| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Wildcat C, Wildcat B, Wildcat A, Wildcat D, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Stray Cat ski trail, Polecat ski trail, bushwhack, Wildcat Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, December 22, 2012 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
$10 per person to hike ski trails, only allowed during hours of operation (ski trails will be closed to all use on Christmas). |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
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|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Cut out maybe half a dozen blowdowns on the ridge. Other than one in the A-B col (easily avoided) and some ice loaded spruce leaners, this stretch of trail is in decent shape. Trail is also pretty well brushed now, except for around Wildcat C...much improved over what it was a few years ago! |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
No dogs on ski area during ski season. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Unlike Lincoln/Franconia Notch/Twin Mountain this morning, there was snowpack starting at the base. Maybe 3" of granular with a breakable crust in the lower elevations.
Stray Cat, Middle Polecat, and most of Upper Polecat were closed to skiers. There was a fresh snowmobile track up much of the route, making for easy snowshoeing. Upper Polecat has intense snowmaking in progress - loud and snowy.
From the top turn on Polecat, we followed the bootleg ski trail into the woods (ski area boundary sign on tree at top of steep on Polecat), then hooked around to the Wildcat Ridge Trail, bypassing D peak.
Wildcat Ridge Trail was broken out for snowshoe use, but firm from previous day's rain (breakable crust off trail). 1.5 feet to 2 feet of snowpack on the ridge. Not firm enough for booting - snowshoes were ideal. Virtually all ice was well covered by snowpack.
Day or so old tracks coming up from Carter Notch (crust on top).
Pretty good snow squall north of the notches mid to late afternoon today on the drive back. |
|
 | Name: |
rocket21 |
|
 | E-Mail: |
rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2012-12-22 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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