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Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Wildcat E, Wildcat D, Wildcat C, Wildcat B, Wildcat A, NH
Trails
Trails: Lost Pond Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail, Nineteen Mile Brook Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, April 6, 2013
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: No issues at 19-Mile trailhead, Pinkham was busy but we found room in the lot. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Ice - Blue, Snow - Drifts, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: The large ones on 19-Mile had footbridges, the smaller ones were a mixed bag of snow bridged and open. The Irene washouts were bare rock and most if not all crossings down low were open. None were even a little tricky though. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Lost Pond Trail clear sailing. Wildcat Ridge Trail to E peak mostly in good shape, a few minor blowdowns but otherwise clear. The trail along the ridge was fine, one or two blowdowns. Several blowdowns on the descent from A peak which mostly were crawl unders with one navigate around one, and the trail was rather overgrown. 19 Mile Brook Trail was fine though there appears to be some rerouting coming this year. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Climb to E peak is steep and rough and the descent off A isn't great either, but experienced winter trail dogs can probably manage. 
Bugs
Bugs: Not yet...wind kept any that might be stirring at bay. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Lost Pond Trail had enough snow cover to hide the unpleasantness and was an easy warmup. Light traction was fine on the hard packed trail. Wildcat Ridge Trail to E peak was steep as ever, with a little ice mixed in with mostly a hard crusty ice. Some minor drifts, but crampons are advised until above the final ledge near E peak. Snowshoes the best choice along the ridge though no one else was using them. Trail was drifted over with postholes in the powder. Descent from A also snowshoe recommended, we broke out most of it. The slide traverse had a narrow bare boot track that meant one foot in front of the other to snowshoe down carefully. Trying to widen this didn't work well. 19-Mile was a superhighway. We put the microspikes on at the hut after a visit and those were perfect back to the car. Some softening snow on this trail where the sun was hitting it, and some thin spots, but enough cover overall for now.

This may largely be moot as the weather warms in the next couple days. I highly suggest snowshoes and crampons for now. Please don't leave postholes that will freeze and pose a hazard to those coming after you the next day.

A stiff climb with a lot of wind on the ledges, but overall not a bad climb. Terrific views during the ascent and from numerous places on the ridge. Thanks for putting up with me when I felt like garbage from around C peak to the car...Congrats to HossInNH on NH 4ks 43-44!  
Name
Name: madmattd 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2013-04-06 
Link
Link: https://mattshikes.blogspot.com 
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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