Overnight at Carter Notch Hut - Ascent of Wildcat A - February 15, 2025

[Rhody Seth]

Got together with some buddies for two nights at Carter Notch over President's Day weekend. It worked out perfectly, hiking in around noon on Saturday and riding out the snowstorm there. Lots of other folks staying at the hut, it was a full house on Night 1 and about 20 on Night 2.

We all arrived around 11:30 and I got the last legitimate spot but my friend Rob is industrious and scooped out one for himself one as well. I had to pull my car out to squeeze his in but I gotta tip my cap to him. So more excavation and we were able to make a cozy next for Pete's truck too. This proved important as next morning word spread around the hut that they were towing cars on the road. The hike in was snowshoe pleasantry, with the snow getting choppier past the halfway mark. Passed a guy dragging a pulk up there - looked like hard work and found out he was part of a troop staying at the hut. It would be a full house.

Pete and I got up there first, checked in and made our bunk beds. We decided to head up Wildcat A while Rob and Derek were content to enjoy the hut. This would prove to be a very tough hike. It was sloooow and the snow was very loose and unconsolidated. Tiring work and one of the tougher hikes I've done. We passed a couple kids not long before summit. I was impressed by their moxie and the precious dumplings they ferried up there.

Finally we reached the top of Wildcat A. I had hoped to get D as well but that quickly went out the window. It would have probably taken another 3 hours and it was already getting dark. Neither of us wanted to be out that late and there was pizza to make at the hut. I was bummed though because this was the second time I've stayed at the hut, hiked up Wildcat A, and then had to bail on my plans for D. My list was getting all lopsided!

But it was the right call and it was just as tiring going down. Some places you really had no choice but to slide. I was more than ready to arrive back at the hut, get into some clean clothes and relax for the night. And kudos to Derek for spearheading the incredible pizza dinner. I saw envious eyes around us.

 

[Ear Drum]

Another fun video, thanks for taking the time to produce it. The pizza looked soooo good - save me a slice!
Too bad about missing Wildcat D. You could do the ski slope route, though the time restrictions sound really inconvenient. I got that one for my winter list before those rules - it was so long ago that I wasn't keeping any lists at all! I wimped out that day on Wildcat A, as B the Hiker will recall, and waited for him and another hiking partner down in the ski lodge.
That was about a decade ago, and I finally hiked A for winter just a year ago, via the route you took here. Indeed it is wicked steep from the hut area up. As you experienced, I saw a large group of scouts, coming up 19 Mile. They and a few others were chewing up the track and postholing their way up to the hut, sans 'shoes. But how great for them to be out there for a night.
Looking forward to Part II.

 

[Rhody Seth]

Another fun video, thanks for taking the time to produce it. The pizza looked soooo good - save me a slice!
Too bad about missing Wildcat D. You could do the ski slope route, though the time restrictions sound really inconvenient. I got that one for my winter list before those rules - it was so long ago that I wasn't keeping any lists at all! I wimped out that day on Wildcat A, as B the Hiker will recall, and waited for him and another hiking partner down in the ski lodge.

Thanks! Here's a spoiler for Part 2: Pete and I ended up going back up the next day for D.

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

Another fine video! Well done, Seth. I felt like I was reliving one of my own winter ascents of Wildcat A in similar snow conditions. Trust that you and your viewers recognize the south face of Carter Done as a gigantic landslide scar, probably dating to the waning of the Last Ice Age, which was likely responsible for the boulder field behind the hut known as “the Ramparts,” or the “toe” of the landslide debris. Looking forward to Day Two.

 

[KRooney]

I remember many years ago an avalanche swept a large part of the ravine and there were trees piled up below. The trail traversed upward to the right. It made climbing that section in the winter pretty tricky. Eventually when I wanted to do the Wildcats I went up the Polecat trail and did an over and back.

 

[helmethiker]

I remember that view looking down on the Carter Notch hut, circa summer 1977. One reason I want to go back to the Wildcats.

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

I remember many years ago an avalanche swept a large part of the ravine and there were trees piled up below. The trail traversed upward to the right. It made climbing that section in the winter pretty tricky. Eventually when I wanted to do the Wildcats I went up the Polecat trail and did an over and back.

That avalanche gully is still there although it is beginning to grow in with veg on the sides. Still need to traverse with care, especially during shoulder season without deep boot steps or snow trench. Similar to the rock slide traverse below the gully near the top of the trail up East Osceola from Greeley Ponds Trail.