| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Wildcat A , NH |
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 | Trails: |
Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, December 13, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Packed down but rather icey at Nineteen Mile Brook Trail trailhead |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Slush, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Nineteen Mile Brook Trail has one crossing of note: see notes, below |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Blowdowns on Wildcat Ridge Trail: see notes, below |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
The two crossings after the intersection to head to zeta pass have bridges and the bridges are intact and safe to cross despite higher water. The last crossing before meeting with the junction to Wildcat Ridge trail took some careful foot place on iced over rocks but was still safely crossed
All of 19 mile is clear and easy going. The trouble begins about .25 miles up wildcat ridge. From that point there are a couple small blowdowns, we were able to remove a couple and break limbs to make them easier to go around but some still remain. Once you hit about 3,800 feet is when the mess begins. Between this height and the summit there has to be at least 2 dozen separate sections of blowdowns. Some small while others are groups of several small to medium trees and a couple of larger trees.
The two of us set out with very low expectations knowing that the rain and wind had probably done some serious damage over the last couple days. It became apparent right from the start that we would be in for some rough conditions. For the first 2 miles to the intersection to go to zeta pass the trail is a mixed bag of mess. There’s ice flows, bare ground, rocks, spots of snow, running water, and the occasional section of mud. We opted for spikes on the way out but you could probably bare boot the first 2 miles. After continuing from the intersection the trail is slightly better, there is a decently packed path and both the bridges are in good shape for the water crossings. However about .5 miles from the intersection to wildcat ridge the trail turns into a mess of running water, snow that has the bottom carved out from water so you posthole through no matter what, and then the sides of trail are soft snow that will not support you and you will sink up to about your knee.
The real fun began on wildcat ridge. We ended up switching to snowshoes here for televators as well as support because the snow was very soft and not supportive. Once heading up the ridge the snow has stuck around and is probably 2-3 feet deep. As mentioned above this is when the blowdowns begin. The sheer amount of blowdowns made it very hard to navigate and find the best route as much of the trail is blocked by blowdowns. We were planning to continue across the ridge to D but we were unsure of how many blowdowns there would be and how long it would take us to get back down so we opted to turn around and head back. Between the ascent and descent we were able to clear some of the small blowdowns that had snapped fully but there still remains a large amount.
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 | Name: |
George and Gemma |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-12-13 |
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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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