| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Wildcat A, Wildcat B, Wildcat C, Wildcat D, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail, ski trails |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, February 28, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking at nineteen mile brook trailhead. The lot wasn't plowed very well, but I had no issues in my FWD car. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No issues. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
It was a beautiful cold day for the wildcats. This was my second attempt at hiking them this February for my winter 48. A few weeks ago I had to turn back because the trail was underwater. I don't have a good history with the wildcats due to that hike, and a negative experience I had with someone on my previous hike to these mountains. Thankfully the trails were in much better shape this time, and I was solo. Nineteen mile brook trail (below the intersection with carter done trail) was packed perfectly, so I used microspikes. The massive posthole I left last time (when the monorail collapsed beneath me) was gone. Once I got past this intersection I began running into snow drifts ranging from ankle deep to knee deep. It was as if no one had hiked this trail since the last snow storm (though I know people did over the weekend). I put on my snow shoes shortly before reaching carter notch, and broke trail up to Wildcat A. I could tell that there was some pretty thick crampon-worthy ice below the snow. The ridge between A and D was not as badly drifted but snowshoes were still the best traction to use. By the time I reached D peak, the clouds of the presidentials cleared, giving my amazing views. I had the summit all to myself since the upper ski lift wasn't running. Rather than deal with the pointless ups and downs on the wildcat ridge again, I hiked down the ski slope. No one seemed to care, even though the lower half of the mountain was open for skiing. Finally, I did a 3 mile roadwalk back to my car. |
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 | Name: |
Nick C |
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 | E-Mail: |
nich43@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-02-28 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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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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