Wildcat Mountain D Peak, at 4,060 feet, sits in the Carter-Moriah Range directly above the eastern wall of Pinkham Notch, the first summit reached on the Wildcat Ridge traverse. The ridge holds five named summits, A through E, but only D and the higher Wildcat A at 4,422 feet carry sufficient prominence to appear on the NH 4,000-footer list. The D summit is also the upper terminal of the Wildcat Mountain Ski Area gondola, making it one of the few 4,000-footer summits accessible by lift in winter. A purpose-built viewing deck at the top delivers a direct look west across Pinkham Notch to Mount Washington and the Presidential Range.
The main approach follows the Wildcat Ridge Trail from the Glen Ellis Falls trailhead on Route 16. A foot tunnel under the highway leads to an Ellis River crossing, then the trail climbs steeply for 2.0 miles to the col between E and D peaks before gaining the D summit, for roughly 2,150 feet of elevation gain. The full ridge traverse continues 2.2 more miles past the unmarked C and B summits to Wildcat A, then drops to Carter Notch Hut and returns via the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, completing a loop of about 8.7 miles with 3,150 feet of gain. The Ellis River crossing can be difficult during spring runoff, and the rocky descent from D back to the trailhead is demanding on the knees regardless of season.
David Andre
