February 19, 2022
Peaks: Wildcat A and D, Carter Dome, Middle and South Carter
Start: Wildcat ski resort
End: 19 Mile Brook trailhead
Miles: 13.14 (+0.4mi road walk until hitch)
Elevation gain: 6359′
I was up early to drive the 1.25 hours over to Wildcat and then had to hoof it hard to get off of the ski area property before they opened at 8am. I started climbing in snowshoes at 6:50am and managed to make the ~2.25 miles and ~2000′ gain to the summit of Wildcat D by right around 8:05am. I climbed up the summit platform, with some breathtakingly clear views of Mt Washington and then kept moving forward. I caught up to the one set of snowshoe prints I’d seen around 9:30am, and passed him by. After hitting all of the Wildcats, I descended into Carter Notch under an increasingly cloudy sky and started the seemingly endless climb up to Carter Dome. It began to snow on my ascent, and the wind picked up too, dropping the temperature by 10 degrees. I quickly traveled across the summit of the Dome and the wind was fierce even below treeline as I worked my way around Hight. I was happy to stay below treeline as I climbed over South and Middle Carter, and popped up above treeline on my way to the North Carter trail intersection.
I gratefully headed down, and was delighted to run into Stephanie, another trans hiker I follow on Instagram. We chatted for a few minutes and then kept moving to stay warm. Further down on Imp trail, I stopped to take off my snowshoes and switch to spikes, after I wiped out on the ice, bruising up my left knee. I made good time to Dodge Camp and then headed out onto the road, where I walked the 0.4mi up to the 19 Mile Brook trailhead, where I successfully snagged a ride back to my car. All in all, a great day.
Transcending Mountains 