Carter Notch Hut Winter Adventure
February 19-21, 2022
Carter Notch Hut Winter Adventure
Saturday, 2/19/2022 – Monday 2/21/2022
Presidents' Day Weekend
Snowshoe to Carter Notch Hut, Day Hike to Carter Dome (4k footer)
COST - $150 ( includes transportation, food and lodging)
Merit Badge Opportunity
Carter Notch 2022 Flyer
Please Read Carefully
All participants MUST BE at least 13 years old and physically fit enough to snowshoe approximately 12 miles over 2.5 days and willing to endure the challenges of extremely cold daytime and nighttime temps. The sleeping bunks are not heated and temperatures can reach 20 below during the night.
Required Gear:
Zero degree to -20 degree mummy sleeping bag (bag liner recommended - especially if zero degree bag)
Reliable pair of snowshoes (MSR’s, Tubbs, REI, etc.) – Scouts can borrow or rent a pair
Warm, waterproof winter boots suitable for hiking with packs, snowshoeing & cold temps
Microspikes or crampon spikes (make sure they fit the winter boots before the trip)
Two Nalgene water bottles with insulators (no Camelbaks! - the hoses freeze)
Two pair of synthetic base layers/long-underwear (top & bottom) No cotton
Outer layer shell/jacket & snow pants (Must be waterproof)
Two top mid-layers to be worn over base layers (turtlenecks, fleece) No cotton
Three to four pair of warm, winter hiking socks (Darn Tough, SmartWool, etc.) No cotton
Two winter hats
Two pair of warm and waterproof winter gloves or mittens (mittens over liner gloves are best to hold hand warmers)
A set of warm, comfortable clothes to change into after hiking & to sleep
Comfortable footwear for the lodge (slippers with rubber treads or down booties)
First aid kit & Personal hygiene kit
Headlamp and small portable flashlight as a back-up (include extra batteries)
Suitable backpack to fit gear noted above 45-60L backpack
Optional Gear:
Hiking poles with snow baskets
Two pair of thin sock liners
A pulk sled to haul gear to the hut (See Mr. C if you are interested in this)
Face/neck balaclava/mask & ski goggles
Small, portable games/cards
Spending money for souvenirs/snacks at the hut
Other Notes:
If you need snowshoes or microspikes, Mr. C has access to borrow some
The troop will supply hand warmers
If you have ANY questions about the trip, equipment, food, etc please contact Mr. C at mrc@troop4hopkinton.com
Carter Notch Hut
No mess kits required as Lonesome Lake is a full-service cabin;
No air pads or pillows are needed as mattress and pillows are provided;
Refer to your Scouting Handbook for additional items needed on a winter camping Trip
The Zero Degree Option
If you can only budget for one winter sleeping bag, get the 0º F option.
In the shoulder seasons (spring to early summer/late summer to fall) a 15º F sleeping bag will usually be sufficient. For rare deep cold winter nights, an “expedition” level (–15º or –20º F) sleeping bag will keep you comfortable. Most of the time, a 0º degree sleeping bag will be the most comfortable choice.
If you are fully committed to winter backpacking and only want to carry the minimum weight each trip requires, then you’ll want three sleeping bags, a 15º, a 0º, and an expedition level bag ( –20º F or lower). With this range, you will be covered for almost every possible scenario, and never need to carry more weight than circumstances require.
Understandably, many people are not willing to budget for 3 sleeping bags. Another strategy is to add a sleeping bag liner to an existing shoulder-season sleeping bag.