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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Wildcat C, Wildcat B, Wildcat A, Wildcat D, NH
Trails
Trails: Ski trails, bushwhack, Wildcat Ridge Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, May 4, 2019
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Plenty of room at Wildcat ski area. On the way back, I noted Sawyer River Road, Zealand Road, Haystack Road, and Gale River Road were still gated, but looked bare at the start of each. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: None 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Took out about a dozen blowdowns. A few larger ones remain, as well as a few smaller ones where I couldn't determine where the footbed was (didn't want to create a parallel corridor). 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs: A few black flies, but none harassing or biting yet. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Pair of sunglasses hanging on a tree just south of Wildcat C. 
 
Comments
Comments: If you're looking to do the ridge without snowshoes, it will need a few more weeks of melting.

Wildcat ski area is closed for the season, but could have still been open top to bottom today. Continuous coverage on Catapult-Bobcat and nearly continuous on Polecat. A few thin/narrow areas, but long stretches of wall to wall coverage. Many folks out earning turns. Snowshoes or skis were best, as the snow was soft and booters were spinning their wheels a lot. The natural ski trails are mostly melted, so those could be booted (though they are very wet in places).

Full snow coverage in the upper elevations. The bushwhack to avoid D was snowshoes mandatory with snowpack 2-3 feet deep.

Wildcat Ridge Trail only had a few short (2-3 steps) bare spots, otherwise it was full snowpack. The monorail was firm enough to support snowshoes (never once broke through), but not enough to consistently support boots. Saw 4 folks without snowshoes. Two stated they wished they had brought snowshoes, while one other looked exhausted and had at least one bleeding leg wound. Some of the fresh postholes were 3 to 4 feet deep. Ouch.  
Name
Name: rocket21 
E-Mail
E-Mail: rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2019-05-04 
Link
Link: https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos 
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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