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Ski
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, ski trails, Route 16
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, February 25, 2012
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: AMC lot and Wildcat ski lot plowed. Glen Ellis lot not plowed. Noticed that the Rocky Branch lot was also plowed 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Unpacked Powder, Ice - Blue, Snow - Drifts 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Goggles, Traction 
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: I started from the Pinkham Notch AMC visitors center at 9:30 and took the Lost Pond Trail to the Wildcat Ridge junction. Snowing heavily at the start of the hike with ~6 inches of fresh powder on the trail.


I (slowly) ascended to Wildcat Ridge using snowshoes and hiking poles. I thought about switching to crampons at a couple of locations, but made it through OK. Very little exposed rock or ice on this trail today despite the winds and steep incline. The aggressive crampons and heel bars on my snowshoes were live-savers though. A couple of the ledges were pretty treacherous with drifting snow obscuring the holes and true edges of the trail. Significant drifting on Wildcat ridge. I ran into only one other hiker on the way over to Wildcat A. His backtrail was obscured by new snow and drifting within minutes. On the way back to Wildcat D much of my trail was already blown over as well.


Did not feel like descending solo on the Wildcat ridge trail, so I dropped out on the Polecat ski trail and walked back up route 16 to the AMC center. Moderate to heavy snow all day with high winds. Awesome winter day!
 
Name
Name: Haematopus 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2012-02-25 
Link
Link: https://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1462929 
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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