JohnL
New member
After spotting Giff’s car at the Wildcat ski area parking lot, we headed back to the 19 Mile Brook Trail lot. With the temperature at a brisk 6 degrees, we hurried our prep work and got headed up the trail at 9:20. The sky was absolutely spotless and there was just a hint of a breeze. The cold crunch crunch of our boots was our constant companion as we walked through the crisp morning air, relishing the bright sunlight breaking its way through the trees. I was trying out a new pair of glove/mitts this morning and for the first ten minutes I was thinking that they were failing miserably as my fingers went wooden almost immediately. But soon they warmed up to normal and I was feeling better about the gloves. An hour later my hands were so sweaty I had to change gloves. Shortly we stopped to drop a layer and I grabbed a quick drink before I re-shouldered my pack.
We remarked about how different the conditions were from the last time we were on the trail in winter conditions. Last March we did the Carters when the trail had numerous icy areas from early season runoff. Today the walking was pleasant with the snowshoes still on our backs. That would change, however, when at 11:00 we reached the Wildcat Ridge Trail junction. Two steps up the seemingly broken out trail showed the snow to be substantially unconsolidated. We donned the shoes and Giff took the first shift at breaking trail, in some areas well over knee deep. There was no trace of anyone’s steps ahead of him.
After a good haul through this deep section, Giff turned it over to me and I immediately knew what that meant: I get to lead over the slide. We were carrying crampons just in case we may need them. I broke through a short deep section until the slide opened up in front of me. The trail connected across the slide but probably twenty feet or so uphill from a direct line. There was plenty of snow on the slide and crampons were out of the question. I also had a deep drift to contend with just uphill from the line I wanted to take. Since it would probably be safer, and certainly not as deep, I chose to go uphill of the drift and with only one minor slip, made it easily across. Once we were all across, we donned parkas for the snow showers that loomed ahead from the downed trees and branches. From here on up, there was a lot of hand to hand combat with the trees.
The trail switchbacks up the hill (be careful that you don’t miss the blazes and the small brown arrow on one of the large trees!) and we took turns breaking our way up. Giff nicely led us across a steep side hill (photos) that, even going second, did not provide very stable footing. There was a bit of a run-out to the downhill side and I did not look forward to struggling back up that hill. Mike’s second lead took us to the top of the ridge, then along the short flat section to the Wildcat A lookout. It took us just shy of an hour to get up this short steep trail. We grabbed a drink and I snapped off a few photos as we took in the wonderful views.
We noticed that the trail over the alphabet had not been broken out and, though it was not that deep right here, I knew from past experience, that there were some areas where drifting would create some problems for us. Mike took off, continuing his trail breaking and within five minutes, we met up with the first hiker in a spread-out group of four who had broken the trail out from the ski area. That certainly made life a bit easier for us now. The ups and downs across the ridge were interspersed with tantalizing views to the south and over to the Presidentials. We stopped in a small clearing to have lunch and enjoy the sunshine. The descent into Wildcat Col was highlighted by some wonderful glissades sometimes accompanied by a hook slide or two. Even a full heels over head cartwheel on an out of control slide by yours truly provoked some good laughter.
The lowlight of the hike was witnessed as we approached the D summit. A flat area was the sight of a camp with several tent sites, the remnants of a bonfire and a half dozen stumps of trees that had been sawn off to use in the fire. One nine foot section of a tree lay near the firepit, its one end charred and blackened. It was a pitiful and sorry sight.
At 1:30 we emerged from the woods and climbed the short stairway to the top of the observation tower. A grand viewpoint indeed. Just a hint of fogginess in front of Mt Washington and we wondered whether it was blowing snow or the onset of some clouds. We could see some specks that were people on the Lion’s Head winter trail. I grabbed a quick drink and we headed down onto the ski slopes.
