skinning / skiing to Carter Notch hut

[Brambor]

I have only hiked to the Carter Notch hut in spring and summer and never really in the winter. I think all in all I went about 5 times over the years and never thought of the trail in terms of skiing. So my memory is faded. Can someone give me the scoop on how the trail (choose the best ski trail) skies up and down?

 

[David Metsky]

Carter Notch via 19 Mile Brook is OK, not a great ski as the trail can get quite icy. If you carry skis up Wildcat A and over to Wildcat D you can ski down the slopes. You can also ski down the Wildcat Valley trail (the backside of Wildcat) but that requires a ski pass from Jackson X-C. You could loop back to the trails that approach Carter Notch from east but I've never tried those.

People also ski Carter Dome via the Carter Dome trail which can be fun if the conditions are good but it's a challenging ski.

Are you looking for turns or an alternative to snowshoeing?

 

[MichaelJ]

You could loop back to the trails that approach Carter Notch from east but I've never tried those.

I've hiked that route. You have to come all the way down the Wildcat Valley Trail to the trailhead on Carter Notch Road, which itself is not plowed in the winter, and head back up the road to get to the Wildcat River Trail to take you back up to the Hut. It's a lovely route, but I believe it gets very minimal use all winter (although there are some nice birch glades as you climb towards Carter Notch) and wouldn't recommend attempting it without having been through there at least once prior to winter so as to be familiar with the area. It would be a LONG day.

 

[Brambor]

Looking for turns but kids like the huts in the winter. We recently returned to skiing and so I am thinking about additional locations.

Carter Notch via 19 Mile Brook is OK, not a great ski as the trail can get quite icy. If you carry skis up Wildcat A and over to Wildcat D you can ski down the slopes. You can also ski down the Wildcat Valley trail (the backside of Wildcat) but that requires a ski pass from Jackson X-C. You could loop back to the trails that approach Carter Notch from east but I've never tried those.

People also ski Carter Dome via the Carter Dome trail which can be fun if the conditions are good but it's a challenging ski.

Are you looking for turns or an alternative to snowshoeing?

 

[benwhiteskis]

If you're in for a big tour with a super fun end, going over the Carters and down the Imp on skis is wonderful. Imp is a nice and wide hiking trail, and with lots of snow, the trees are pretty spaced apart in sections. It's probably one of the top 10 descents I had this past season.

 

[Peaks]

Obviously, the quality of the ski depends on the conditions. I suspect 19 mile brook trail is too hard packed for a good ski. On the other hand, you might consider the Wildcat River Trail from Carter Notch Road. Much less traffic.

 

[Brambor]

Thanks for the info

Thanks everyone for the information. Looking forward to some overnights in the snow.

 

[freighttrain48]

Looking forward to some overnights in the snow.

That makes two of us

 

[forestgnome]

Agree with Peaks...Wildcat River Trail, which is a designated ski trail...very steady grade and remarkably less traffic.

 

[bikehikeskifish]

Any idea on how welcoming Wildcat will be this year? Last year's marriage to Attitash and their new in-laws seemed to make them less welcoming to back country enthusiasts...

Tim

 

[David Metsky]

Any idea on how welcoming Wildcat will be this year? Last year's marriage to Attitash and their new in-laws seemed to make them less welcoming to back country enthusiasts...

I strongly suspect there won't be any problems. There was a small misunderstanding last year, but that seems to have been worked out back then.

 

[benwhiteskis]

Because Wildcat is on WMNF land, can't they not really get mad at you for being there, unless you're messing with their stuff?

 

[bikehikeskifish]

Because Wildcat is on WMNF land, can't they not really get mad at you for being there, unless you're messing with their stuff?

That's true. The provision is that Wildcat has some say in which trail(s) they allow access from depending on maintenance, snow making, or other operations. I think the misunderstanding was related to this - and they had closed all the trails, and posted signs, and sold trail access passes. Mainly people had problems going UP from the Wildcat-C lot. I hadn't heard anyone getting hassled coming down, unless you had skis.

Here is a thread from last year on this subject.

Hopefully this is a thing of the past this year.

Tim

 

[MichaelJ]

Because Wildcat is on WMNF land, can't they not really get mad at you for being there, unless you're messing with their stuff?

It entirely depends on the wording in the ski area's lease with the Forest Service. I believe we determined in a past thread that Wildcat had a provision in their lease providing for hiker access. I do not know if other ski areas on WMNF land have such clauses. There are many threads here that you can search for more discussion on the matter.

Note also that they certainly can close a trail to work on it, for example several times in the past during early-season when they've been blasting the snow guns they've asked all people to stay off for a week or so.

 

[Cat in January]

hmmmm Wildcat

Saw this posted yesterday on wildcat's site:

"Despite the forecast for early season snow in the Mount Washington Valley and Pinkham Notch, there is no current plan to open prior to our planned opening date of Friday, December 9. All trails are to be considered closed with pre-season snowmaking operations occurring."


Back to the original poster, have you considered Zealand Falls hut?

 

[Brambor]

Yes. We go to zealand at least twice every winter. Just looking at other places with respect to bc skiing.

 

[--M.]

Well, then, may I recommend:

==Chocorua, Champney Falls: very progressive, with beauty points for the falls (watch your step!);

==Livermore Pass: solitude, elevation, bear-claw marks on the trees, snowfields, beauty;

==Ethan Pond: practically flat up on the plateau, with a fun ski on the Willey side. There's a lean-to for a lunch stop, no hut.

Good luck!

 

[Brambor]

Thank You

Thank You. I will seek at least one of these this winter.

Well, then, may I recommend:

==Chocorua, Champney Falls: very progressive, with beauty points for the falls (watch your step!);

==Livermore Pass: solitude, elevation, bear-claw marks on the trees, snowfields, beauty;

==Ethan Pond: practically flat up on the plateau, with a fun ski on the Willey side. There's a lean-to for a lunch stop, no hut.

Good luck!

 

[hikingmaineac]

19 mi brook trail is a decent slide on a sled from the hut back down towards the parking lot for at least a mile or so when it gets good and packed down by all the snowshoe-ers and then freezes up... or so I've heard

 

[Brambor]

well

With the disappearance of snow, I decided to just go up to Carter Notch Hut for Saturday overnight. This way I can refresh my memory on the trails and slopes. I considered the Wildcat River trail but I think the trailhead road is unplowed and that could be trouble in the winter. We'll probably head up 19 mile brook trail. If we feel optimistic we might bring sleds for the ride down but I think the snow is probably all gone by now.