NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Wildcat D, Wildcat C (attempt), Wildcat B (attempt), Wildcat A (attempt), NH
Trails
Trails: Lost Pond Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail, ski trails
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Friday, May 24, 2019
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes:  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Slush 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: We took Lost Pond Trail in order to skip the water crossing 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: A few blow downs, especially in the coll between Wildcats D and A. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: I wouldn't risk my dog on that trail at the present time 
Bugs
Bugs: None 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Well, the idea was to spot cars, hike up Wildcat Ridge Trail to the Carter Notch Hut, spend the night, then hike across the ridge and down via Imp Trail. We'd read trail reports so we knew there would be snow and came prepared with poles, microspikes, and gaiters. (We'd been told by someone who'd hiked the whole ridge two days prior that snowshoes would not be helpful and I agree.) Lost Pond Trail was fine, if a little muddy. The first two miles of Wildcat Ridge Trail were wet and slippery, though manageable.

The trouble really began when we got past D peak. The monorail was fairly stable though there was some minor post-holing. About 0.2 miles into the coll, the snow deepened and there were enough blow downs to obscure the trail entirely. At one point I post-holed up to my waist in icy slush and had to be hauled out by my hiking buddy. We realized we were in a potentially dangerous situation, with waning daylight. Rather than going all the way back down Wildcat Ridge Trail, which we judged to be especially sketchy now that we were cold, wet, and tired, we hiked down the ski slope, which was muddy but at least the patches of snow were navigable. Some very kind AMC employees picked us up at the gate and drove us back to our car at Pinkham Notch Visitor Center. We're experienced hikers with numerous winter hikes under our belt and we recommend avoiding Wildcat Ridge Trail until the snow has completely melted. Maybe by August??  
Name
Name: Sparrow 
E-Mail
E-Mail: rsperling@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2019-05-28 
Link
Link: https:// 
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.

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