JohnL
New member
I just could not get my early morning act in gear at the house and as a result, I got a late start at the trailhead. I really did not decide on what I was going to do until well into the drive to the trailhead, passing several potential starting points. I settled on the Wildcats and I was starting up the trail at 8:20; late by my standards.
The 19 Mile Brook Trail is a pleasant enough trail to warm up on and despite the 34 degree temperature, I got rid of my long sleeve shirt at the Carter Dome Trail junction. As I got closer to the beginning of the Wildcat Ridge Trail, the air had the look and smell of snow. And sure enough, by 9:50 when I reached the turn-off for the Wildcat Ridge Trail, the air was soon filled with tiny snowflakes.
I headed up the trail, getting my head in gear for the steep climb to Wildcat A. Passing the landslide, I paused to take a couple photos of nearby Carter Dome, still hidden in clouds. I continued on, turning my way up through the switchbacks, getting into a nice rhythm, encountering more snow on the trail as I climbed higher. Soon I was forced to pay more attention to my foot placements as frozen seepage hid beneath the dusting of snow. Summer seems to be officially over in the high country.
At 10:25 I popped up the last climb and I walked over to the lookout at Wildcat A. Carter Dome’s ridgeline was still covered in clouds but they were rapidly dissipating. The sights were captivating and I clicked off several photos. The view to the south showed low clouds that were being more stubborn to the sunlight and they cast dark shadows on the valleys below. I left the outlook and meandered into the woods, touching the true summit and then headed up the alphabet towards Wildcat D.
The ups and downs of Wildcats B and C brought back memories of finishing up our hike from Gorham over Moriah, the Carters and Wildcats a few years back. The drop down into Wildcat Col from C seemed to be endless and I was overtly wishing for the uphill section to D to begin to put me out of my downhill misery. But not today! The views through the trees over to Mt Washington were tantalizing and when the trees gave way to clear vistas on Wildcat C, the views were all you could hope for. Outstanding stuff with a layer of low clouds hovering below the summits. I snapped photo after photo and just stared, eyes wide and mouth agape, standing like a statue in the warm sun. The clarity of the view was stunning. I was captivated.
I dropped down into the cooler depths of Wildcat Col, passing a group of five or six who were on their way back to A from D. They said there was no wind on D and I was glad for that bit of news. I wished them well and continued onward until at 11:35 I looked up and there was the observation tower. I climbed up the stairs, made a quick call to my wife , letting her know my itinerary, since she had no idea where I was hiking. Another couple soon joined me on top, having come up from Pinkham Notch. After a brief chat about trail conditions (no ice on the ledges) and how they were just beginner hikers (but really loving it!) they headed off toward A and left me to my solitude. I grabbed lunch and just stared at the scene in front of me for 20 minutes before I decided to walk down the stairs and leave this place until the next time.
Just a couple minutes later the same couple came back towards D, saying that they were unsure if they could make it over to A and back and then down the ski trail before dark. Good decision; better safe than sorry. We went our separate ways and I was back into the downs and ups of D to C to B to A, which I reached at 1:00. I scrambled down to the outlook where the clouds had cleared magnificently. A few more photos and I was on my way again.
The snow and ice was still on the rocks so I was extra careful not to slip but once back down into autumn trail conditions, I could get into a nice rhythm again. The hike out was quiet and pleasant, only notable for an encounter with two young women who had parked themselves smack in the middle of a narrow bridge to have their rest and snack. Another couple with their dog had been forced to scramble through and across the stream as the women had not moved to let them pass. I chose to cross the bridge and send a not so subtle but pleasant message that they were in the middle of the trail and inappropriately placed. I carefully stepped through the last 50 yards of rocky trail and at 2:40 emerged into the parking area, which was considerably windier than anywhere on the trails. I geared down, stretched, and got comfortable for the long ride home, ruminating on the memories of another splendid day in the mountains.
Photos are here.
JohnL
The 19 Mile Brook Trail is a pleasant enough trail to warm up on and despite the 34 degree temperature, I got rid of my long sleeve shirt at the Carter Dome Trail junction. As I got closer to the beginning of the Wildcat Ridge Trail, the air had the look and smell of snow. And sure enough, by 9:50 when I reached the turn-off for the Wildcat Ridge Trail, the air was soon filled with tiny snowflakes.
I headed up the trail, getting my head in gear for the steep climb to Wildcat A. Passing the landslide, I paused to take a couple photos of nearby Carter Dome, still hidden in clouds. I continued on, turning my way up through the switchbacks, getting into a nice rhythm, encountering more snow on the trail as I climbed higher. Soon I was forced to pay more attention to my foot placements as frozen seepage hid beneath the dusting of snow. Summer seems to be officially over in the high country.
At 10:25 I popped up the last climb and I walked over to the lookout at Wildcat A. Carter Dome’s ridgeline was still covered in clouds but they were rapidly dissipating. The sights were captivating and I clicked off several photos. The view to the south showed low clouds that were being more stubborn to the sunlight and they cast dark shadows on the valleys below. I left the outlook and meandered into the woods, touching the true summit and then headed up the alphabet towards Wildcat D.
The ups and downs of Wildcats B and C brought back memories of finishing up our hike from Gorham over Moriah, the Carters and Wildcats a few years back. The drop down into Wildcat Col from C seemed to be endless and I was overtly wishing for the uphill section to D to begin to put me out of my downhill misery. But not today! The views through the trees over to Mt Washington were tantalizing and when the trees gave way to clear vistas on Wildcat C, the views were all you could hope for. Outstanding stuff with a layer of low clouds hovering below the summits. I snapped photo after photo and just stared, eyes wide and mouth agape, standing like a statue in the warm sun. The clarity of the view was stunning. I was captivated.
I dropped down into the cooler depths of Wildcat Col, passing a group of five or six who were on their way back to A from D. They said there was no wind on D and I was glad for that bit of news. I wished them well and continued onward until at 11:35 I looked up and there was the observation tower. I climbed up the stairs, made a quick call to my wife , letting her know my itinerary, since she had no idea where I was hiking. Another couple soon joined me on top, having come up from Pinkham Notch. After a brief chat about trail conditions (no ice on the ledges) and how they were just beginner hikers (but really loving it!) they headed off toward A and left me to my solitude. I grabbed lunch and just stared at the scene in front of me for 20 minutes before I decided to walk down the stairs and leave this place until the next time.
Just a couple minutes later the same couple came back towards D, saying that they were unsure if they could make it over to A and back and then down the ski trail before dark. Good decision; better safe than sorry. We went our separate ways and I was back into the downs and ups of D to C to B to A, which I reached at 1:00. I scrambled down to the outlook where the clouds had cleared magnificently. A few more photos and I was on my way again.
The snow and ice was still on the rocks so I was extra careful not to slip but once back down into autumn trail conditions, I could get into a nice rhythm again. The hike out was quiet and pleasant, only notable for an encounter with two young women who had parked themselves smack in the middle of a narrow bridge to have their rest and snack. Another couple with their dog had been forced to scramble through and across the stream as the women had not moved to let them pass. I chose to cross the bridge and send a not so subtle but pleasant message that they were in the middle of the trail and inappropriately placed. I carefully stepped through the last 50 yards of rocky trail and at 2:40 emerged into the parking area, which was considerably windier than anywhere on the trails. I geared down, stretched, and got comfortable for the long ride home, ruminating on the memories of another splendid day in the mountains.
Photos are here.
JohnL
, with ice falling off the trees and the rocks up on A slick and icy. No views that day at all......... Means I have to go back! 
