Winter Hiking Series Carter Notch Overnight Trip - March 4-6, 2016

TRIP DATE:      March 4-6, 2016                                

TRIP LOCATION: Carter Notch, Carter Dome, Wildcat A and B                   

MEETING TIME:  10:45 am                

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS): 11       

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS): app. 3.5 hours into the AMC Carter Hut 

LENGTH IN MILES:  3.8 miles each way on Nineteen Mile Brook Trail (plus 2.4 mi. r.t. for Carter Dome hike or app. 4 mi. r.t. for Wildcat A/B hike)         

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET): app. 1,900 feet into hut (plus app. 1,550 feet for Carter Dome hike or app. 1,400 feet for Wilecat A/B hike)

DIFFICULTY:   ranged from “average” on Nineteen Mile Brook Trail to “strenuous” on Carter Moriah and Wildcat Ridge Trails due to steepness and icy conditons

LEADER NAME(S): Paul Miller, Maureen Kelly, Wayne Anderson, Mike Woessner, Dexter Robinson

CO-LEADER NAME(S): Barry Young, Paul Brookes, Peggy Qvicklund

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION: Parked at Nineteen Mile Brook Trail trailhead on Rte. 16, one mile north of Mt. Washington Auto Rd.  Pay box was covered, so we didn’t have to insert usual WMNF use fee

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:      No                TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS:

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?  Yes     

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:  Nineteen Mile Brook Trail mostly snow covered with a few icy spots, requiring microspikes; Carter Moriah and Wildcat Ridge Trails very icy, requiring full crampons with front points

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE:  Very nice sunny and clear winter weather with daytime temps in the 20s and 30s and nighttime temps in the single digits and teens.

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.) – Wonderful views from the summits of Carter Dome and Wildcat A.  Very challenging conditions on both Carter Moriah and Wildcat Ridge Trails kept groups from continuing on to Mt. Hight and Wildcat D, respectively.