Continuing on from the ski area along the Wildcat Ridge trail, we climbed briefly through thick woods to the summit of Wildcat 'D'. There's a closed-off viewing platform right on top of the summit survey marker. Not much in the way of views here unless you get up onto the platform.
Survey marker, Wildcat 'D'
Continuing east along the Wildcat Ridge trail, there's a fairly significant descent of a few hundred feet to the low point between Wildcat 'D' and Wildcat 'C' (down to about 3800 feet, and then back up to 4200 feet). This is the biggest down-and-up along the entire Wildcat Ridge trail (actually, for the most part along its upper section, it's a fairly constant grade).
Wildcat 'C' and 'B' were nothing more than a levelling out of the grade of the ridge, and no views, either. We continued along, soon reaching the little spur that leads to a wonderful lookout down into Carter Notch. I knew that in the woods off to the right was the highpoint [of Wildcat Mountain], but for now it was time for a snack and to enjoy the view. Way down below, we could see the green metal roofs of the Carter Notch hut.
The weather continued to be amazingly balmy for late November, and we had a relaxing time enjoying our early lunch break. We were making good time and were on track for a very early afternoon finish to our hike.
After finishing our lunch, Jenn and I did a little searching for the actual highpoint of Wildcat Mountain. There's a reasonably obvious little herdpath very near the lookout that leads in a few feet to a small cairn in the woods at the highest point of land (there are no views here).
Descending into Carter Notch
Continuing along, we started our descent into Carter Notch. I was braced for a very rough and tricky trail, but it was again (like the other steep part of the Wildcat Ridge Trail) fairly straightforward. It was indeed steep, but there was good trailwork and good footing. The only difficulty was avoiding the increased amount of ice on this northward-facing slope. In very short order we descended the 1000 feet of elevation down into Carter Notch, where we turned left and started down the Nineteen Mile Brook trail.
Descending to Carter Notch
Wildcat from Carter Notch
The Nineteen Mile Brook trail was straightforward - a decent, constant grade and not overly rough. But it was muddy and wet throughout much of the time we were on it, which detracted somewhat from our enjoyment of it. Our next destination was not the Nineteen Mile Brook trailhead on route 16, though - rather, we were on the lookout for an old dam (called the Aqueduct dam) along the brook. This would lead us across the brook and onto an old network of forest roads now used by the Great Glen XC ski area. One of these old roads, called the Aqueduct path, would lead us almost directly over from the dam to our parked car at the Great Glen parking area. Parking there instead of at the Nineteen Mile Brook trailhead would save us at least 1.5 miles in total distance, along with removing the need to hike up a section of highway.
Stream along 19-mile brk trail
Nineteen Mile Brook Trail
