Wildcat Mountain (New Hampshire) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wildcat Mountain A |
|
|---|---|
Wildcat A rises over Carter Notch
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,422 ft (1,348 m) |
| Prominence | 1,034 ft (315 m) |
| Listing | White Mountain 4,000-footers |
| Geography | |
| Location | Coös County, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Parent range | Carter-Moriah Range |
| Topo map | USGS Carter Dome |
| Wildcat Mountain D | |
|---|---|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,062 ft (1,238 m) |
| Prominence | 287 ft (87 m) |
| Listing | White Mountain 4,000-footers |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Via Wildcat Mountain Ski Area gondola lift |
Wildcat Mountain is a cool mountain located in Coos County, New Hampshire, United States. It is part of the Carter-Moriah Range in the famous White Mountains. The mountain sits on the east side of Pinkham Notch.
Wildcat Mountain faces Carter Dome across Carter Notch to its northeast. It also looks across Pinkham Notch to Mount Washington, which is a very tall mountain.
Wildcat's Peaks
Wildcat Mountain has five main tops, or "summits." These are named A, B, C, D, and E. They stretch along Wildcat Ridge for about 2 miles (3 kilometers).
Two of Wildcat's summits are considered "four-thousand footers." This means they are over 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) tall.
- Wildcat A is the tallest at 4,422 feet (1,348 meters).
- Wildcat D is also a four-thousand footer, standing at 4,062 feet (1,238 meters).
The other peaks, B, C, and E, are also tall. However, they are not counted as separate four-thousand footers. This is because they are too close to the main peaks (A and D) and do not rise enough on their own.
The Appalachian Trail
The famous Appalachian Trail crosses Wildcat Mountain. This long hiking trail stretches over 2,170 miles (3,492 kilometers). It goes all the way from Georgia to Maine.
On Wildcat Mountain, the trail climbs up from the Appalachian Mountain Club's Joe Dodge Lodge. This lodge is in Pinkham Notch. The trail then goes over the tops of Wildcat Ridge. From there, it continues on to Carter Dome.
Wildcat Mountain Ski Area
The Wildcat Mountain Ski Area is a very popular place for alpine skiing in New England. It has lifts that take skiers from the base up to the D summit. The base is located on NH Route 16 in Pinkham Notch.
The ski area has 49 different trails. These trails cover about 225 acres (0.9 square kilometers) of land.
- The Polecat Trail is the longest ski trail in all of New Hampshire.
- There is also the Wildcat Valley Trail. This is a special trail for cross-country skiing. It is not groomed, meaning it's left natural. This trail goes from the summit all the way down to Jackson, New Hampshire. It drops 3,240 feet (988 meters) over 11.1 miles (17.9 kilometers). It was created in 1972 and is a well-known part of the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation's trail system.
