| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Wildcat D, Wildcat C, Wildcat B, Wildcat A, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Wildcat Valley Ski Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail, Wildcat River Trail, Bog Brook Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, September 23, 2010 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at Bog Brook TH which has room for a few cars. Gravel road in is fine. Gate across road further up. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
rock hops |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Wildcat Valley Ski trail has a sign at its start and some blue diamonds along the way, but down low we focused on the faint foot path, then waded through low brush in the White Birch glade on faith which was rewarded with an easily followed trail thereafter. Some blowdown at 3100 and 3500' on it that would hold up skiers but pretty good most of the time. Up high some mossy wet stretches that couldn't take much foot traffic outside winter. Wildcat Ridge, Wildcat River & Bog in good shape with the usual mud spots a drier mud. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Easy trails for the mighty tough little dog. No water on Wildcat Valley until mossy areas up high or Ridge, but he sipped & dipped at Carter Lakes and then often on Wildcat River. He loved that section. Met 3 dogs; Pepper wanted to play with the English Lab on the ridge and then on Wildcat River with a nice lady/dog combo. Plenty of shade, very easy on the paw pads and mostly gentle slopes except going down from A which is still easy for a dog. |
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 | Bugs: |
None. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
We used the Map Adventures White Mountains map to locate the Wildcat Valley trail figuring we could bushwack up if necessary. The old road to the orchard beyond FR 233's branching has been upgraded, but there are also new logging roads, one taking off to the left early on and then another off to the right nearing the orchard. The orchard ski trail is signed, but go beyond it to stay on the solid red line trail to the branch with the Hall's Ledge trail. HL is signed, the branch is not. Take the right up and back to the E to find Wildcat Valley's sign. It is a pleasant walk on very easy grades, but there are no views like Wildcat Ridge up from Rt. 16 and it is longer/slower, but it makes a loop with the nice Wildcat River Trail. Saw 2 old phones on trees on the ski trail, one in the glade and another near the top. A forecast of the higher summits in the clouds changed our hike from Jackson, Pierce & Eisenhower but the summits were clear all the time we were there; it was very comfortable with filtered sun. Helicopter active at the hut at times. Colors nice on Kanc but not anywhere near what most people would call peak colors (I like a lot of green mixed in) except near the pass and at Carter Notch. Ran into a AT thru hiker heading south. A very pleasant day off from work to mark the start of Fall. |
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 | Name: |
Pepper and Me |
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 | E-Mail: |
windriversjohn at gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2010-09-23 |
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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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