Periwinkle
Active member
Sorry if this is a bit messy -- gotta type and post fast because my computer has progressed from a downward spiral to an audible death rattle. I'll at least try to get the details right:
I did Wildcat D on 8/18 via the ski trails because: I already did A from Carter Notch; wanted to take the dog along on a shorter hike (haven't been out big since the Tri's with Aaron's/Askus' group on 8/4); and don't really like wet slabs (just ask Aaron!). This was the perfect "get back out there" hike.
I basically followed the AMC Guide & Steve Smith's alternate route along the northern-most ski trails. It's shown as the Polecat Trail on the Map Adventures White Mountain map. It's best to pick up a Wildcat ski trail map at the base station or check out www.skiwildcat.com/trailmap-lg.html for trail details. As these are downhill ski trails, all of the signs are at the top of the trail junctions, facing (duh) downhill!
Uphill route: Lower Polecat, Catnap, Tomcat, Cat Track, Upper Lynx, Lynx Lair, Upper Polecat. Left the pure N route about halfway up to go straighter up (Just got kinda bored....) Not the best choice. Overgrown in places, with hidden holes, some mud, mushy moss & bugs. Looked like Pig Pen at one point, swarmed by bugs. Lots of grasshoppers.
Downhill route: Upper Polecat, Catnap, Middle Polecat, Lower Polecat. Sweet! Would have jogged down if I had my trail runners on. Ended up pulling out the poles for the first time about halfway down just to ease the monotomy.
Was thrilled to find the entire downhill route mowed. Yah! The Wildman triathalon was 8/13, so some of the route markers to follow are still higher up. Could have worn trail runners & left heavy boots at home if I had stuck to the N route on the way up as well.
Other route notes:
* Pretty, lots of views, tons of berries (a few blueberries left, raspberries, & strawberries), everything flowering nicely.
* HOT! Mowed track is up center of trail. I started up at 10:30, so was in the sun up and down. Pretty darn hot. I let the sunscreen run off & look like a lobster today!
* HOT! Used more water than expected.
* Some runoff streams on lower half. The dog loved it. Probably won't last if it stops raining so much.
* Saw big 'ol bear tracks. Heard large something off the trail just past halfway point. Never saw anything, but very glad the dog followed command and left the noise alone!
* Saw mowing more slopes on the way down. To follow mowed/downhill route, go past gondola to last chair lift across from pond, go up to left of chair, then immediately right for short section, then left. Continue straight/left/uphill the rest of the way.
* At the top, most of the tourists stayed at the gondola station. Very few at the D Peak observation tower. Never saw another person on the uphill hike. Met one AT S/B at D peak. A family with a dog started hiking down behind me. A pretty peaceful hike all in all.
* Tower view starting to get overgrown in places.
* No services at top. Not even a water fountain. Dang -- All those tourists & I couldn't even score a cheeseburger!
* Trails to D not marked. At the gondola station top, turn left to face Ski Patrol shack. AT/Wilcat Ridge is to right. The "ski area...maintained" trail is left above the shack. I followed left for easier route.
* "Pets Welcome" by Wildcat, which means lots of other dogs that rode the gondola to the top. I leashed my dog before the approach to the gondola station and he stayed on leash until we left the tourist area & headed back down.
This was a bizarre route -- yet another page in the peak-bagging journal. A unique approach, but I enjoyed it for the interesting "trail" conditions and surreal peak experience.
Well, until I can catch up with you all again on a regular basis...TREK ON VFFT'ers! Hope you are all out there and having excellent adventures!
I did Wildcat D on 8/18 via the ski trails because: I already did A from Carter Notch; wanted to take the dog along on a shorter hike (haven't been out big since the Tri's with Aaron's/Askus' group on 8/4); and don't really like wet slabs (just ask Aaron!). This was the perfect "get back out there" hike.
I basically followed the AMC Guide & Steve Smith's alternate route along the northern-most ski trails. It's shown as the Polecat Trail on the Map Adventures White Mountain map. It's best to pick up a Wildcat ski trail map at the base station or check out www.skiwildcat.com/trailmap-lg.html for trail details. As these are downhill ski trails, all of the signs are at the top of the trail junctions, facing (duh) downhill!
Uphill route: Lower Polecat, Catnap, Tomcat, Cat Track, Upper Lynx, Lynx Lair, Upper Polecat. Left the pure N route about halfway up to go straighter up (Just got kinda bored....) Not the best choice. Overgrown in places, with hidden holes, some mud, mushy moss & bugs. Looked like Pig Pen at one point, swarmed by bugs. Lots of grasshoppers.
Downhill route: Upper Polecat, Catnap, Middle Polecat, Lower Polecat. Sweet! Would have jogged down if I had my trail runners on. Ended up pulling out the poles for the first time about halfway down just to ease the monotomy.
Was thrilled to find the entire downhill route mowed. Yah! The Wildman triathalon was 8/13, so some of the route markers to follow are still higher up. Could have worn trail runners & left heavy boots at home if I had stuck to the N route on the way up as well.
Other route notes:
* Pretty, lots of views, tons of berries (a few blueberries left, raspberries, & strawberries), everything flowering nicely.
* HOT! Mowed track is up center of trail. I started up at 10:30, so was in the sun up and down. Pretty darn hot. I let the sunscreen run off & look like a lobster today!
* HOT! Used more water than expected.
* Some runoff streams on lower half. The dog loved it. Probably won't last if it stops raining so much.
* Saw big 'ol bear tracks. Heard large something off the trail just past halfway point. Never saw anything, but very glad the dog followed command and left the noise alone!
* Saw mowing more slopes on the way down. To follow mowed/downhill route, go past gondola to last chair lift across from pond, go up to left of chair, then immediately right for short section, then left. Continue straight/left/uphill the rest of the way.
* At the top, most of the tourists stayed at the gondola station. Very few at the D Peak observation tower. Never saw another person on the uphill hike. Met one AT S/B at D peak. A family with a dog started hiking down behind me. A pretty peaceful hike all in all.
* Tower view starting to get overgrown in places.
* No services at top. Not even a water fountain. Dang -- All those tourists & I couldn't even score a cheeseburger!
* Trails to D not marked. At the gondola station top, turn left to face Ski Patrol shack. AT/Wilcat Ridge is to right. The "ski area...maintained" trail is left above the shack. I followed left for easier route.
* "Pets Welcome" by Wildcat, which means lots of other dogs that rode the gondola to the top. I leashed my dog before the approach to the gondola station and he stayed on leash until we left the tourist area & headed back down.
This was a bizarre route -- yet another page in the peak-bagging journal. A unique approach, but I enjoyed it for the interesting "trail" conditions and surreal peak experience.
Well, until I can catch up with you all again on a regular basis...TREK ON VFFT'ers! Hope you are all out there and having excellent adventures!
