| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Wildcat D, Wildcat C, Wildcat B, Wildcat A, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Ski trails, Wildcat Ridge Trail, Nineteen Mile Brook Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, January 21, 2023 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
No issue with parking before 7AM. 19MB and ski area lots looked to be full at lunchtime. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Bridged on 19MB. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Some leaners/duck unders on the ridge. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Not allowed on the ski trails during ski season. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
Winter has finally returned.
Started at the ski area around 7AM to get to the top of the uphill route before it closed (when the ski area opens). Lots of skinners out. Straycat and Catnap were not groomed, but had good natural snowpack. Everything else was nicely groomed. It goes without saying that skis or snowshoes are a must. Please don't Microspike up ski trails and risk what little uphill access hikers still have.
No activity on the Wildcat Ridge Trail since the storm. Roughly half a foot of powder on top of the frozen granular base with some short stretches a few inches less and some drifts closer to a foot. Fairly light powder, so a little wind could cover over the tracks. Lots of sideslope descending A, including the slide (Tubbs Flex Alps or MSRs were adequate), but fortunately the two other folks we saw on the ridge (coming from the north) also wore snowshoes, so a nice track was getting set up. Snowshoes are the way to go from here on out.
Lots of activity on Nineteen Mile Brook. A few open perks between the Carter Dome Trail junction and the hut, but otherwise it was a nice early winter snowshoe track. The vast, vast majority of people were wearing snowshoes - thank you!
Beautiful morning with clearing skies, minimal wind, reasonable temperatures, and an undercast. |
|
 | Name: |
rocket21 |
|
 | E-Mail: |
rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-01-21 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos/ |
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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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