Date: 2017-07-22
From: The Barn Hostel, Gorham, NH

To: Imp Campsite, NH
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: broken clouds

7/22/17, Imp Campsite, NHMiles hiked: 1565.6, Miles to Katahdin: 306.3, Miles to go: 624.2I got up early and went to Welsh's Restaurant for a good breakfast because I knew I had a day of hard hiking ahead of me. When I returned to the the hostel, I was surprised to see Ninja and Lighthouse there (they were the ones I climbed Mt Killington with). It turns out they had also been at the hostel last night and we had just not seen each other. It was like Old Home Week around here - running into all kinds of old hiking friends. I was back on the trail around 8:00 AM. I only had a 13.4 mile day planned to the Imp Campsite; however, it was going to be a tough 13 miles! I had to cross the Wildcat and Carter Mountain ranges and it involved a lot of climbing. A LOT of climbing. These ranges are still part of the White Mountains and the Whites weren't going to give us any breaks. It was the same story we've had for the past few days. Long, steep ascents. So steep, in fact, that I collapsed my hiking poles and put them in my pack so I would have my hands free for climbing. Whoever named the peaks on Wildcat Mt wasn't very creative. We crossed Wildcat Mt Peak E, then Wildcat Mt Peak D, then Wildcat Mt Peak C, and finally Wildcat Mt Peak A. I assume there is a Wildcat Mt Peak B out there somewhere - we just didn't hike over it. Either that or some cartographer didn't knew their alphabet very well. Today's hike was different than what we've been experiencing lately in that we didn't go above treeline. We spent most of the day climbing in a rocky, pine tunnel. Every now and then, we'd pop out of the trees and have another incredible view. The weather cooperated for yet another day. It was somewhat cloudy; but, no rain. On Wildcat Mt Peak A we had a view down into Carter Notch, where we could see the Carter Notch Hut 1200 ft below. We could also look across the notch to Carter Dome where we were headed next. The only problem is that we had to drop down 1200 ft, just to climb straight back up. At least I was able to take a break at the hut and have my last lunch of soup and baked goods before leaving the Whites. After filling up on soup and baked goods, I started the long climb up Carter Dome with a full, heavy belly. It seems like the AMC always places the Huts at the bottom of big climbs so we can suffer more by climbing with full bellies when all we want to do at that point is nap and digest. I struggled up and over Carter Dome, down through Zeta Pass and back up and over South, Middle, and North Carter Mountains. Then came the descent off North Carter. It was the steepest descent I've done yet on the trail. There were vertical sections where I had to sit down and slide on my butt (not so easy in a kilt!). It's the first time I've felt skittish  hiking. I'm glad I wasn't doing it in the rain. I eventually made it to Imp Campsite. It is pretty full here tonight. All the tent pads are taken and the shelter is full. I was able to set up my tent in a small clearing next to the caretaker's tent. It's mostly weekend hikers here tonight, with just a few thru hikers. I heard from Sitting Bull. He and Hoops have caught up and are stealth camped on the approach trail to the shelter. I will pass them on my way out of camp on the morning. Tomorrow will be a short eight mile hike into Gorham. We will cross over Mt Moriah and descend to the Androscoggin River, where we will officially leave the White Mountains. Next stop - Maine!