| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Wildcat A, Wildcat B, Wildcat C, Wildcat D, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail, Polecat ski trail, Straycat ski trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, December 5, 2019 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking area at NMB TH is well-plowed. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No issues. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
At least a dozen blowdowns/leaners on Wildcat Ridge tr. - half of them on the section from carter notch to A Peak. Nothing really terribly difficult to deal with. Some will get easier with more snow and others will be more difficult. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
May need a helping hand with a couple of blowdowns as jumping from soft snow on a steeper slope can be difficult. NMB should be easy - Wildcat Ridge a bit harder as it is not consolidated. But all in all pretty good conditions for canines. No ice anywhere. |
|
 | Bugs: |
|
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Snow-coverage ranging from 4-6" low to over 3' high.
NMB well broken out. We used spikes to the notch but from Carter Dome jct. snowshoes would have been fine/maybe easier.
Wildcat Ridge: We met 2 hikers heading out NMB tr. about 1/2 mile from the notch. They had come across the ridge from Pinkham Notch the day before (overnighted at the hut) - and broken trail all the way. At this point they were carrying their snowshoes - but so were we. A reasonable choice.
However, when we got to the notch we - to our amazement - only saw bootprints. The couple had apparently barebooted all along the ridge - postholing all the way (1-3' ft. deep holes for much of the way) carrying their snowshoes. We were unable to explain the logic behind this choice (equipment malfunction perhaps?) - but I guess it was their choice. Anyway, with 2 sets of snowshoes now having gone across the ridge the trail is in much better condition but obviously not consolidated.
|
|
 | Name: |
LongMark&Steve C |
|
 | E-Mail: |
perfrost@yahoo.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2019-12-05 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
