Carters and Wildcats Hike Weekend

TRIP DATE       July 11-12, 2015

TRIP LOCATION: Carter Notch Hut Pinkham Notch              

MEETING TIME:          8:30 AM Saturday/Sunday 7:45 AM

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):  8

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS): Saturday hike Wildcats-7 hours/Sunday Hike Carters-8 hours

LENGTH IN MILES: 6 miles Wildcat Ridge Trail/10 miles The Carters

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET):    Saturday 3366 ft./Sunday 2673 ft.

DIFFICULTY: (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy) Sat Hike A/B. Sunday B

LEADER NAME(S):       Walt Granda

CO-LEADER NAME(S): Len Ulbricht----(Joshua Tefft co-leader for the Wildcat Ridge)

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION Joe Dodge Lodge and Imp South Trailhead Rte. 16

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:      YES                    TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS: 30 minutes

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?   Yes   

 

IF YES TO ABOVE, DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED: Saturday trails included Lost Pond Trail and Wildcat Ridge Trail.   Sunday trails, Carter Moriah, Carter Dome, North Carter, and Imp Trail.  The trail conditions were good except for the Imp Trail.  Several sections of the Imp Trail were very wet with flowing water. 

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE:  Sunny 

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.) Saturday’s hike was very challenging and we were happy to arrive at the hut for some R&R. We started the hike on the Lost Pond Trail and enjoyed the easy walk past some scenic ponds.  After we connected to the Wildcat Ridge Trail that’s when the fun started.  The Wildcat Ridge Trail is very steep with ledge scrambles and wooden steps.  On our way up we did see great views of Washington that made our trip worthwhile.   After arriving at Wildcat Mtn. (peak A), the trail drops steeply down to the Carter Notch Hut.  Sunday’s hike was longer but a lot easier on the knees.  The most difficult part was climbing Carter Dome, 1.20 miles with an elevation gain of 1529 feet.  The trail to the Carter Dome had a some view points that looked down to the Carter Notch Hut and ponds.   At the Mt. Hight trail junction the group split with four of us hiking Mt Hight to get a 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains and valleys.  The group later reconnected at the next trail intersection for our hike to South Carter and Middle Carter and back down to our cars.