AMC Recommended Trips – The Cats n' Carters (Difficult hiking in NH)
What You’ll See: This is the premier alternative hike for those desiring a Mount Washington experience, remotely. This hike has it all for the savvy backpacker. It’s buffered from hurricane force winds and opaque 4900’ cloud ceilings by foul weather. Conversely, it’s remote from engine exhaust and benchmark viewing lines by fair weather. You’ll witness plants and animals of almost every local sort, travel from dense forests to alpine areas, and overnight at a remote shelter and historic cabin along the way. The views afforded of both the Presidential Range and Wild River Valley are numerous and private.
What You’ll Experience:
- Over 2 1/2 days you’ll have great hiking up and over 10 peaks of over 4000’. If you start early you can add three miles and include Mt. Moriah, visiting six of the AMC’s NH 48 listed 4000 Footers.
- Sound backpackers who want a refreshing trip along regularly protected and less visited ridges will come out renewed from this 18.3 mile adventure. Enjoy your own menu and remember, you don’t have to bring a tent if you stay in the Imp Shelter.
- Several sections of about two miles will have you ascending and descending about 2000’ on strenuous staircases, ledges and switchbacks. The Cats and Carters are dry, so plan to carry all your hiking water during the day, refilling at camp each night.
What’s in the Area:
- Night one, AMC Imp Campsite; night two AMC Carter Notch Hut; last day lunch on the Wildcat D tower.
- Ask AMC staff both nights about your natural surrounds and efforts underway to designate the Wild River Valley as a Federal Wilderness Area.
- The AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center staff can direct you to a great apres d’Hike swimming hole nearby.
Getting There
- Leave your car at or take the Concord Trailways bus to the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center on Route 16 North of Jackson, NH. Ride the AMC Hiker Shuttle to the Stony Brook trailhead to start this loop or coast there on your beater bike. You will end your hike back at the Visitor Center.
- Your route follows the Stony Brook, Carter-Moriah, Wildcat Ridge and Lost Pond trails.
- Call the AMC Reservation Office at 603-466-2727 for reservations at Carter Hut and for the AMC Shuttle. Camping at the Imp is on a first come - first served basis. AMC member discounts apply.
