| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Wildcat A, Wildcat B, Wildcat C, Wildcat D, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, November 13, 2019 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Ample parking for 20+ cars at the 19 Mile Brook Trail trailhead. 4 cars when I arrived at 10am, 3 when I left. This lot is normally plowed in winter. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow - Drifts |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
19 Mile Brook has mostly bridged crossings. All others are small creeks/ brooks that are hoppable. No crossings on Wildcat Ridge (AT). |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
With wind comes new blow downs. I think there were 3 on the 19 Mile Brook Trail. I had to crawl under one. Few blowdowns on the Wildcat Ridge. One big one on the steep 0.7 mile ascent to Wildcat A. But the remainder should be easily stepped over with higher snow pack. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
No issues for dogs on these trails. |
|
 | Bugs: |
Uh... it was -30 degrees with the windchill today. So, no. No bugs. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
The 19 Mile Brook Trail is a popular trail due to its gentle grade and access to the open year round, kick butt hut of Carter Notch. It is excellently blazed in blue and well maintained. Snow depth was not quite enough for snowshoes even though I tried for a bit... Microspikes or crampons are a must, however, with the ice over much of the trail. This trail is also sheltered from the wind, a major asset in today’s frigid temps.
The Wildcat Ridge Trail is part of the Appalachian Trail (AT) and is blazed in the standard 2x6 white blazes. These were present on the trail, but I must apologize. I’ve been on this trail several times before so I did not pay attention blazing frequency. The blazes were there, I saw many, but I don’t remember the frequency of them. At this time the trail corridor was easy to discern. This trail is also sheltered all the way to the observation tower on D.
There was about 6 inches of snow on the Wildcat Ridge. This is still not quite enough for snowshoes. Many rocks still protrude through the snow. I ended up switching to crampons after Wildcat A as the spacing between rocks was too tight even for 20 inch snowshoes.
Observation tower on Wildcat D is in great shape and really gives a nice view of Washington and Jefferson. If it wasn’t so durn cold I would have liked to have spent some time up there. But alas, another day. |
|
 | Name: |
Remington34 |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2019-11-13 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
