Summits: Wildcat A
Trail route: Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail
Trail conditions:
Weather: Partly cloudy to start then clearing skies, temps in the 30's
Total miles: 8.6
Total time: 5:37
Last February I attempted a solo hike to the summit of Wildcat A. There was new snow and I was having difficulty trying to break trail by myself. I turned around just before the first slide on the Wildcat Ridge Trail and instead hiked up to Carter Dome which was broke out but still a very difficult hike to the summit. Weather and trail conditions were favorable today for another attempt to summit Wildcat A. This would grid out Wildcat A as well as complete the Wildcats for the grid.
As I got closer to the trailhead I could see one cloud that was hanging exactly where I was going in Carter Notch. I arrived at the trailhead parking lot and found it to be nicely plowed out. I quickly checked the trail and decided to start my hike in microspikes. About two miles up the trail I swapped to snowshoes. The trail was broke out but the snow was still loose and the snowshoes worked well in the unconsolidated snow.
The snowshoes were really appreciated as I started up the steep Wildcat Ridge Trail and I took advantage of the televators. There were some tough, tricky sections to get up that required the assistance of some trees to pull myself up. I reached the summit and had it to myself. Initially there were no views at the outlook. But the clouds cleared within minutes of my arrival and there were spectacular views with blue sky and sunshine. This was my turn around point and after a few photos I began my hike back to the trailhead.
The steep descent on the Wildcat Ridge Trail was just as tricky going down as it was coming up. I used the same trees to get myself down safely. When I reached the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail the temps were warming up and created some occasional snow balling up on the snowshoes. I was able to kick the snow off without much problem so kept the snowshoes on for the rest of the hike.
Both trail and weather conditions were better than I expected, it was a beautiful day for hiking! I have now gridded out the Wildcats, done them in every month of the year, and can move on to other challenging hikes for my February summits that I need for the grid.
Enjoy the photos and video!
Hike starts here in microspikes
A well packed trail
This bridge is one mile in
Bugs were out on the trail
Trail goes through a broke out snowdrift
Crossing a slide
Crossing another slide
Looking up a slide
Frosty Old Man's Beard clings to a tree
Frosty trees
Standing on the summit of Wildcat A
Clouds in Carter Notch when I arrived on the summit
Limited views from the outlook
No view of Carter Notch Hut below
Within minutes the clouds cleared out
Zooming in to Carter Lake and Carter Notch ut after clouds cleared
Carter Dome
Clouds in the distance
Heavy frost at higher elevations
Descending
Frosty trees
Frosted spruce branch
Steep descent
Bridged and frozen water crossing
Blue sky above
One mile to go from this bridge
Nineteen Mile Brook
Back at the trailhead after 8.6 miles
Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!
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