btausend
New member
Date of Hike: February 2, 2013
Trail Conditions: We started at 8:30 which is the time the ski area opens for business. The Stray Cat trail which is first trail hikers are supposed to use is closed to skiing so it is not groomed, but it was fine for hiking. The rest of the ski trails to the top were nicely groomed. The ridge trail over to Wildcat A is solid. We used Microspikes from car to car without any problems. They were fine for this hike. There were no postholes to deal with and as long has you stay on the trail you won't posthole. There are a few small sections of the trail with some ice flows. The were pretty easy to get around or get through. If you are wearing Microspikes just make sure you have a good bite in the ice before take your next step.
Special Equipment Used: Light traction. We were on the trail for about 4 hours and only encountered two others hiking the trail. They had crampons on. Either way works. You can leave your snowshoes in the car until it snows again or starts to warm up.
Comments: It was my first hike this season wearing Microspikes car to car. With the trail being solid it made for a fast hike. Before we even geared up we went inside to buy our tickets. We went back to the cars to gear up. One of the parking lot attendants asked if we bought a ticket and knew what trails to take. Then we had someone from ski patrol ask us the same thing at the base of the ski area. As we got to the start of the Stray Cat trail we had another employee ask us the same questions. They were all very nice about it. On our way up and down the mountain we encountered numerous ski patrollers and not one of them asked us to see our ticket. It was a cold, but great morning hike without the wind that was forecasted. Thanks to John Williams for another great hike.
btausend
Brian Tausendfreund
Trail Conditions: We started at 8:30 which is the time the ski area opens for business. The Stray Cat trail which is first trail hikers are supposed to use is closed to skiing so it is not groomed, but it was fine for hiking. The rest of the ski trails to the top were nicely groomed. The ridge trail over to Wildcat A is solid. We used Microspikes from car to car without any problems. They were fine for this hike. There were no postholes to deal with and as long has you stay on the trail you won't posthole. There are a few small sections of the trail with some ice flows. The were pretty easy to get around or get through. If you are wearing Microspikes just make sure you have a good bite in the ice before take your next step.
Special Equipment Used: Light traction. We were on the trail for about 4 hours and only encountered two others hiking the trail. They had crampons on. Either way works. You can leave your snowshoes in the car until it snows again or starts to warm up.
Comments: It was my first hike this season wearing Microspikes car to car. With the trail being solid it made for a fast hike. Before we even geared up we went inside to buy our tickets. We went back to the cars to gear up. One of the parking lot attendants asked if we bought a ticket and knew what trails to take. Then we had someone from ski patrol ask us the same thing at the base of the ski area. As we got to the start of the Stray Cat trail we had another employee ask us the same questions. They were all very nice about it. On our way up and down the mountain we encountered numerous ski patrollers and not one of them asked us to see our ticket. It was a cold, but great morning hike without the wind that was forecasted. Thanks to John Williams for another great hike.
btausend
Brian Tausendfreund
