Wildcat D

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Nineteen Mile Brook, Wildcat Ridge Trail, Ski trails

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Snowshoes from the start at 19 mile, bareboots had churned the new snow and two pairs of snowshoes on a traverse did little to help. Beyond the carter dome junction trail, only one pair of ski tracks(the caretaker had skied down from the hut earlier in the day). There was no indication that anyone had recently turned onto the wildcat ridge trail, and that should have been enough to call it for another day, but as luck would have it (or lack thereof) we continued, after all it's only .7 miles. We broke trail through 18 to 24" of drifted unconsolidated snow on the steep hillside. Snowshoes were useless, one step forward, 2 steps slipping back, crampons weren't much better. Try changing foot gear in 2ft of snow on a hill slide, soul sucking, doesn't do it justice. Two hours later for .7 miles, we summited Wildcat A. Snowshoes back on, the traverse hadn't seen any traffic either, there is no packed monorail, but the snow depth was more manageable at a foot. On the steep sections of the traverse, the unconsolidated snow just slid off the solid ice, along with anyone standing on it. The best part of the hike was the well groomed ski trail. Coming weather conditions won't improve this trail! So many other to choose from!

Parking

Parked at Wildcat ski parking lot, with only one car, decided to do the 3 mile road walk to 19 mile at the start of the day rather than the end of the day. Using up the only luck we had of the day, we were picked up by the Carter Notch hut caretaker, who had finished up his day. Thanks you!

Water Crossings

Last water crossing snow bridged

Wildlife

None