Wednesday on the Wildcats

Summit: Wildcat D (4,062'), Wildcat A (4,422')

Trail route: Polecat Ski Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail, Nineteen Mile Brook Trail

Trail conditions: Groomed ski trail, loosely packed soft snow across the ridge, solid to soft snow on 19MBT  

Weather: Cool, comfortable temps, sunshine and a cloudless deep blue sky

Total miles: 9.2

Total time:  7:15

With spectacular weather in the forecast there was a big group of us hikers ready for a midweek hike. I would be joining Jill, Guy, Marty, Scott, Lisa, Danielle, Melissa, Kally and Hannah for a hike across the Wildcats. The plan was to spot some cars at Nineteen Mile Brook trailhead and start our traverse from Wildcat Ski Area.

I was the only one driving south to Wildcat so Marty, Scott with Lisa drove to Nineteen Mile Brook Trail parking area and I picked them up. We arrived at the Wildcat parking area and everyone was there. There is a $10 fee for hiking up the mountain but we arrived before the ticket counter was open. We moved down to the ski area and some of us put on microspikes while some put on snowshoes. 

The chairlift operators were just putting the chairs on the cable when we started our hike. The sun was just coming over the mountain and it was a beautiful morning. It was a nice hike up the groomed corduroy ski trail. The ski patrol came along and reminded us to hike up single file on the side of the trail, we weren't doing very well with the single file.

It wasn't long before the ski area opened and skiers were coming down the trail. We reached the top of the ski area and took a short break. The weather and views were spectacular. We then continued up to the summit of Wildcat D and the observation tower. The amount of snow up there was incredible! I have been up here many times in many winters and have never seen that snow depth. The steps up to the tower were completely buried and we walked straight onto the tower platform that also had a couple of feet of snow on it. The snowdrifts around the tower were very deep, I estimated one drift to be about 12 feet deep.

Those of us that did not have snowshoes on put them on before leaving the observation tower and back onto the trail. We were walking through a lot of tree branches due to being so high up in the trees due to the snow depth. I had forgotten about the PUDS (pointless ups and downs) along this ridge trail. With the temperature getting warmer I decided to remove a layer. I took off my sunglasses to remove a layer and when I turned around a sharp tree branch raked my bare eyeball. I knew right at that moment that I would be visiting the eye doctor.

We arrived at the summit of Wildcat A and enjoyed more spectacular views. We took a break for lunch and photos. The gray jays were waiting for us.

The next section of our hike was about to get tough. It was the steep drop down to the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail. There was a lot of loose snow and it was safer to buttslide along some parts of the trail. I've been on this trail enough to know that the broken trail along some sections was not the actual trail and it followed quite the convoluted bushwhack to get back down to the actual trail. We were all glad to get down to the trail junction.

It was a nice hike down to the Cater Dome Trail junction. This would be our last break. Some of us swapped the snowshoes for microspikes as the trail was well packed. The Nineteen Mile Brook had several feet covering it with occasional open areas along the way. We arrived down at the trailhead after 7 hours and 15 minutes. Our car spots were waiting for us and we rode back up to the Wildcat Ski Area.

This was a fantastic hike today with spectacular weather, interesting trail conditions and a fun group of hiking friends with a couple of new faces joining us. We saw no other hikers during the entire hike.

A follow-up to my eye injury, I saw the eye doctor the following day and she said I tore a chunk (her word) from my eye with the good news being it was superficial. I was given a lubricant eye gel and an antibiotic ointment. 

Enjoy the photos and videos!  

Early morning sun on Madison and Adams as I drive to the trailhead

A view from the Wildcat parking lot

Final prep by the chairlift before heading up

Guy is waiting up ahead

Heading up the Polecat Trail

A look back at Mount Washington

Enjoying the corduroy trail

Mountain scenery opening up

A trail for those that are "Not Groomed"

Continuing up

Another look back

Getting closer to the top of the Polecat Trail

Almost at the top

At the top of Wildcat Ski Area by the ski patrol hut

It's a beautiful day on Wildcat

Isn't this the reason for a sick day?

View to the east from Wildcat

A day of spectacular views

Tuckerman Ravine

Summit of Mount Washington

Huntington Ravine

Mount Adams

Stairs are completely buried at the observation tower

Deck full of snow

Very deep snow off the side of the observation deck

Danielle climbing down off the tower

Leaving the observation tower

On our way to Wildcat A

Ski slope below

Hiking up into the sun

Mount Carrigain and Signal Ridge

Mount Moosilauke in the distance

Enjoying the views

Face slappers

A view to the east

A view of the Presidential summits

Mount Jefferson

Open area along the Wildcat Ridge Trail

Wildcat A up ahead

The View sign is almost out of view with all the snow

Carter Dome

Carter Notch Hut far below

Gray jay waiting

The whole gang on Wildcat A

On Wildcat A with Carter Dome behind me

Walking among the treetops

Descending Wildcat A

Starting the steep drop

Carefully walking across the slide

This is a no-fall zone

A look back up at Wildcat A from where we just came

Lots of snow at the trail junction

White snow against blue sky

Heading down Nineteen Mile Brook Trail

Frozen pool

Open water

One last break before the final 1.9 mile hike out

Snow-covered rock

A long drop from the edge of the trail

Nineteen Mile Brook dam

Hanging ice

At the 19 Mile Brook trailhead after 7 hours and 15 minutes

Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!