters, culminating in the massive Carter Dome, followed by a super-steep descent into the picturesque notch where the hut is situated.

This late in the season, the place is staffed on a caretaker basis - no communal meal, just a room in the bunk house and use of the kitchen and composting bathrooms. We lugged a heavy load of organic sausage, freshly-picked Cortland apples, and imported Italian pasta and cheeses as a reward for a 10 mile day. The steeply-pitched descent into Carter Notch from Carter Dome, I think, is one of the most spectacular descents in all the Whites.

Entrance to Carter Notch Hut

This section hike added three more 4,000 footers to my newly-initiated White Mountain list... #s 2, 3, and 4.

Dinner at the Carter Hut

Peaks: Middle Carter, South Carter, Carter Dome
Elevation: 4,610, 4,430, and 4,832 feet (Gain: 4,688 feet)
Distance: 9.7 miles 
Route: Traverse, via Imp Trail (south branch) to North Carter Trail to Carter-Moriah Trail
Conditions: Sunny, 60 degrees F