Wildcat D (4,062 ft) 9-11-16

Distance: 5.62 mi.
Elevation: 2,083 ft (overall) 2,311 ft (total)
Time: 2:23 (Summit) 3:36 (Total - Ski Area Parking Lot)
Trails: Wildcat Ridge Trail, Ski Slopes

"A pole dancing unicorn, now I've seen everything."

For Flags on the 48 2016, our group decided to hike Wildcat D and fly our flag from the summit there. Our plan was to meet at the Glen Ellis Falls parking lot at 8am, gather our things and group, then head up the steep Wildcat Ridge Trail to the summit. While things to the north looked like they might already be clearing, the forecast for this morning was for a band of rain (with possible thunder and lightning) to come through around 10am. We discussed the weather and changed up our plan and supplies based on that. We collectively decided we would be going up, but paying attention to the weather while climbing. Knowing that the storm was coming and we might get turned back.

About 8:30am we headed out for the hike. Crossing the river was too difficult today, but with some slick rocks, Greg still managed to step in deeper than his boot. Almost immediately this trail heads straight up the mountain. It's steep and rocky and stays that way for quite a while. It's not a trail to underestimate when planning your hike. We weren't very far up the mountain when the morning rain started to come down. It was light to start (at least in the trees) so I put on my pack cover, but not my rain jacket. I didn't want to keep the rain off me just to end up sweating a bunch instead. Steadily the rain picked up and I eventually had to put my rain jacket on. By now the trail was starting to have a small stream of water coming down it.

Than rain picked up more and we started to see some flashes from lighting. We could tell from the delayed thunder that they were still a safe distance away though. As we started to get to some of the open rocky sections though, the storm was getting closer. We briefly discussed the storm and decided to keep going for now. A little further up the trail, we stopped at an open area to get a view of the storm. While here, the lightning struck much closer. We decided to venture into the trees and wait things out a bit. While we waited, we would see if the storm was bad enough to turn around. We were all fine with turning around, but none of us wanted to be the person to say we should yet. After about 30 minutes of standing around telling stories, we decided it was time to get moving either up or down the trail so we didn't get too cold. We decided the storm had died down enough that we could continue up.

We kept heading up the mountain and the rain progressively got better and better. By the time the trail finally started to level out some as it neared Wildcat E peak, we were actually starting to see some patches of sun coming through. We traversed over E peak and down to the top of the ski area. We took a short break hear with the sun coming out before pushing up the last short climb to the summit. As soon as we arrived, we dropped our packs and started getting out the flag setup.

Jim brought a pair of C-clamps with a plan to clamp the pole to the posts on the platform at the summit. We put the pole together, attached the flag, and raised the whole thing up. The wind was blowing pretty fast today and the flag was whipping around quite a bit. It took multiple people to hold the pole still so we could get the clamps on. Unfortunately, the clamps weren't working well. We couldn't get them on tight enough or the placement made it hard to turn the handle. We tried various different setups with wood shims and bungee cords before we finally got the pole nearly tight. At this point though, we looked up and noticed that the wind had actually bent the metal conduit upper section of the pole significantly. We wouldn't be able to leave the setup this way, so we had to come up with another plan.

Getting the flag ready

Setting up the flag

Still trying to attach the pole to the platform

We discussed various ways of using part of the pole to fly the flag out to the side of the platform. In the end though, we decided to just drape the flag down over the side. Of course immediately the wind blew the flag back up onto the deck. So I got out the few few of para cord I carry in pack to tie the end down. This ended up being the only rope we had with us today. Knowing we had clamps, no one brought any extra rope. This setup worked well and was what we used for the 2 hours of flying the flag.

Coming up with option #2

After getting the flag setup, Brian and Greg got to work cooking hot dogs for lunch. The plan was to bring a bunch and offer them to hikers that came by. Based on the weather though, we cut back to just one package of (of 24) and that was more than enough. After we ate, we sat in the sun that was now fully out and just relaxed. Eventually Brian got restless and started acting goofy in his new unicorn hat. He pretended to be a pull and Jay tried to tame him with a makeshift cape. He posed and pranced in front of the flag some. And while taking down our flag setup, he even used the pole for some dancing. The man just isn't right in the head.

Time for hotdogs

Now flying from the deck

Cloud capped Presidential Range

We have unicorn approval

Prancing unicorn

Summit fun

Folding the flag

For the descent, we decided to take the easy route by going down the ski slopes. No one really wanted to carry the flag pole down the steep trail, especially if it was still wet from the rain. The hike down went well and soon we were at the base. Jim tried hitchhiking solo to go back and get a car for us, and he was quickly picked up. Soon we were all back at the parking lot and packing up.

