NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
NewEnglandTrailConditions.com:
MA
|
ME
|
NH
|
RI/CT
|
VT
|
Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Wildcat A, NH
Trails
Trails: Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Wednesday, January 3, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Plenty of space on a Wednesday. Make sure all your lights are off and try not to play the radio/charge you're phone while setting off or heading home. The cold kills batteries. I was treated to a dead battery when I finished today. Fortunately I had cables. Need to pick up a portable charger like I've had in the past. Fortunately I was able to flag someone down to give me a jump.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: The water crossings on Nineteen-Mile Brook before the Carter Dome Trail have opened up somewhat since I hiked to the Carter Dome summit 13 days ago. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Some duck-under blowdowns on Wildcat Ridge up to Wildcat A. One crawl-under. I haven't been up to South Carter / Middle Carter on Carter-Moriah recently via Zeta Pass, but the blowdowns on Wildcat Ridge up to Wildcat A seem less of an impediment than those to South Carter / Middle Carter as described by others here and on Strava. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: All the way to Carter Notch would be a treat for a dog. Fido may or may not like the climb up to Wildcat A depending on its quad/hamstring regiment. 
Bugs
Bugs: Still on vacation. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: The light traction device in 13 days has moved from the boulder to the trail sign at the trailhead. 
 
Comments
Comments: First 1.9 miles on Nineteen-Mile Brook have reduced pack compared to 13 days ago. Waterbars have opened up, turnpike at the start is noticeable, and ice is exposed. Took a slip on the way down. Not a skating rink, but not smooth sailing either. Beware. Smooth sailing from junction with Carter Dome Trail to Wildcat Ridge Trail junction. Stable monorail. Wildcat Ridge Trail up to Wildcat A had a fresh dusting of snow with animal tracks. Monorail is mostly stable. I postholed in one spot. Around 4,000 feet the trail heads left. There are snowshoe tracks to the right, but if one looks then one can see they end. Another set of tracks head to the right at the view. It dead ends in the woods.

I wore snowshoes (MSR Denalis without flotation tail) the whole way. If there was going to be no snow tomorrow, then I think microspikes would be sufficient. Given the forecast from NWS & MWOBS of 6-12 inches in the next 24 hours, snowshoes are a probably a good idea after tomorrow.  
Name
Name: Chance Yohman 
E-Mail
E-Mail: chance.yohman@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-01-03 
Link
Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/1339459817 
Bookmark and Share 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.

Copyright 2009-2024, All Rights Reserved