| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Wildcat D, Wildcat C, Wildcat B, Wildcat A, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Ski trails, Wildcat Ridge Trail, Nineteen Mile Brook Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, April 13, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking lot for both Polecat and 19MB are snow free, with mostly dry packed dirt |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Slush |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Spring has sprung, and freed every last bridged water crossing on 19MB by 10am on the 14th. The three main crossings are deep, zero rocks above water to hop on, so be prepared to wade across. The exception is the long log bridge, which only one of our party successfully made it across (oh boy!) |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Several smaller blowdowns along WCR…we made short work of them with a silky. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw several happy doggos on our way out down 19MB enjoying the sunshine and copious waterfalls |
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 | Bugs: |
None seem |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Definitely lost my mind thinking April was an “easy” month to hike in |
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 | Comments: |
My first 2 NH48s in April AND my first hut stay in winter conditions with Team LittleFoot! Snowshoes from the start to the descent to the notch. Polecat was relatively firm on the ascent, as they had groomed it early in the am. There are definitely open patches of mud with the copious amounts of rain from the week, but plenty to use your snowshoes on. The ridge was a hot (mashed) potato mess from the three days of rain, and provided postholing fun even in snowshoes, but manageable. Wildcat A descent to Carter Notch was a learning experience in snowshoe skiing, especially when it started to rain and sleet! The trail has some very narrow side hills, so be aware, especially at the “no fall zones” (I took a spill down one of those sections and it took almost 30 min to get me back up with rope!). The .3 miles to Carter Notch Hut are badly postholed, and the lake is no longer iced in. Conditions down to 19MB the next morning were unreal, as every water crossing was a raging river, and required wading in a few spots. Snowshoes to the junction, then Hillsounds to the car, as there were multiple sections of bare rock, mud and leaves. I used rubber boot covers for the first time and my boots stayed dry despite walking through shin-deep water! If you’ve never April hiked before, be prepared for sloppy conditions. |
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 | Name: |
islandgirl |
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 | E-Mail: |
joannhall4@aol.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-04-15 |
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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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