In the end, the rain and storm made for an interesting and slightly slower ascent, but the day turned out quite nice. A fun time was had even though not many hikers were out today. A few other groups had to changed plans for some of the higher and more exposed peaks, but confirmation was had for all 48 peak groups again this year. A truly remarkable feat given the weather and conditions. All the hikers that volunteer to do this event get another big round of applause again this year.

Google Earth representation of the hike

For all the pictures from the hike, just go HERE

Mt Wildcat D Peak (4,062) & Mt. Wildcat A Peak (4,422 ft) 6-27-13

Distance: 5.0 mi.(day 1) 3.8 mi.(day 2) 8.8 mi. (total)
Elevation: 2,404 ft. (overall) 3,479 ft. (total)
Time: 3:25 (Wildcat D) 5:51 (Wildcat A) 7:01 (Hut) 9:18 (total)
Trails: Lost Pond Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail, 19 Mile Brook Trail

The plan for this hike originally was to hike up and over the Wildcats on day 1 and to the Carter Notch Hut for the night. Then for day 2, I would continue up over the Carters and to Mt. Moriah. Then back down the Stony Brook Trail to my car where I left it at the start. That was the plan, but not everything goes to plan.

Luckily, I arranged a ride with a fellow hiker from online and was able to spot my car at my planned ending point so I could hike back to it. I got a ride to Pinkham Notch Visitor Center so that I could start off on the Lost Pond Trail. I hadn't hiked this before, so I wanted warm up here before tackling the Wildcat Ridge Trail. I had done an out and back hike of the Wildcats from Glen Ellis Falls before and knew what I was in for. The hike down the Lost Pond Trail went quick and pretty easy, except a few scrambles over some large rocks. It was so foggy when I came through, that you could hardly make out the other side of the pond while right next to it. I thought, "No wonder it's called Lost Pond. I'm right next to it and can hardly even find it."

Lost Pond

Once at the junction, I knew the real work for the day was about to begin. A short bit of flat ground before a long relentless steep climb up the mountain. Approximately 2,000 feet of gain in 2 miles is steep anywhere in the Whites. I tried to take my time since my pack was heavier than normal with overnight gear and extra clothes. The rocks provide plenty of places to step, but the humidity was already making me sweat more than normal (which is enough anyways). The trail goes over some open areas that didn't provide much for views until higher up and above the fog that lingered all day it seems in the valley. Any decline or level spot in the trail is almost immediately followed by another steep section. On a nice day though, the views are nice along this trail including the Presidentials of course and even a view of Glen Ellis Falls from above.

Open ledge along the trail

Yup, it's steep

Just above the fog in the valley. There was tons of it too

Finally, after a long steady climb, you reach the less than obvious "E" Peak. This leads to a welcome gentle downhill to the top of the ski area. Then it's up just one more steep incline to the summit viewing deck. By the time I got here, I had gone through two quarts of fluid thanks to the humidity. Already time to add more to the camelbak and try to catch up on what I was losing. I changed into a dry shirt and socks here while taking in the views that were starting to get clouded back up again.

From the summit of D Peak

Coming down off of D Peak is a bit steep down into the saddle between it and C Peak. Once in the bottom, it then goes back up pretty steepily with some breaks of more gradual trail. After C Peak, the trail is more gradual with only brief steep pitches and few ups and downs. I'm still not sure which small hump is B Peak, but eventually you come to A Peak and the view point next to it. This looks down over the hut, into the notch, and across to Carter Dome. But today I couldn't see the hut below as clouds were flowing steadily up through the notch. Even Carter Dome was hard to make out at times. I took a nice break here even despite the flies since my legs were getting sore and a bit cramped. I had a few hours still before I needed to be at the hut, so I tried to drink more since I was getting a bit dehydrated with all the sweating.

On the way to A Peak

A Peak view point

After a while, I started my casual hike down into the notch. The trail was steep to start, but easy to navigate. Rock steps in many places and good footing. Some recent trail work had been done in a small patch that appeared to have gotten a number of blow downs. At the crossing of the slide, I was down into the clouds and couldn't see how much further it would be. Turns out, not too much more. Down in the notch, the Carter Lakes were covered in fog and you could barely make out the other side. I checked into the hut, filled a bottle with water, and went to setup my bed and take a rest before supper.

Upper Carter Lake

A room to myself

Just before supper

Of course the food was good for supper. I was hungry anyways, but the roast beef was great. There was more than enough for the 6 of us that would be here for the night. It was also funny seeing a croo member jump and scream after a red squirrel ran through the kitchen. After some panicking, he finally found his way back to the main area and out a window.

