Wildcats, carter, moriah?

[peakbagger]

The drop down off North Carter is quite nasty, lots of buttsliding down rock ledges or some creative footwork to stay vertical. The sides of the trail are eroded out from people trying to walk along the edges of the rocks. The trail faces north so it doesnt dry out quickly making it slippery rocks. Great introduction for northbounders to what to expect in the Mahoosucs and Maine but some folks really get slowed down by this stretch

[Driver8]

Given you are new to backpacking, I am thinking that the first day could very well be overy strenuous.

Thanks for your advice, Rick. I'm the newbie to backpacking - I think Jake, who is planning a Carter-Wildcat hike, is more experienced. I'm not yet planning to take on so strenuous an affair - my next venture up that way I hope to get up and down the west side of Mt. Washington - up Jewell and down Ammo, and, if the legs are feeling frisky on descent, to go up and down Mt. Monroe along the way. Pack will be as light as possible for the day, and may car camp that night and do a waterfalls hike or two the next day. Can you tell I'm itching to get up there?

[jakedatc]

Yep, Rick you are getting us confused. For a bit of my resume i did 40mi of CT section from Jug end to Cornwall bridge in 3 days. last year i did 11mi Tripyramid loop in 5 hr, i did Moosilauke up and down Beaver brook. i did the Pemi loop in 96 so i'm not a stranger in the whites. i am a road cyclist and rock climber. my pack this weekend will be 17lb

[jakedatc]

Made it
Did the Ellis river crossing at 6:45.. made it to Wildcat D by 9. Wildcat A at 10 and met my friends at carter dome around noon. slowed down after that to stay as a group to Imp site by 5pm.
Left at 7:30 this morning.. got to Moriah at 10.. got to Bangor st at 12:30 6 4k's down in the books

[jakedatc]

[Driver8]

Thanks for sharing your pics, Jake. I'm jealous - was chained to West Hartford this weekend by obligations. Hoping next weekend is as nice as this one, will get up north and maybe camp over for the first time if fortune smiles. Still some snow in the bowl of Tuck's, but not much. Am wondering if it will all be melted a month earlier this year than last. Last year there was still some snow left - the arch - on July 19 when my friends and I hiked the Boott Spur Trail, was visible from Harvard Rock.

PS: Are you bagging all 48? How far along are you? I'm at two and counting.

[jakedatc]

I've done 19

[tiptoe]

The drop down off North Carter is quite nasty, lots of buttsliding down rock ledges or some creative footwork to stay vertical. The sides of the trail are eroded out from people trying to walk along the edges of the rocks. The trail faces north so it doesnt dry out quickly making it slippery rocks. Great introduction for northbounders to what to expect in the Mahoosucs and Maine but some folks really get slowed down by this stretch

Couldn't agree more. That's where I broke my ankle last fall right after Hurricane Irene.

[MamaBear]

Gorgeous weather and views! You picked a good weekend. I went back and looked at my photos from my Carters loop last June (6.17.11) and the snow in Tucks looks to be about the same amount.

[Driver8]

Gorgeous weather and views! You picked a good weekend. I went back and looked at my photos from my Carters loop last June (6.17.11) and the snow in Tucks looks to be about the same amount.

That would surprise me, that it would only be a week's difference or so, based on how much harder a winter it was last year versus this.

[MamaBear]

Here's the photo, taken from Mt. Hight and zoomed a bit. It was hazy that day, can't fix that about the photo.

[MamaBear]

Forgot to add, click on the photo and it will take you to a bigger version in the gallery. Better to see the details.

[jakedatc]

Definitely more than this year.

zoomed and cropped

[Driver8]

Definitely more than this year.

Yeah, quite a bit more. One week later last year, plus easily a week's more worth of snow. A month would be pushing it, though. Wouldn't be surprised if it all melts by 7/1 or Independence Day.

[Driver8]

Here are two photos I took just above tree line on Boott Spur Trail, above Harvard Rock:

Tuckerman Ravine 1 07192011.jpgTuckerman Ravine 2 07192011.jpg

[MamaBear]

Upon closer inspection, both of you are right, there is less snow up there now than last year around the same time. Zoomed and cropped really shows the difference. Shows what kind of winter we had or didn't.

[jakedatc]

we knew you'd see our way eventually haha

hopefully this weekend will be just as nice and i can tick off 4 more peaks.. might do 2 day hikes to do Whiteface/passaconaway and the Hancocks with my dad. cover his bday, fathers day and 4 peaks for me all in one shot

[Driver8]

Sounds like a good plan, Jake. Am hoping to get up this weekend, if not, it'll be next. Fingers crossed - this looks like a nice one!

[Zigzag]

Quick note to Driver8. West side of Washington I usally recommend going up the Ammy & down Jewel. Many broken ankles & legs on Ammy & Jewel is easy down after first part leaving Gulfside. & hats off to Jake, Pinkham to Imp is a long day w/overnight pack. Most people overnight at Carter Hut & Imp & take 3 days. There are also some nice tent spots off the ridge on the East side trails but you need to drop quite a bit. Too bad you are not hiking today, perfect blue sky day up here. Looking at Carter Dome, Wildcat & North Baldface as I type this!

[Driver8]

Quick note to Driver8. West side of Washington I usally recommend going up the Ammy & down Jewel. Many broken ankles & legs on Ammy & Jewel is easy down after first part leaving Gulfside. & hats off to Jake, Pinkham to Imp is a long day w/overnight pack. Most people overnight at Carter Hut & Imp & take 3 days. There are also some nice tent spots off the ridge on the East side trails but you need to drop quite a bit. Too bad you are not hiking today, perfect blue sky day up here. Looking at Carter Dome, Wildcat & North Baldface as I type this!

Thanks for the helpful advice, Zigzag. I went up and down Ammo on 5/12 with quite a lot of snow on the upper 0.8 mile or so with no problem. Carefully, mind you, but unscathed. I dropped pack at the hut due to high winds and leg fatigue, puttered about on the Crawford Path taking a few pics, and ascended no further.

I plan the route as stated b/c my chief limitation will be leg stamina on ascent after that steep third mile of the Ammo Trail - I'm pretty solid over good distances at 20% or less, but above 30 uses different muscles and incites fatigue more quickly for me. Jewell pops along steadily, seldom varying much from its average 16% grade. I'm confident, having climbed the Old Bridle Path up Lafayette a couple weeks ago on a there-and-back, that I can make it up Jewell, which climbs an additional 500 feet or so in an extra mile vs. OBP.

On descent, for variety, I want to go down Crawford, stop at the hut for a respite, maybe explore around the Lakes and Monroe (provided the legs are willing), then go down the very pretty, and by now somewhat familiar, Ammo Trail. If I'm feeling extra frisky when up high, I might come down via Nelson Crag to Alpine Garden, checking out the flowers, to Tuck's Crossover, etc. We'll see.