| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Wildcat D, Wildcat C, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Polecat ski trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, April 9, 2017 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
There is plenty of parking at Wildcat Mountain ski area. Arrive early if you want to park near the lodge. I was able to buy the $10 uphill access ticket the day before. People who work at the ski area said that unless the weather prevents it, they stay open through the month of April and usually into May. Hours: lifts run weekdays 9:00-4:00, weekends 8:30-4:00, guest services open an extra half hour on each end. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
On the ridge trial I noticed one blaze the entire time; the rest were buried or I just missed them. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I'm not sure what the rules are, but I met one GOOD DOG walking down the mountain with his/her two-legged friends early in the day. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
This is the earliest in the year that I have done one of these hikes and it was a whole lot of fun. In the morning the snow was firm. It softened up a lot in the afternoon; more so at the lower elevations. I wore snowshoes almost all the way to C peak, but most hikers were using spikes. The ridge trail had an uneven surface due to lack of packing with snowshoes, but the postholes weren't that problematic. It was difficult walking on the ridge trail with snowshoes on the way over, and after about the fourth inglorious fall, I sat in the snow and switched to spikes and kept them on the rest of the day. Viewing conditions were fantastic. Maybe I should have switched back to snowshoes at some point but I didn't. I'm glad that there were tracks to follow and no snow in the day's forecast, because I would have had trouble with route finding otherwise. There were some overhanging trees and branches but they were ok. Snicicles were dripping and falling in the afternoon. |
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 | Name: |
peaksseeker |
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 | E-Mail: |
peaksseeker@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2017-04-10 |
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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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