Wildcat Mountain (A Peak)

Trail: Camp Dodge Cutoff, Imp Trail, North Carter Trail, Carter-Moriah Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail, ski trails

Conditions: Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow - Spring Snow, Slush

“Parked at Wildcat, rode my bike down to Camp Dodge to start the hike. Monorail was very solid all day, it will take quite a warm up or decent snow storm to need snowshoes at this point, but there is a lot of ice out there lurking under the snow. Bare booted in ~1" of new snow through Camp Dodge and up Imp trail for 1.5 miles. At that point, there started to be significant ice flows under the snow so switched to microspikes, which worked well up to Carter-Moriah Trail. Very narrow monorail under ~2-3" of fresh snow keeps you on your toes but microspikes still the way to go. S facing sections started to get slushy which added to the challenge. Some hard ice under the snow in places, especially coming down from S. Carter. Met another hiker near Zeta pass coming back from Carter Dome, he had started up to Hight but turned around as he felt it was a bit sketchy. I was gridding out the Carters today, and it was a clear/no wind day so I wanted to give it a shot and the climb ended up being not bad...packed monorail but not icy and my microspikes held well. I've been fortunate to have some great days on Hight and it is one of the best peaks in the Whites on a clear day. More elevated monorail from Hight back to Carter Dome trail and up to Carter Dome. Still crazy amounts of snow which means you get views you won't get in the summer as you can see over the scrub. Coming down from Carter Dome to the Notch had a lot of Slushy Side Slope of Doom. Spikes were balling up, but they were necessary with the new snow on top of the side slope. The steep section down into the notch after the lookout had enough rocks that you could mostly downclimb, but there is still enough ice that whatever your best traction is, you will be glad you have it. Crampons and an ice axe wouldn't be crazy. Heading up Wildcat Ridge Trail from the Notch was more Side Slope Shenanigans...mostly grippy with microspikes but you would not be sad with crampons...there are sections with solid ice under the snow which could become very exciting quickly if not careful. Once I got to A I was glad to see a lot of people had done an out/back from the ski area and the trail was pretty broken in (the ski area was closed Mon-Thurs this week, so people could climb/descend the trails all day as opposed to the usual "not when the lifts are operating". I didn't get to the ski trails until 4:15pm, so it didn't help me. Remembered to retrieve my bike down at Camp Dodge, one of these days I'm going to forget!”

Trail: Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail, Carter Dome Trail, Carter Moriah Trail

Conditions: Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Slush, Snow/Ice - Small Patches

“First 1.8 miles to Carter Dome junction is mostly bare ground with some easily avoidable icy spots, bare boots are fine. Between the junction and Carter Notch, rock spikes work best for now, half the trail has running water that has undermined the snow and ice, and the other half is a foot or two of snow, which was solid on Sunday morning. Wildcat Ridge Trail to A Peak is snow with a few icy spots, some side-hilling going on. I went up in my rock spikes, but put on sharper ones for the descent. Carter Notch to Carter Dome starts with bare ground and ice in between rocks. I kept my sharper spikes on and walk up the ice, but rock spikes and hopping from rock to rock through the steeps would be fine too. After the outlook, it becomes more snow than ice. The trail was firm, but it was a bumpy ride. Carter Dome to Zeta Pass begins with some impressive old rotting snow drifts. As it gets warmer, expect to sink to your knees/waist coming off the summit. Between the two junctions for Hight, there is an annoying but firm, for now, side hill, anywhere from a foot to three feet above the ground. Zeta Pass to Middle and South Carter has some bare ground, ice, and snow. Rock spikes work best. Carter Dome Trail descending from Zeta Pass is an ice flow for the first 0.25 miles until 3600'. Pretty impressive and slow going. Below 3600' it's mostly bare ground with some ice flows around drainages, which can all be tiptoed around with care. Below the water crossing, there's a little more ice in the trail, but it's not too difficult and was soft by late morning. Bring your rock spikes and patience if hiking the Cats and Carters over the next few weeks, expect slippery conditions!”

Trail: Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail, ski trails

Conditions: Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts

“Snowshoes from the start at 19 mile, bareboots had churned the new snow and two pairs of snowshoes on a traverse did little to help. Beyond the carter dome junction trail, only one pair of ski tracks(the caretaker had skied down from the hut earlier in the day). There was no indication that anyone had recently turned onto the wildcat ridge trail, and that should have been enough to call it for another day, but as luck would have it (or lack thereof) we continued, after all it's only .7 miles. We broke trail through 18 to 24" of drifted unconsolidated snow on the steep hillside. Snowshoes were useless, one step forward, 2 steps slipping back, crampons weren't much better. Try changing foot gear in 2ft of snow on a hill slide, soul sucking, doesn't do it justice. Two hours later for .7 miles, we summited Wildcat A. Snowshoes back on, the traverse hadn't seen any traffic either, there is no packed monorail, but the snow depth was more manageable at a foot. On the steep sections of the traverse, the unconsolidated snow just slid off the solid ice, along with anyone standing on it. The best part of the hike was the well groomed ski trail. Coming weather conditions won't improve this trail! So many other to choose from!”