| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Wildcat E, Wildcat D, Wildcat C, Wildcat B, Wildcat A, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Lost Pond Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail, ski trails, Crew Cut, Connie's Way, Blanchard Loop ski trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, November 13, 2016 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of room today at the Pinkham Notch Center. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Ellis River was a rock hop on a rocks without black ice. All others bridged that I can remember, maybe a small step over on Crew Cut. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One easy duckunder blowdown on the ridge; it's just the tip of a softwood that sticks out in the corridor. Some of the waterbars look to be plugged, but many of these had a ribbon by them too. The very upper part of the Wildcat Ski trail/road had hard crusty snow on it. After that the road had bits of ice or thin mud over frozen which could be slippery, but most of it was clear. I tossed a broken stem out Crew Cut. The two cross country ski trails had some soft wet spots |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Fun day for Pepper. He met one other nice dog on Wildcat Ridge, who had come up the ski area. There was no activity at the ski area today, so dogs rule. For anyone with dogs or who don't want to pay a fee but want to use the ski trails, now is a good time to grab them. There was a little bit of drinkable water on Wildcat Ridge although not much, but Pepper was happy grabbing a bite of snow when needed. He did get a bit of a sip n dip in part way down the Wildcat Ski road/trail. |
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 | Bugs: |
I did see a swarm of unknown (to me) bugs on the Blanchard Ski trail but they didn't bother us. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
I found two hiking poles just east of the Ellis River on the Wildcat Ridge trail. I didn't want to carry four poles with me, so I left them there thinking I could go back after the hike to bring them to the Pinkham Notch Center. But I ran into a woman and then a couple who had parked at the Glen Ellis Falls parking area, and they indicated they would bring the poles either to the kiosk there or to the PNC. The poles looked pretty new but they were (to me) an unknown brand. |
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 | Comments: |
Given the windy forecast for Washington, and then feeling those winds at PNC after getting out of the car, Pepper and I did the pleasant semi-loop hike of the Wildcats instead. The ledges up E were clear, no problems and no need for traction. There were a few patches of ice on the descent from D going to C, and on the C ledges, but with care they were doable without spikes and staying within the trail. But I'd bring spikes just in case. We only saw a few people and it was nice chatting with them. The views of the Presi peaks were excellent from the E ledges, D/ski area and then the hike down the ski area road/trail. It was a very pleasant fall day in the afternoon hiking down that ski road and then on Crew Cut & X country ski trails. The wind was light by then if there was any wind at all. While on the ski area road, I noticed a helicopter flying around in circles over the Carters, then disappearing into Carter Notch for a brief spell, then out again with another loop before heading off. |
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 | Name: |
Pepper and Me |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2016-11-13 |
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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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