There was only a slight breeze and no need to cover up. On our way down several skiers stopped to ask us where we had come from and how long it took us to hike up. Pleasantly curious. The remainder of the walk down was a mixture of great views, sunshine, whizzing skiers (the little kids are speed demons!) and more great views. At 2:25 we popped our snowshoes off at the base lodge, walked across the parking lot to Giff’s car and headed to 19 Mile Brook to pick up my car. Another hike was carefully stored in my mind’s eye for future reminiscing.
Photos are here.
JohnL
We remarked about how different the conditions were from the last time we were on the trail in winter conditions. Last March we did the Carters when the trail had numerous icy areas from early season runoff. Today the walking was pleasant with the snowshoes still on our backs. That would change, however, when at 11:00 we reached the Wildcat Ridge Trail junction. Two steps up the seemingly broken out trail showed the snow to be substantially unconsolidated. We donned the shoes and Giff took the first shift at breaking trail, in some areas well over knee deep. There was no trace of anyone’s steps ahead of him.
After a good haul through this deep section, Giff turned it over to me and I immediately knew what that meant: I get to lead over the slide. We were carrying crampons just in case we may need them. I broke through a short deep section until the slide opened up in front of me. The trail connected across the slide but probably twenty feet or so uphill from a direct line. There was plenty of snow on the slide and crampons were out of the question. I also had a deep drift to contend with just uphill from the line I wanted to take. Since it would probably be safer, and certainly not as deep, I chose to go uphill of the drift and with only one minor slip, made it easily across. Once we were all across, we donned parkas for the snow showers that loomed ahead from the downed trees and branches. From here on up, there was a lot of hand to hand combat with the trees.
The trail switchbacks up the hill (be careful that you don’t miss the blazes and the small brown arrow on one of the large trees!) and we took turns breaking our way up. Giff nicely led us across a steep side hill (photos) that, even going second, did not provide very stable footing. There was a bit of a run-out to the downhill side and I did not look forward to struggling back up that hill. Mike’s second lead took us to the top of the ridge, then along the short flat section to the Wildcat A lookout. It took us just shy of an hour to get up this short steep trail. We grabbed a drink and I snapped off a few photos as we took in the wonderful views.
We noticed that the trail over the alphabet had not been broken out and, though it was not that deep right here, I knew from past experience, that there were some areas where drifting would create some problems for us. Mike took off, continuing his trail breaking and within five minutes, we met up with the first hiker in a spread-out group of four who had broken the trail out from the ski area. That certainly made life a bit easier for us now. The ups and downs across the ridge were interspersed with tantalizing views to the south and over to the Presidentials. We stopped in a small clearing to have lunch and enjoy the sunshine. The descent into Wildcat Col was highlighted by some wonderful glissades sometimes accompanied by a hook slide or two. Even a full heels over head cartwheel on an out of control slide by yours truly provoked some good laughter.
The lowlight of the hike was witnessed as we approached the D summit. A flat area was the sight of a camp with several tent sites, the remnants of a bonfire and a half dozen stumps of trees that had been sawn off to use in the fire. One nine foot section of a tree lay near the firepit, its one end charred and blackened. It was a pitiful and sorry sight.
At 1:30 we emerged from the woods and climbed the short stairway to the top of the observation tower. A grand viewpoint indeed. Just a hint of fogginess in front of Mt Washington and we wondered whether it was blowing snow or the onset of some clouds. We could see some specks that were people on the Lion’s Head winter trail. I grabbed a quick drink and we headed down onto the ski slopes.
There was only a slight breeze and no need to cover up. On our way down several skiers stopped to ask us where we had come from and how long it took us to hike up. Pleasantly curious. The remainder of the walk down was a mixture of great views, sunshine, whizzing skiers (the little kids are speed demons!) and more great views. At 2:25 we popped our snowshoes off at the base lodge, walked across the parking lot to Giff’s car and headed to 19 Mile Brook to pick up my car. Another hike was carefully stored in my mind’s eye for future reminiscing.
Photos are here.
JohnL
(What goes around comes around, mother nature will catch up with the offenders...) I'm heading up to the Whites either this weekend or next, maybe I'll do this hike! You had some great photos too. The pan of the Presidentials is especially pleasing!
