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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Wildcat A, Wildcat B, Wildcat C, Wildcat D, NH
Trails
Trails: Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail, Polecat Ski Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, December 15, 2013
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: The lot at Wildcat (our end) was being plowed so we had to follow the instructions of the parking patrol while the lot at Nineteen Mile Brook Trailhead hadn't been plowed - we had to shovel a spot to get off the road and then to park. The lot had been plowed by the time we finished.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Black, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: All water crossings were easily crossed.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: No trail maintenance issues.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: We didn't have a dog with us but did see Heather Hesse and her dog Kali on Wildcat A - they had come up Nineteen Mile Brook and Wildcat Ridge Trail. They turned around there so not sure how she would have been from A to D but I would think it would have been tough going for a dog - lots of powdery snow on steep ice covered rocks. Going from A to D would likely be the best way should you choose to bring a dog with you right now.  
Bugs
Bugs: No bugs.  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Nothing lost or found.  
 
Comments
Comments: Yesterday's hike of the Carters was a pleasant surprise because the weather forecast was so wrong. They weren't wrong today - the temperatures were warm but there was lots and lots of fresh snow. Did this hike with the randomites.

Got to bust out the snow shoes and wore them from car to summits to car. The Nineteen Mile Brook Trail was broken out from the lot to the Carter Dome Trail Junction by 1-3 people (and at least one dog) in front of us. After that we were able to benefit from two good sized groups coming down from the AMC's Carter Notch Hut. From the hut to A all the hard work was done by Heather Hesse and her dog Kali. They turned around at A which left the four of us the task of breaking out the Wildcat Ridge Trail from A to D (sorry, we skipped E).

There was 1-2 feet of fresh snow at the lower elevations and 2-3 feet along the ridge. The snow was very powdery so it made some of the steeper sections interesting because the stuff would just slide away when you put any weight on it. The rocks underneath were coats with some black ice which made things even more interesting. The only way down some of the steep actions between A and D was on our butt.

We managed fine in snow shoes but if you were planning to go from D to A I would recommend mountaineering crampons to help climb the steeper sections - we pushed the snow off and exposed the bare ice underneath.

We finished by coming down Polecat Ski Trail - this is the trail that has been designated by the Wildcat Ski Area for use by hikers. You need to purchase a mountain access pass at the ticket office - it costs $10. Don't be the one that ruins for the rest of us by using the trail and not paying - this was their concession to let hikers access the ridge during ski season. The trail hadn't been groomed yet so it was bit tricky at times - slick ice under a shallow layer of snow or deep ruts that would feel like post holes.  
Name
Name: Michael & Monica 
E-Mail
E-Mail: akafuzzjones@yahoo.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2013-12-16 
Link
Link: https://www.meetup.com/random-hikers/events/148343782/ 
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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