Cold Day on Wildcat A

A last minute opportunity had me doing one more hike on the last day of the year. Last week I hiked to Wildcat D via the Polecat Trail on a perfect day of weather. Today I would be hiking to Wildcat A with a weather forecast calling for cold temps, clouds, wind, light snow flurries as well as a wind chill advisory posted. I was getting a later than usual start but my plan would still have me completing my hike before nightfall. My hike would take me up the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail onto the Wildcat Ridge Trail to the summit of Wildcat A (4,422').

Wildcat D via Polecat Trail

This would be a day that I was to be pleasantly surprised by the weather. The forecast called for seasonally warm temps and cloudy skies. My son and his friend wanted to snowboard at Wildcat and this would give me an opportunity to hike up to Wildcat D (4,062') for a winter 4,000 footer. I couldn't be sure what I would find for snow conditions on the Polecat Ski Trail that I would be hiking up.

Hiking Into Huntington Ravine

The Winter Solstice was to start at 6:03 this evening so it would be the last weekend before the winter 4,000 footers would be official. I didn't feel the need for bragging rights therefore I would not be hiking Sunday evening. I did feel the need to keep the hiking legs limbered up so a hike was in order. At the last minute I decided on a hike into Huntington Ravine to check out the snow and trail conditions as it looked as though it might not be a day for scenic views.

Snowshoeing the Imp Trail

I bought a new pair of winter hiking boots and it had been three weeks since my last hike so I was anxious to get out on the trail. Pinkham Notch seemed to get the motherlode of snow from last week's storm. The plan was to drop off my son and his friends at Wildcat and I would go hiking on the Imp Trail. Was not sure if I would do the entire loop not knowing what the trail conditions might be. Weather forecast called for cloudy skies, temps in the low 30's and no precipitation.

Braving Bitter Temps on Wildcat's Slopes

After yesterday's snow I wanted to get a first-hand look at the trail conditions on Wildcat. The forecast for today's weather was sunny skies but cold and windy. The higher summits forecast actually had a Wind Chill Advisory. Son Brandon decided to join me with his snowboard. So we loaded up the car and headed to Wildcat for an afternoon of shredding and carving.