| 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: |
Friday, March 11, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Nineteen-Mile Brook lot was free of ice and snow. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All bridged for now, but they are getting thin |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Several blow-downs on Wildcat Ridge Trail - two requiring a walk-around. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Not a good trail for dogs right now. Notwithstanding four-paw drive and built-in crampons, the steep, icy sections would challenge, and endanger, even the best hiking pooches. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
The first mile of Nineteen-Mile Brook Trail was more ice than snow, with some bare ground showing through in spots. Beyond that it was mostly frozen granular to the summit of Wildcat A, with occasional icy sections. The frozen granular on Wildcat Ridge Trail was hard enough in spots that micro-spikes barely penetrated, and there was always the danger of ice hidden just underneath the surface. We switched from micro-spikes to full crampons part way up Wildcat Ridge Trail. It could have been done in micro-spikes, but crampons were definitely the way to go, and we moved much faster once making the switch. There are several sections of this trail where a fall would likely end badly.
Crossing the ridge is where the real ice started, especially the steep descent into and the climb back out of the col between the C and D peaks. There are large flows of rock-hard yellow ice, a few intimidating enough that we did a short bushwhack around. Once at the top of the ski slopes, we switched back to micro-spikes for the walk down. These conditions will change once the snow predicted for Saturday arrives. But all that ice will continue to be a danger until the new snow layer is consolidated and bonds to the ice. Continue to carry crampons until new reports suggest otherwise. |
|
 | Name: |
Tom Harris |
|
 | E-Mail: |
tdharris911@comcast.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-03-12 |
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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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