| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Whiteface, Mt. Passaconaway, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Blueberry Ledge Trail, Rollins Trail, Dicey's Mill, Walden Trail, East Loop |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, May 5, 2013 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Huge lot in fantastic shape and with nice views. Only 5 cars when I went in and left. Has a port-a-potty too which I always appreciate after my 3+ hours drives up from CT. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Ice - Breakable Crust, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Small Patches, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Standing/Running Water on Trail, Slush, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Only one of note was on Dicey's Mill. An enormous birch tree just happened to fall right over the crossing on stream and made a nice "bridge". Water was a little high here but still relatively easy to cross. No others of note. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Quite a few blowdowns, particularly Rollins which had one significant section about halfway between Whiteface and Dicey's Mill junction that was negotiable but will definitely slow you down. Square Ledge had some smaller blowdowns that were at that awkward height that neither over or under was convenient. Trail blazings very sparse in this area, particularly Rollins trail and lower sections of Blueberry Ridge. Signage on Passaconaway summit cone was kind of vague too relative to my map. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I wouldn't take a dog on the upper sections of Whiteface. Lot of pretty good rock scrambles that didn't have obvious alternate routes. The Rollins trail was pretty well chewed up too with very deep postholes, hollow monorail and generally poor conditions that I could see inviting injury to an unsuspecting dog. But I did see some pawprints out there so it is doable. |
|
 | Bugs: |
Still not bad. Some large buzzing house-fly type flies around the summits here and there. Last mile or so on Dicey's Mill Trail had some mosquitos that were biting/buzzing and the lot in the afternoon has some no-see-ums in small clouds. Pretty calm today too so not bad considering. Bug season is very close! |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
Someone left a blue backpack and two very long hiking (or possibly cross country skiing) poles. They were there first thing and still there when I left. |
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|
 | Comments: |
All the lower sections of Blueberry Ledge and Dicey's Mill were bone dry, clear and in fantastic shape. The section of trail on Blueberry Ledge after the stone stairs had some wet snow/monorail which was easily negotiated without traction. All the ledges and scrambles on Whiteface were clear and dry. The Rollins trail was rough. Still 1-4' of wet, slick snow, deep postholes and degrading monorail. I had read in prior reports it was chewed up so I wore microspikes for the entire trail and it was worth it. Lot of blowdowns that will slow your pace but were passable. Lot of woodchips and cut trees would suggest someone has already been through there trying to help out. Passaconaway summit cone was a mix of snow and wet ledge and was slower going than I expect it normally would be. There was one particularly bad area of monorail between Dicey's Mill/Rollins junction and Dicey's Mill/Square Ledge junction. Melting water has badly eroding snow underneath and it wasn't always obvious to detect. I fell through awkwardly in several places as much as 2' down. Probably will be fully melted in another week but I'd take care in this section. Weather low to mid 60's near bottom and out in the open. Even wooded/shaded areas were 52-55 degrees. |
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 | Name: |
DayTrip |
|
 | E-Mail: |
bblanchette0709@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-05-06 |
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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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