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Wildcat D
Pinkham's Grant, NH, Bean's Grant, NH
Trailheads, measurements, times, distances, and maps are all approximate and relative to the hike(s) as shown below.
Looking down the Polecat ski trail
Route: Lower Polecat, Middle Polecat, Upper Polecat, Wildcat Ridge Trail, (Wildcat D), Wildcat Ridge Trail, Upper Polecat, Middle Polecat, Lower Polecat
While the weather forecast for the afternoon looked good, a simple look at the sky seemed to contradict it. Thus, I decided to go for exercise rather than scenery. Wildcat D via the ski trails was a perfect fit (though there is plenty of scenery).
Since the gondola and zip lines weren't running, things were very quiet when I arrived. While I prefer to mix things up by hiking different ski trails, the Polecat trail looked to be the only one consistently mowed to the summit. Though sometimes the trail seems to drag on, today it seemed to go by at a decent clip. The looming dark clouds over Mount Washington certainly made things interesting, and a constant sprinkle of rain helped keep things cool.
While there are no views at the summit due to the deck being fenced off, there were still decent views to the south via the outlooks along the short section of the Wildcat Ridge Trail. Though there were clouds overhead, the visibility below was quite good.
The clouds never lifted from Mount Washington during the entire descent, but nonetheless the scenery was still powerful - one of the advantages of hiking down a ski trail.
| Hike Ratings |
|
Getting To Trailhead: |
Easy |
| Destination: |
Wildcat D |
|
Length: |
Moderate |
|
Steepness: |
Difficult |
|
Navigation: |
Easy |
|
Views: |
Excellent |
|
Crowds: |
Minimal |
|
| Hike Stats |
|
Date Hiked: |
Monday, September 15, 2008 |
| Hike Commenced: |
4:14 PM |
| Parking Elevation: |
1,960' |
| Destination: |
Wildcat D |
| Ascent Commenced: |
4:16 PM |
| Summit Reached: |
5:17 PM |
| Time Elapsed: |
01:01 |
| Trailhead Elevation: |
1,950' |
| Summit Elevation: |
4,062' |
| Vertical Gain: |
2,012' |
|
|
| Hike Ended: |
6:27 PM |
| Hike Time Elapsed: |
02:13 |
| Hike Vertical Gain: |
2,122' |
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The end (beginning) of Lower Polecat next to the quad-gondola lift
Looking at Kearsarge North Mountain from near the summit of Wildcat D
Directions to trailhead: Take Route 16 North from Jackson to the Wildcat Ski Area entrance. The Polecat ski trail starts (ends) at the summit quad/gondola bottom terminal.
Back to Wildcat D Profile
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