| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Middle Carter, South Carter, Carter Dome, Wildcat D, Wildcat A, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Imp Trail, Carter- Moriah Trail, Carter Dome Trail, 19MB Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail, Polecat |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
N/A |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
some downed trees coming up Imp Trail, some Carter Moriah heading to south, another coming down Wild ridge trail heading to Wildcat D |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Bring balms/ bootys … puppy paw maintenance is important with the snow sticking to paws |
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 | Bugs: |
Don’t miss those |
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 | Lost and Found: |
My soul, nothing else notable |
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 | Comments: |
From the top: Imp trail was lovely, packed out & gentlest to us, before the rest of the day began. Shortly before the junction to head Carter-Moriah Trail to Middle Carter we hit drift. Let me start by saying any wind or snow up there will make this report likely unreliable in the next day or two. Just so you know what we had up there to base off that from today.. it was consistently soft, drifted snow with lots of intermittent trail breaking up to middle, continuing to south & full drifts up all the way to Carter dome with the exception of some few semblances of the ghost of past snowshoed path. I mean seriously, I cannot say anything but snowshoes would have made anything remotely manageable for what we did today. We headed down towards carter dome, more trail breaking until the down- down hill. Soft, sliding down, holding trees for dear life… a powdery slope with very unstable footing, going up honestly is likely better advised. The short skip 19Mb To Wildcat ridge was still needing to be packed.
A crew came down from earlier today from Wildcat D to A so they got things started this end, I honestly can’t say we finished them, super soft & again tough to get traction at times with again more snow drifted sections. From A to D was a short break in elevation but trail conditions weren’t much different, just previously touched which was a start but not nearly close to hard packed even how we left it. Polecat down was a pleasant, much needed groomed & solid way to end .. remember 8:30-4 are skii operation hours, so time around that accordingly.
14 mi, 6.2k of EG and those type of trail conditions, have you question some things. We did it carters end first but honestly with what’s current I believe the way I’d recommend is the opposite from cats first if you’re going to try for all.
Did I say wear the snowshoes? Absolutely not an option at this point there and not even coming from preference. Don’t put yourself through that with anything else unless you have crampons possibly for the steeps for Carter dome & Wildcat A. Bring a crew to rotate breaking Thanks for coming to my “TED Talk” hope it helps with your discernment for an enjoyable day out there.
Happy hiking, be safe!🥾 |
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 | Name: |
TrailDaddyRik |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-02-10 |
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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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