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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Wildcat A, Wildcat B, Wildcat C, Wildcat D, NH
Trails
Trails: Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail, ski trails
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, March 20, 2022
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: When we arrived at Nineteen-Mile Brook Trailhead at 11am, the small lot was full and there were about 10 additional cars parked along Rt. 16 North (and we made it 11). Because we were doing a traverse, we also parked one car in the Wildcat Mountain ski resort parking lot, which had plenty space. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Blue, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: The large crossings at 1.1 mi, 1.9 mi, and 2.2 mi on Nineteen-Mile Brook Trail have wooden bridges. The smaller crossings have snowbridges or are easily rock-hoppable. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: There were about 3 fallen trees across Nineteen-Mile Brook Trail, and a few more across Wildcat Ridge Trail, but all were easy to go over, under, or around. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: We saw one dog coming down as we were going up from Carter Notch to Wildcat A. Some of the ice flows on the west side of Wildcat C might be difficult for a dog. 
Bugs
Bugs: No issues. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: The trail was generally well-packed snow/ice, packed solidly enough that with microspikes we did not sink as long as we stayed squarely in the frozen middle of the trail. Along Wildcat Ridge if we strayed slightly from the middle, we would posthole into two or more feet of snow. We used microspikes the whole way, even though we were also carrying snowshoes and crampons. It probably would have been better to use crampons coming down the west side of Wildcat C (and briefly on the west side of Wildcat D) because there were several challenging short sections of steep ice flows, some of which were difficult to go around because of the steepness or because the trees were so dense. Crampons (or snowshoes with crampons) might also have helped going up from Carter Notch to Wildcat A, not so much because of ice, but simply because it is very steep; we didn't feel unsafe there with microspikes, however, even when crossing the slide at 3600 ft. elevation. One more hazard: On the way up from Carter Notch to Wildcat A, there were broken branches sticking into the trail at head level, so to avoid hitting one's head, one needed to pay attention to more than one's footing! From the top of the ski lift, between Wildcat D and E, we quickly descended to the Wildcat Mountain ski resort via (mostly) Polecat ski trail, staying to the right as much as possible. (Some of the ski trails were cordoned off, presumably because of some snowless patches. Although these cordons were probably intended for skiers only, we respected them, so sometimes we were not on Polecat.) It was after 6pm by the time we were on the ski trails; we saw no one on the ski trails.  
Name
Name: mathbp 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2022-03-20 
Link
Link: https:// 
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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