Date: 2014-08-30
From: Nineteen Mile Brook Trail campsite

To: Imp Campsite
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: broken clouds

I did get going reasonably early (before 8) and got to the junction with the trail to the Carter Notch Hut just as Rock Turtle and her three friends came by. One had finished the VT, NH and ME sections the day before, and they were headed home to PA. I was done with the Wildcat Ridge Trail and am now on the Carter Moriah Trail, with the first challenge being the 1500 foot, 1.2 mile climb to Carter Dome (4832 feet). I was moving better than yesterday, but it still took an hour and 20 minutes. I never saw the spring AWOL noted on the way up, but I figured I had enough water to last to the campsite, the next listed water source. After Carter Dome came Mt. Hight, which had great views of the Presidentials. A cloud was rolling in as I left, but it never caught up with me. I talked on the way down with a nice couple who come frequently to hike the Whites, and they were very encouraging.The descent to Zeta Pass was steep but not too difficult. Then came South, Middle, and North Carter Mountains, all over 4000 feet, but I don't know which ones count in the list of 48 over 4000 footers. I stopped a little before Middle Carter on a big rock with a view to the west to make a sandwich. I was soon joined by Youns, then a couple of day hikers who were interested in my hike. The woman has done half the Camino and wants to do the whole thing. We talked about the French route, and she is very interested in that. They left, and Double Shot and Pizazz arrived. Neither was feeling very well and said they would probably stop at Imp. On North Carter, I had a fairly long conversation with a man hiking from Route 2 to Pinkham. The view of the Presidentials was lovely, and we took each other's pictures. The first part of the hike down was very challenging -- and slow. In some spots, I went down backwards, and in several I needed my hands instead of the poles. I just let them dangle by the wrist straps, but I have to be careful that they don't get in the way or get caught on something. Near the bottom, I heard someone else coming down. He caught up to me, and we walked the rest of the way to Imp together talking about his section hikes and my thru. His trail name is from Star Trek. We are both headed for Route 2 tomorrow, and we discussed the possibility of finding stealth sites past Imp so we could beat the predicted rain. Had it not been for that slow, knee-jarring section, I might have gotten water at Imp and pushed on, but we both wound up staying, he in the shelter, and I on a tent platform. It is supposed to rain tomorrow afternoon, so we both want to be off the mountains. He plans a very early start, and I will try to get going as close to 7 or 7:30 as I can.Double Shot and Pizazz were there and also decided to stay. He had been off the trail with knee problems and wears a brace. We commiserated about the tough downhills. He concluded that using two hiking poles caused too much twisting for his knees, so he now uses one. Mainly for downhill stability. I have wondered if I depend on them too much, but they sure help the knees on the downhills. I have taken to not using them on easy terrain -- just hold them lightly in each hand where they balance.RW introduced himself. He had heard of me, and I remember seeing him in shelter logs quite a ways back. He was off the trail because of an inflamed Achilles' tendon. Today, he hiked all the way to Imp from Pinkham Notch, over 13 miles of tough terrain. Turns out he has been hiking with Movin' On, who did not want to go so far today. She is still having problems with cellulitis in her foot, which explains why she is not way ahead.