Hiker rescued from Wildcat Ridge Trail

[David Metsky]

But in light of this accident, the issue may be revisited.

There are plenty of sections of that trail that are dangerous. If you wanted to remove risks you'd have a whole lot more work to do then just one reroute. There are steep climbs, pinned steps over bare rock, and a avy chute you have to cross on the way down to Carter Notch.

 

[MichaelJ]

I agree that it should not be made too easy.

However, I also point out that it's the A.T. and should not be impassably dangerous, either, because it's going to get considerable hiker traffic no matter how hard it is.

It can still be difficult and challenging while not being a major risk to life and limb.

 

[SilentCal]

NO, NO, NO! Do not change anything, don't make any kind of bypass or do anything else like that. It is fine. It is interesting and exciting the way it is.

We have not changed anything, nor plan to. We just discussed it. I agree it's a challenging trail and the only "improvements" being planned are a new ladder to replace the rotted out one, some cairns, and blazing.

 

[psmart]

There are plenty of sections of that trail that are dangerous. If you wanted to remove risks you'd have a whole lot more work to do then just one reroute. There are steep climbs, pinned steps over bare rock, and a avy chute you have to cross on the way down to Carter Notch.

Absolutely. I never like it when the "safety" card is played, because it tends to trump many other legitimate issues. Risks are inherent, and even desirable.

I was thinking more about the original decision to drill/split/blast away that much rock for a trail, as opposed to finding a lower-impact route, which may also have been safer. I tend to prefer natural hazzards (such as traversing a steep ledge) to artificial ones (like crossing on a poorly designed trail.)

 

[NewHampshire]

NO, NO, NO! Do not change anything, don't make any kind of bypass or do anything else like that. Keith

As Silentcal mentioned it will most likely stay as is. After scouting around a reroute would only exchange one dangerous challenge for another. Since the only way around would mean some sort of ladder, or a VERY substantial reroute (both of which are NOT options.) One possible idea discussed was uising bog bridging logs to make a more even treadway, but that would fall under the perview of the AMC trail crew, and not likely to happen. Besides, I would much rather use that bridging to make a footbridge across the Ellis .

Brian

 

[Kevin Rooney]

Just a reminder, when I was in school we did all of them by hand, graphically on a drawing board, with a pencil, compass and ruller or computed with a slide rule. Keith

You got to use a slide rule?! What a wuss ... when I was in school all we had was an abacus, and and old one at that ... (uphill, both ways - you know the drill)

On a more serious note - that trail has some puckerfactor spots, which is usually why I like the Polecat as a bypass. As for tricky sections on the AT - there are some pitches on nearby N. Carter that will give you pause also. Would much rather ascend them personally, but most AT'ers are headed north, so they have to descend them.

 

[TDawg]

As for tricky sections on the AT - there are some pitches on nearby N. Carter that will give you pause also. Would much rather ascend them personally, but most AT'ers are headed north, so they have to descend them.

Definitely was steep to go down. I dealt with that section with a full pack as well the next day to the above picture. Real steep to go down, wouldn't want to do it in wet conditions!

 

[RoySwkr]

As Silentcal mentioned it will most likely stay as is. After scouting around a reroute would only exchange one dangerous challenge for another.

I agree that a reroute would be difficult, my winter bypass might erode fast in summer and relies on holding onto trees that would be cut to standardize the width.

I'm not sure that any real thought was put into better routes, I went up it while it was under construction and it looked like they were following the old route - just chopping off all the roots people used to go up by and using pinned and chiselled steps instead. This was during the macho period of trail building when the point seemed to be to prove you could build a trail anywhere and make sure the hikers could see it was a built trail. Many of the things built then have quietly vanished.

DM - I'd say this and the avalanche chute are by far the most dangerous sections and I'm already on record as saying the avalanche chute should be rerouted.

And in response to PS, if we are to make all trails in Wilderness more challenging shouldn't we then make some trails outside of Wilderness easier to replace those "lost"? This is the Appalachian Trail which is hiked under all weather conditions and should be made reasonable for backpacking.

 

[Rick]

OK Smart Guys (mainly Doug Paul) - I was told over at Hammock Hangars.coms that when sleeping in my hammock, I create far more force on the trees than the weight of my Svelt 200+ pound body - Is this kinda the same principle????

 

[DougPaul]

OK Smart Guys (mainly Doug Paul) - I was told over at Hammock Hangars.coms that when sleeping in my hammock, I create far more force on the trees than the weight of my Svelt 200+ pound body - Is this kinda the same principle????

Yes.

In theory, if you take a perfectly straight line (fastenend to two anchors), the force will be infinite if you pull it to the side. In practice, the line will stretch and the force will be finite.

The straighter the hammock, the greater the force, the greater the sag, the less the force.

FWIW, I have pulled a 5-6in diameter tree down by putting my 135lb carcass into my hammock. I had failed to note in the dark that the tree was dead... Fortunately, the tree hung up in the branches of other trees.

Doug