The before

Almost four years ago, Right Turn and I attempted a three-day Wildcats Carters traverse. The first day was full of challenges: the “steepest mile on the Appalachian trail”, a chimney to climb up, a granite slab scramble, and it’s an elective on the Terrifying 25 list. It was a rough and difficult day where we intended to get to Carter Notch Hut, but ended up bailing at the gondola before even hitting any 4000 footers, as it was already 3PM and we still had to get across the ridge and descend steep terrain down to the hut. (Here’s the full write up from that hike).

There was a lot of crying that day. I’m not sure I can fully convey my disappointment. It was my physical limitations that caused us to be so slow. I struggled with the steepness. I struggled with the chimney. I struggled with the slab. My pack was too heavy and I was overweight. I needed to fix all of that before I could try again.

The work

I had work to do before getting my redemption. Re-doing this hike successfully became my motivation for everything. I’m not exaggerating when I say I fell asleep each night imagining successfully getting to the hut. Four months after we bailed, I joined Black Pearl Fitness (more on that in the next post). I wanted to lose weight and I wanted to be stronger. I wanted to be able to pull myself up that chimney and have stronger legs to get up that steepest mile.

I intended to re-do this hike sooner than four years later, but life happened. In the last four years, I have put in the work. I go to the gym consistently. I dropped ten pounds from what I weighed last time. I upgraded/reduced my gear by 8 pounds. I kept hiking, including another Terrifying 25 trail, Blueberry Ledge trail.

The redemption

Rainbow and Right Turn weren’t able to join me on this trip. While I knew I could do most of the hike solo, I was definitely worried about the granite slab. In my head over the last four years, the slab got worse and worse. I knew going alone I would stress about it the entire time. And especially after the scramble on Glen Boulder, I didn’t want to be solo. So I hired a guide.

Brian from Redline Guiding was my guide. We met at Wildcat ski resort. Brian would be coming down that way so we left his car there. I drove us back to the start. We had two starting options, Joe Dodge Lodge, which would add 0.8 miles, but avoid a potentially high water crossing. Or start at the Wildcat Ridge trail start near Glen Ellis falls which immediately starts with a water crossing.

As I mentioned in my last post, we’ve had a lot of rain. We figured we’d take a look at the crossing and decide. Have I mentioned that I don’t like water crossings? Especially when the water is deep and fast.

Brian felt we could do it, but looked to me to decide. I really didn’t want to go back to do the 0.8 miles. I remembered that part of the trail went right up against the pond in normal water levels. I worried the trail would be completely underwater and we’d waste time going back. Brian offered to go across and check it out and come back. He thought we could do it. He offered to take my pack across first. Normally I’d say no, but it’s part of the job description, so sure let’s do it. He took my pack across and came back again to lead me across. There was one part that required a big step, Brian offered his hand, and got me across no problem. It was actually a fantastic way to start, building trust with him that would get me through the rest of the hike.

Then began the long slog. As I said in the last Wildcats post, it’s incredibly steep with huge boulders to pull yourself up. It felt like we were making good time, but I was afraid to look and I was preoccupied with the upcoming chimney and slab. Before I knew it, we were at the chimney.

Last time, I got about halfway up and felt like I wasn’t strong enough to get up the rest. This time? I went up no problem. No hesitation, no worry. One milestone down. Two to go.

Back to the slog. We stopped at the spring for a snack. I didn’t refill my water, this will prove to be important in part 2.

Just like that we arrived at the granite slab. Four years. Four years led to this moment. I was nervous and excited. I had hoped that all of my work would paid off. I hoped that the slab was worse in my memory than it was in real life. I hoped that the slab would be no big deal just as the chimney was.

Brian and I discussed how to do it. Similar to the water crossing, he took my pack up the slab and came back for me. Since last time I needed someone to push on my foot, I asked him to come up after me rather than lead the way.

Bippity boppity boop and I was up the slab no problem.

And just like that, redemption. I honestly expected to cry once I’d gotten up it. Instead I laughed. Four years of building it up in my head. Four years of getting stronger. Four years of hikes. And I was up it just like that. Two milestones down. One to go.

And back to the slog. I remembered the seemingly endless up downs from this point to the gondola. Brian said we were making good time, and I went with it. I was honestly afraid to look. We didn’t get there until 3PM last time. I was hoping for noon or 1PM. I wasn’t looking at the map either, so at some point we summited Wildcat E. Wildcat E is 4,045 feet tall, but due to its proximity to Wildcat D, it doesn’t “count” as a 4000 footer. Suddenly I looked up and GONDOLA! It was 12:40 PM. I had done it! Milestone 3 down. I felt good, I conquered my fears, and I was making much better time. Such a relief.

We stopped for lunch at the picnic table by the gondola. We met several thru hikers who were also heading to the hut. While I knew they’d be faster than me, it was nice to know they were out on the trail and I’d see them at the hut.

Brian accompanied me up to Wildcat D. It was ridiculously easy from the gondola. Right Turn and I definitely should have gotten it that day before we bailed. Of course we were tired and didn’t realize it was fairly easy from there.

The summit of Wildcat D, #36 of my 48. Brian and I parted ways at this point. I’d be going on to Wildcat A and then staying overnight at the hut. It was a great experience and I 100% recommend Redline Guiding. Perhaps I’ll hire them if I ever decide to tackle the Terrifying 25 list.

Back to the slog. It’s a little over a mile and a half to Wildcat A, but you have several PUDs (aka pointless up and downs). You summit C (4,298 feet) and B (4,327 feet), again neither of which “count”. Wondering if I’d ever reach Wildcat A, I checked my map. And apparently I was there! It isn’t a very summity summit.

So that’s #37.

It’s all downhill to the hut (topographically, mentally, and story wise), so I’ll save that for part 2.

Here’s a link to the blog post by Redline Guiding