In the morning, I woke up to rain. After breakfast, we were given the weather report. More rain, heavy at times, windy, and chance of thunderstorms later in the day. Since the weather forecast didn't seem good for hiking the top of a ridge and my legs were more tired than expected, I made the safe decision to hike back to the road along 19 Mile Brook Trail. Turns out, all of us at the hut ditched plans for peaks and hiked out safely in the rain. I was looking forward to the 4 peaks planned for day two, but hiking in the rain isn't as much fun and the weather wasn't really good for being up high. My legs would have allowed me to bag Carter Dome, but since one of the groups at the hut was offering rides back to cars at other trail heads, I just headed down the trail. It was a pleasant but wet hike out. I'll just have to come back again to do the second half of this hike later.

Waking up to rain

Wet trail down the mountain.
Notice the canoe next to the brook. The hut croo stole it earlier this week from Lonesome Lake Hut and is bringing it up in stages

For all the pictures from the hike, just go HERE

Mt. Wildcat D (4,050 ft) and Mt. Wildcat (4,422 ft) 11-19-11

Distance: 7.2 mi.
Elevation: 2,463 ft. (overall) 2,943 ft. (total)
Time: 2:48 (Wildcat D) 4:03 (Wildcat A) 7:35 (total)
Trails: Wildcat Ridge Trail

The Trail starts out by crossing the Ellis River. Today it was pretty easy to step from rock to rock without getting wet or worrying about slipping. You then go into the trees and quickly come tot he Lost Pond Trail on your left. Continue straight and almost immediately you come to the steep uphill. There are quite a few large rocks making up the trail, but they aren't all that hard to get up and in many places have been moved like steps for you. But it does just keep going up and up and very steeply.It doesn't take long though and you come to your first view across the valley.

Skirting around an open rock face

Here you skirt around the open rock and then head right back uphill again over a little pit of a tricky spot (moreso on the way down). There was a coating of snow all the way up the mountain today. This made it a little slower going up these steep sections as it was hard to tell how slick the rock would be under the snow. A couple times I did find a bit of ice.

The steep rocky trail

The trail stays steep for quite some time on the way up. Occasionaly it comes out onto open rock faces that give nice views across the valley, but could be tricky with any more snow. After quite a while of steep trail, you finally get a bit of a break when the trail levels out some and goes past a small open spot on the trail with a limited view up the ridge. From here the trail goes up, down, up, down, up, etc. There are many brief downhill sections before more steep uphills. You start to wonder if you will ever get to E peak. Each time you think you might be to it, there is another.

View across the valley from the trail

Open ledge on the trail

Finally the trails levels out for a distance and you make it to E peak. Just a short easy walk after this and you get to the top of the ski trails just before D peak.

D Peak in sight

The trail goes behind the old building and then up a short steep climb to the observation deck on the summit. The view of the presidentials from the deck are great. You also can just see Wildcat and the Carters above the trees tot he Northeast. This gives you a bit of an idea how far you have left and what the contour is.

View from the observation deck

Carters and Wildcat A

From here the trail goes down somewhat steeply over what was only slightly slick conditions. Once you get down into the saddle, there are plenty of sections with well built foot bridges along the trail. I think but maybe one of these foot bridges were very solid and very strongly built. A lot of work was put in and it was done well. After a bit of an easy section, you start going back up towards C Peak. This section is scattered with short steep sections mixed between the gentle sections of trail. Over C and B Peaks there isn't much to let you know if you are at the peaks. Just your own judgement if you are at a high spot. The last climb up to A peak is a nice gentle one and suddenly there is a short path to your right that leads you to the view point across Carter Notch.

There are many well built foot bridges

Short steep spot

Carter Notch

I wish I had more time to site here and enjoy the view. But all I had time for was a bite to eat and some pictures. I had gotten a later start than I planned in the morning and didn't really want to go down the steep sections of trail in the dark, even with my headlamp. I headed back over the same route I came up without taking much for breaks or pictures. I did make sure to stop back at D Peak for one more view and to put some gatorade from a bottle into my bladder in the my pack. Coming down the steep sections wasn't too bad, but I certainly had to take my time. Down low on the mountain, most of the snow had melted, but there were still patches. Some of those smooth steep rocks that were a bit tricky on the way up were even trickier on the way down. I just took my time on these while still keeping an eye on how much light I had left. I made good time and got back to my truck at quarter till dark. I could see without my headlamp, but I would have needed it in probably about another 5-10 minutes.

All in all the hike was great. The weather cleared nicely and the wind wasn't too bad. The guide book is right in that you shouldn't under estimate this trail from looking at the map. I also remember seeing somewhere that they don't recommend this trail in the winter without crampons. I can see that this may be the case once things get a bit more snow or ice. There was just enough bare rock that I could get up with bare boots, but much more and I certainly would have had on my microspikes (as the one other couple I saw all day did).

View out through the trees coming down C Peak

Heading down the steep rocky stairs as the sun goes down

For all the pictures from the hike, just go HERE