amstony
New member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2004
- Messages
- 732
- Reaction score
- 142
This was a interesting hike. Started out from Nashua with Melanie at 6:35 AM, but did not roll into the trailhead until 9:40! Traffic through Concord was backed up nearly to the Hookset tolls for the Nascar Race. However it looked like an awesome weather day, clear blue skies. Little did we know......Once we finally got to 19 Mile Brook we ended up parking along the road, the trailhead was almost full, despite the now grey, cool, threatening weather (gotta love the weather up here). Hikerfast, who we were suppossed to meet at 9:00, had left, figuring we had left at 9:00 or so. We hoped we'd catch up to him as we passed several groups already on the trail. 19 Mile Brook was good pretty much all the way to Wildcat Ridge trail, some slick rocks and muddy spots. At the Wildcat junction, We stopped briefly, discussed putting on some additional warmer gear but said no and moved on up the ridge.
We met a group coming down who said there was a solo hiker asking if he'd seen us, but only a few minutes ahead, so we figured it was Hikerfast. As you gained elevation you could feel the drop in the temps and the increase in the wind. Wildcat Ridge Trail was steep, but nothing overly difficuly, you needed to move deliberately due to the wet rocks. And what did I find above 4,200 feet....ice! Not much but enough to make you pay attention. As we neared the summit the ice was falling off the tops of the trees! When we reached Wildcat summit (#45), I checked my thermometer and it was exactly 32 degrees (burrrrr), on went the windbreaker and hat.
With no reason to stop except for the summit photo (no "vista" from the short trail that leads to the ledge), we moved on. As we moved off the summit we met who else but Hikerfast, who had decided to call it a day and head back down. We spoke for awhile, and then we moved out. This was a fun trail, lots of ups and downs, slick descents, and cold winds. The ice dissapeared as we left the Wildcat summit and lost elevation. Wildcat D was anti-climactic, nothing to see except clouds, fog, and listening to the cold and whistling winds......... Passed a few AT thru and section hikers too.
Polecat trail down from the summit of D was a fun descent, we ran the whole way down from Wildcat D. That had to be quickest descent off of a 4K summit!
Total time for this hike was 4 hours 38 minutes, and 9.2 miles. 4K's #45 and 46 for me, 14 and 15 for Melanie.
It is hard to believe that I am almost finished with the first round of the 48, only 2 to go! Tripyramids is last up.
