| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Wildcat A, Wildcat B, Wildcat C, Wildcat D, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail, Polecat ski trail, Stray Cat ski trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, March 9, 2013 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I expected we would have to park at Great Gulf with a none too early start but we still had room at 19 Mile Brook. It appeared on our return that it had filled up but there were no overflows along Rt. 16. It may be because so many were hiking the Presidentials. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Snowbridged |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There is a nice packed trail around the Sandy blowdowns going up A such that one hardly knows they are there. The ridge trail has one straddleover and several dunkunders, plus a lot of face slappers, but on the whole it's easy to follow and hike. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Easy and fun day for Pepper and Shyla. Shyla must have doubled the distance of the hike. There was no significant icing of paws or legs for either dog. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
We barebooted on a well packed 19 Mile trail to the Wildcat Ridge and put on snowshoes for the rest of the hike except for Emma who had an equipment malfunction and booted over to D. After some work she snowshoed on the hike back. The MSR ascents (Evo & Lightening) were perfect for the conditions providing superb traction. I also used the televators in places to good effect. We ran into one barebooter on the ridge who skinned up the ski trails but left his skis there to go to C (mistaking it for A) so there may be some boot marks after we passed him. The trail along the ridge on our hike back was a mix of sticky snow (where the sun shined long), icy crystal snow that felt like sand, and unconsolidated but packed down snow. There's still a lot of snow up high on the spruce-fir branches, and in warm temps with sunshine, it could produce some "rain" and snow down the necks. The trail in the steep section around the slide is still unconsolidated and often narrow; easy enough to cross with care but in the dark it could be tricky.
It was a beautiful day out with superb views of the Presidentials at many places along the ridge trail. I even found a spruce-fir trap looking for a good picture taking spot, but I was able to roll out of it. The snow is deep off trail. There were very few people on the trails today, just one other on the ridge, and some skiers huffing and puffing their way up to the D viewing platform. Fortunately we didn't need no stinking passes. Thanks to Marty and his daughter Emma, Cory and Shyla, and of course Pepper for a great day on the trails. |
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 | Name: |
Pepper and Me |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-03-09 |
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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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