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| Sunrise, View from Wildcat |
Day 2 of 2. Awoke at 4:30 AM sharp. After a hasty oatmeal breakfast, we headed out of Carter Notch hut decked out in headlamps and bear bells. By sunrise, we had climbed far enough up the Wildcat to get this pleasant view of the sun coming up over a third straight beautiful autumn day. Slightly concerned about missing a shuttle from Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, we had asked Mac, the hut caretaker, for a suggested bushwack to Pinkham. He offered the idea of descending on the Wildcat Ski Area slopes and then hiking the highway for a mile. So after a late morning rest and snack on the observation platform on Wildcat D, we took Mac's advice.
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| Carter Dome from Wildcat, Dawn |
Bad move. The ski slope was littered with brambles, loose rocks, and scrub-covered hard-to-see ankle-breaking holes... It took forever to negotiate the slope, but fortunately no injuries. Next time, I'll just stick to the trail.
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| Carter Notch Hut, View Down from Wildcat |
We finished our hiking weekend by mid-day, early enough that the others on the AMC shuttle were just heading out for the day.
The half-day section hike netted another two 4,000 footers... #s 5 and 6.
Peaks: Wildcat and Wildcat D
Elevation: 4,422 and 4,062 feet (Gain: 2,104 feet)
Distance: 5 miles
Route: Traverse, via Wildcat Ridge Trail, Wildcat Ski Slope Bushwhack, Road Walk
Conditions: Sunny, 60 degrees F
