Wildcat Ridge A-E

[Jim lombard]

We took the usual route along Lost pond and then up Wildcat ridge which was spectacular and never boring. I'd done this hike from Carter notch hut on a winter day in 1987 and back then hadn't enjoyed it at all. On Anne's quest to complete the NH 4K list I'm finding that I am enjoying the mountains more the second time around. Weather was perfect and light winds on the ridge kept the bugs away. I thought the most strenuous part of the hike was the part of the col between C and B peaks. The steep climb up from Lost Pond was no problem for either of us. Nice vista from Peak A down into the notch. We met up with "Deaf Balance" who was hiking from Katahdin to Springer and hiked with him all the way back across the ridge to the gondola. He had some interesting stories and had only been on the trail for 1 month. We enjoyed his company greatly and rewarded him with the last of our food and some ice cold water. We wished him success on his venture and headed down the ski trails where we made our only mistake of the day. A VFTTer had recommended the Polecat trail down the slopes but we missed it and hiked down Catapult...........it was an adventure. We paused at the bottom to gorge on the plentiful and perfectly ripe wild strawberries that grew in abundance. The road walk back to Pinkham was suprisingly short and easy.

 

[SteveHiker]

On my map there are peaks listed from 'A' to 'E'. But when I was up there, I'd swear there is an 'F', a 'G' and maybe and "H' as well.

 

[Jim lombard]

On my map there are peaks listed from 'A' to 'E'. But when I was up there, I'd swear there is an 'F', a 'G' and maybe and "H' as well.

I noticed those bumps too but more so on the initial trip across the ridge to A and less so on the return. I thought the return to the ski area and down the slopes was an easier option than going into Carter notch, down 19 mile and then a long walk on Rt 16.

 

[SteveHiker]

I think the problem was that I went from the Glen Ellis Falls parking lot to Wildcat A and back the same route. I should have started on Lost Pond to have a little warmup, but I didn't know any better at the time. I was going to continue to Carter Dome, but the weather was threatening. It turned out that it didn't rain and so I went back across the ridge and back down the ledges. Maybe that's why it seemed like there were so many, because I hit them twice.

 

[Jim lombard]

One of the VFTT websites says the elevation gain from Glenn Ellis to A peak is around 3,100 feet. Going back the same way must add at least another 1,000 feet making that a strenuous hike indeed (not to mention climbing down the ledges.) Going down via the ski trails worked out great (don't take Catapult though!)

This is a beautiful area, I'll be back. Lost Pond is definitely the way to start it off.