Northeast Adventures
#111 and 112 The Wild Cats
February 25th 2018
Once again adventure called my name and I answered. This time adventure took me to the wildcats in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It was winter and there was plenty of snow and ice. I had driven up the night before to the cabin in Moultonborough. Let me mention that this was not a year round cabin. This was summer cabin, which meant there was no water/ bathroom/ or electricity. Being a winter hiker/camper, I became quite used to this setting and enjoyed it quite a bit. I got in late, quickly unpacked and packing my gear bag for the next morning.
I woke up early morning and got ready for the 1.5 hour drive. The temperature wasn’t too bad and snow was forecasted for today which was a good thing. I got to Joe dodge lodge. It would be my second time there. It was still early and the lot wasn’t full. I packed my bag and I was on my way. The only modification was that I would have to cut over to the wildcat ridge trail via the Lost pond trail as the road side parking was snowed in and I did not want to risk my car getting plowed or ticketed. I crossed the street and I was on my way. The morning at lower elevation was not too cloudy yet, but I couldn’t see much. As i approached the trail, it was getting slick so rather than fall on my face I decided to don on my traction device. It was quick mile to the junction leading to the Wildcat Ridge trail. There weren’t too many tracks so it looked like I was the first one out here today. I started up the trail, and there was ice galore. I took my time going up this as a bad fall/slip would send me downhill. As I gained elevation I was climbing right into the clouds. I had though to myself , ” Yup, its gonna be one of those days.” The climb started getting a bit tougher and technical with how the ice formed in certain spots. I made my way up making steady progress.Wind was hitting the snow just right ending up in my face.
As I had worked my way up in elevation more snow was present so I switched to snow shoes. I had made it to my first sign which reminded me there was some civilization around. I eventually approached Wildcat D which the approach was crossing the top of a ski slope. I must say I got some pretty good views. Clicking and clacking with my snow shoes. I soon made it to the look out tower, took a quick break and kept going. It started snowing a bit heavier and wind drifts were covering the path I was leaving covered in snow. Hiking in a snow covered forest is something that’s always beautiful.Snow lines the tree branches and if you are lucky you can see the sun reflect off the ice early in the morning. I soon ran into a couple of hikers who had spent the night are Carter hut and would be climbing down via the slope. I kept moving over what seemed like one long path of rolling hills. Even though I had just pasted a group of hikers , I couldn’t even see there tracks due to the wind drifts. I started going uphill again and this time the wind was increasing so I made some gear adjustments before heading to the summit.
When I made it to the clearing I was hit by a gust of wind and took in the beautiful view of clouds and snow hitting my face on Wildcat A. To me this was beautiful, while views are nice sometimes the experience is the best part. I enjoyed the view and the summit and the wind for a bit before I headed back. I double checked all of my gear and starting heading back to WildCat D.
I would have to down and up what I had just come across. It was till snowing all of my past tracks had been covered up but I was able to get a bearing and follow the path. The drifts were getting a bit high. I made my way to the outlook tower at Wildcat D and took an extended break taking some time to Refuel and rehyrdate before I headed down the steep part that I had climbed up in the morning. I donned my pack once again and crossed over the clearing before heading down. That morning all the ice and rock were completely exposed. This was dangerous because every foot had to be sure footed and attentive as it would be very difficult to know where each piece of ice/ bare rock was. I decided at this point to switch to crampons. Taking my time step by step carefully planning my routine my slowly made my way down. My time coming down was much more slower than going up obviously. I was making steady progress until I had come to a section where I had really struggled. I probably should have chosen the route better but what happened happened. There was a stretch of downhill as far as the eye could see before it turned a corner. I started taking steps down, each step was solid and I was making good contact. I continued like this for 10 seconds until I was resting for a moment the I lost traction. I fell on back, started sliding downhill with a full 70liter pack on back, snowshoes attached the side with trekking poles as well. Ice axe in my left hand, crampons on my feet. My sliding had started to increase speed. I slipped off the first ledge and started to roll and shift. I was doing everything I could not to cross my feet and possible impale anything else that was about to happen.
So many thoughts were going to my head, ” This isn’t going to end well.” “Is this how I am going to die” followed by a couple expletives. My body started to roll rapidly, I knew at this point I was either going to seriously get injured or/and die. My body was down parallel to the trail down hill. I rolled over one more small ledge trying to slow my fall. I had no time to self arrest. My only reaction/ thought was to try to grab onto something. I would easily take a pulled/torn muscle than a broken bone/death. My body still sliding, kept increasing speed.. I saw 2 trees closing in on me right in front of me. Preparing what would could next I tried to brace my body and protect my head, while not crossing my legs or letting go of the ice axe. My head slammed into the tree, The force of the impact pivoted my body and slammed my left knee into the smaller tree right next to it. I didn’t know what to feel at this point. Both my head and knee, pretty much my whole body was in pain. My first concern was not too lose consciousness or black out. I take my hat off and feel my head for any possible blood. I didn’t feel any blood so a quick sigh of relief was let out. I then move down my body still laying on my side against the tree checking for additional / worse injuries. I go to my knee unaware of what i will find. My worst though was please don’t let there be a bone sticking out. I checked an compared my knees. Besides a huge contusion with possible internal bleeding, I was ok at this point I thought. The next thing I did was look around me to see where I was in relation to the trail. I started to move my left knee to see how much of it i could use. I slowly got up squatted down and decided to keep going. Where I had collided I was still on a the slope going down hill. I made not of the time in hopes that the aching pain in my head would go down, if it didn’t I would be going to the Hospital. Luckily i did not lose consciousness during it and I remembered exactly what had happened.
After that traumatic event I continued my way down the trail. The clouds were still in the sky when I go to an opening by a ledge. I saw more sketchy parts of ice completely covered by snow. One way or another I had to get down. So taking my time, trusting my steps I made progress. There was a ledge probably 10 feet where everything was completely covered. I wasn’t sure what was solid and what was a filled up hole. I tested the snow with my trekking pole and then took a step of faith, I made it down ok, and then it was back to the downhill track. I had gotten down the difficult part. I had finally hit flat ground so I switched to snow shoes knowing that I was on flat ground. I huge sigh of relief was expressed as I got my FA(First Aid) kit out and took an aspirin before I continued . Of course my previous path was covered by snow. So I just took a bearing to the known location and bushwacked until I hit the trail I had finally hit the trail back to the road. My leg hurt, I was limping but I kept my speed/ tenacity. As I made progress I could start to see the road and Joe Dodge lodge in the background. It was a beautiful sight to see, I was starting to see cross country skis tracks and more snow shoes tracks at at junction. I soon made it to the road where I took off my snow shoes and barebooted the side of the road until I crossed the road to the parking lot. It was still snowing, the parking lot was icy, my car was covered in snow, and I still actually hadn’t seen what my knee actually looked at. I unloaded my gear into my car and grabbed a change of clothes and headed into the lodge to examine the damage. While I was undressing I had contusion and decent amount of blood on my knee. I cleaned it and wrapped a compress around it to try to help control swelling as I limped back to my car and got started on my hour drive back to the cabin,. I made it back to the cabin beaten, exhausted and still with an elevated heart rate. I went straight to bed with my leg elevated .
This was definitely a memorable hike. I’m well aware of the danger and possibly severity of the hikes/adventures that I set out on. But without struggle and risk there cannot be progress. Keep in mind, every single solo hike that I set out on in winter regardless of mileage I carry an overnight pack so in the event I’m immobile I will at least be comfortable / sheltered for a1-2 nights. The sheer thought of the adventure it was drives me.
The mountains are calling, and I must answer.
Attached are 2 videos from the trail.
