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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Wildcat D, Wildcat C (attempt), Wildcat B (attempt), Wildcat A (attempt), Thompson Falls, NH
Trails
Trails: Polecat ski trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, February 22, 2014
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: room for me and 1000 skiers at Wildcat Ski area 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow - Spring Snow 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes:  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes:  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Some days things just don't go your way. Rough snow conditions.

Followed Straycat, middle and upper polecat up per Wildcat policy. Wind not bad at all on the ski trails and was actually roasting. All personnel I encountered today seemed well informed on the hiker policy. Stellar clear views to Presi's in the am which had huge 200 foot high walls of spindrift being blown off the ridges.

Once leaving the tower on top of Wildcat D, the fun began. After dealing .1 miles of crotch deep postholes the trail from a curious ski booter, the trail became completely unbroken. Seems the rain/ice storm yesterday left a 1 inch thick crust of ice on top of about 6 inches of wet snow, then feet of powder under that. I know a few groups have posted here about this section of trail so I knew there must have been some kind of base underneath but you would never have known. No evidence of a trough, only 1 faded blaze visible, lots of drifting, and the drifts had the inch thick ice crust. The crust held my weight for a second then gave way with each step making getting rhytmn difficult. Even in snowshoes if I missed wherever the old base was underneath I'd sink in mid-thigh. Any steep sections where horrible because it would sometimes take 8 steps to kick though all the snow layers to make uphill progress. My poles sank in to the handles. I had made the mistake of carrying too little water and was down to .5 liters for the rest of the day. Not enough for the kind of effort it was going to take to get to A and back. Stupid. Guess I got complacent. Was also under a time crunch, with a much later than hoped for start and the fact I told my wife I'd be home for late afternoon child care relief. So I turned around just below C peak. In 40 winter peak attempts the only other time I have turned around was on Isolation after Greg Yeah! Summerset, and I put in 5 miles of trail breaking 12-18 inches snow and creating the engine hill whack (well the future white mountain legend did all of the breaking, that would be Greg Yeah! of course). Oh well, live to hike another day, and keep the wife's wrath at bay!

On the way out hit Thompson Falls for redlining which starts at the ski area, first half was nicely broken, but after the stream crossing looked untouched all winter. Sank into the 3 feet of wet snow. Determined to succeed I kept going and succeed at something it seemed the trail would never end, and was wondering if I was on a herd path following stream. Then I reached a sign that read "End of Trail." Thank goodness.

Figured I share my tale of woe with those looking to hike the wildcats tomorrow. Expect it to be unbroken and unpleasant between C and A, my track between D and C is by no means solid.

I close with the words of two action hero's from my generation.... "I'll be back" ... and "Drago!!!!"  
Name
Name: John in NH 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2014-02-22 
Link
Link: https:// 
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