| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Wildcat D, Wildcat C, Wildcat B, Wildcat A, Carter Dome, South Carter, Middle Carter, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Ski trails, Wildcat Ridge Trail, Carter Moriah Trail, Carter Dome Trail, North Carter Trail, Imp Trail, Camp Dodge Cutoff |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, December 27, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Long day to grid out Dec. Early morning car spot from the one and only mountain mummy set me up for success.
Up the ski trails with no issues. A few waves from friendly patrollers. Can we not posthole the ski trails though folks? Feels like a great way to have uphill access revoked. Soft and post-holed from D until the summit of B or so, then it was more consolidated all the way to the hut. Met at least four folks w/o snow shoes on the Cats.
Going up Carter dome was broken but post holed, particularly after 4200 or so, met two of the culprits coming down. Some blow downs, but nothin to write home about. From Carter Dome to ZP was again pretty post-holed (wtf people!, I know if you’re reading this you probably aren’t the problem). Met two guys in spikes carrying snow shoes between carter dome and ZP. Hight was untouched.
ZP to South had seen maybe one set of tracks since the last storm. Less snow accumulation over here and one spot with a fork (I went right and bushwacked up a bit to rejoin the trail). Snow started to get pretty sticky around here - particularly the spots in the sun. There was another hiker behind me in shoes and a 3rd who said he was heading this way, so I imagine this stretch will be well packed down by now.
The trail past South was totally untouched other than some sort of wildlife. I had the time the favorable weather so set off to cash my golden ticket. Broke trail all the way to Middle. I fell into a spruce trap avoiding a blowdown just past the summit of south and took a pretty meandering route through the col, but otherwise pretty happy with the tracks I laid. Some blowdowns, but nothing truly problematic. Decided to continue on and break trail to N Carter Trail rather than deal with more sticky snow on the ridge, which proved to be a great decision when I met a couple in shoes ascending N Carter Trail. Meeting folks breaking trail in the opposite direction is one of my favorite hiking moments! They said they were heading all the way to 19MB, but it was already 2pm or so, so no idea if they made it or bailed. So at least one set of snow shoe tracks between N Carter Tr and South Carter, and maybe more.
Switched to spikes around the imp junction, which was a lovely changed pace after 8 hours in snowshoes, then a quick jaunt out via Joe Dodge and a road walk back to 19MB.
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 | Name: |
Big Al Dente |
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 | E-Mail: |
Bigaldentenh@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-12-27 |
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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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