| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Whiteface, Mt. Passaconaway, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Blueberry Ledge Trail, Rollins Trail, Dicey's Mill Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, December 7, 2014 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The Ferncroft parking lot is a mess - it didn't get plowed and there were plenty of frozen tire ruts. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The crossing on the lower portion of Dicey's Mill Trail was easier to rock hop instead of trying to balance on the log bridge. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There were a number of big blowdowns along the Rollins Trail - it looks like many of them are older. All easy to step over or duck under now but with some more snow the duck unders may become crawl unders. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Didn't see any dogs out there - can't imagine they would have been able to navigate the ledges without a harness and a lift. |
|
 | Bugs: |
No bugs. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing lost or found. |
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|
 | Comments: |
Did this one with Monica and six others from the Random Group of Hikers. There was about 2"-4" of snow at the lower elevations and 8"-10" inches of snow at the higher elevations. We had to break out the Blueberry Ledge and Rollins Trails - there was what looked like a single pair of snowshoe prints along the Rollins Trail.
Wore snowshoes the whole day. Easy, albeit steep at times, going to the base of the ledges. Able to easily navigate all but the final ledge just before the lookout that some mistakenly believe is the actual summit. After the first two went through the snow was pretty chewed up and the icy ledge was exposed. Had to "lend a hand" to the person coming up after you.
Rather uneventful after that - lots of ups and downs along the Rollins Trail and then one final steep push up to the wooded summit of Passaconaway. The stream just after the Rollins Trail and Dicey's Mill Trail junction is still open and flowing so was able to refill my water with some fresh mountain water. |
|
 | Name: |
Michael & Monica |
|
 | E-Mail: |
michaelfblair@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2014-12-07 |
|
 | Link: |
 https://www.meetup.com/random-hikers/events/218989616 |
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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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