Day 154 – Pinkham Notch to Imp Shelter 

“You’re just as wild as a wildcat and you got your claws in me

Scratchin’ out my poor old heart and slowly killing me

I’d like to break your pretty neck but what good that it’d do

You’re gonna get the best of me just like you always do” – Charlie Walker

Up at 7:00. Packed, walked to the gas station for coffee, updated blogs, and did a little backpack maintenance. Shuttle picked me up at 9:00. 

Made hotel reservations for my Zero in Bethel, ME Wednesday and Thursday this week. Spoiling myself a bit 🙂 Also ordered shoes and a new knee brace. Need to figure out where to have Dana ship each.

Sunny, low 70s, chance of scattered showers.

Took the Wildcat ski lift up to the top of Wildcat D at 10:00 a.m. Beautiful day.

On trail at 10:15. Nice views.

YouTube video of Presidentials from Wildcat D.

Steep, rocky, slippery ascent up Wildcat Mountain, tough climb.

Summited Wildcat at 11:45. Now I gotta go down there to Carter Notch.

And then up there to Carter Dome

Gonna be a long afternoon! It’s 11:50 and 2.1 miles in. Let’s see how long it takes me.

Took about 40 minutes to climb down here 1 mile from up there. Not too bad a descent. Really beautiful alpine ponds with steep cliffs back up to Wildcat Mountain.

Stopped at Carter Notch Hut for water and a short break. The crew member on duty said it should be about an hour hike to summit Carter Dome. Back on trail at 12:55.

This is a tough climb. 

Looking back down (very down) at Carter Notch from partway up Carter Dome.

Summited Carter Dome at 2:10. Heck of a climb, but not quite in the top 5. I have 5.8 miles to go and I really want to be to camp by 6:00 at the latest. Gotta move!

YouTube video of 360 from the top of Mount Hight.

I’m headed that way another 5.1 miles.

Summited South Carter Mountain at 3:40. I’m beat. All these climbs today are adding up. Steep and rocky and steep! One more big climb to go and 3.9 miles. I’ll be lucky to get to camp by 6:00. 

Summited Middle Carter Mountain at 4:35. Just another spectacular view. Whatever;)

Summited North Carter Mountain at 5:10. I’m beat. I have 1.8 steep miles down to camp. This descent is brutal. Super steep, slippery, shadows, and rock climbing. I hate doing these descents this late in the day as it’s easy to fall and nobody is around to help at this late hour.

Made it to Imp Campsite at 6:20. Got camp set up very fast so I could have some light to cook dinner. Chatted with 5 overnight hikers while having dinner. Finished dinner in the dark at 7:20. Finished setting up my sleeping gear after dinner and settling in for the night at 8:00. 

Today was hard. Only 3316 feet elevation gain but 4082 of descents. Steep and slippery and long. I hate getting into camp this late due to lack of daylight and having to rush. There were some spectacular views today plus a lot of day hikers. The Wildcats and the Carters lived up to their nasty reputation. This was the hardest hike in the Whites. 

Technical Notes:

• Cupcakes 330
• Coffee 50
• Mini donuts 280
• Snickers 250
• Hershey bar 210
• Oreo 160
• Oreo 160
• Salami 250
• Ramen 370
• Dehydrated chicken 170
• Fritos 350
• Water 2
• Miles 10.1
• Time 8
• Elevation gain 3316
• Calories consumed 3000
• Calories burned 6500