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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Passaconaway, Mt. Whiteface, East Sleeper , NH
Trails
Trails: Downes Brook Trail, Downes Brook Slide Trail, outlook spur, Walden Trail, Dicey's Mill Trail, Rollins Trail, Kate Sleeper Trail, East Sleeper Spur
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, August 23, 2015
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Downes Brook Trailhead is a fee lot. Have your $3 ready. I was first in the lot at 7 and there were four others at 3:30. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: All 10 crossings of Downes Brook were easy. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Dicey's Mill, Rollins, and Kate Sleeper Tr are in great shape. Signs are missing for the spur to Passaconaway's summit, Dicey's Mill Tr at the East Loop junction, East Sleeper Spur and the warning sign at the end of the outlook spur is gone and it looked like someone tried to rip the plywood backer off of the tree. Upper Downes Brook Tr has several blowdowns that will require an axe or large saw. Some are crawl unders and others have herd paths forming around them. There are cairns marking the upper crossings and a sign at the 9th crossing that has been there so long that the tree has almost pulled the nails through.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Marlie handled the slide well for the second time. She helped find the trail in spots but needed to be reminded to stay away from the steep slabs. Bring water for you pup as there's not much between the peaks. 
Bugs
Bugs: Some were buzzing but not biting. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: I found an old oil can and a femur in the woods along the slide.  
 
Comments
Comments: This was my second time up the Passaconaway Slide Tr and had a little more trouble than the first, although that could be due to being slightly overconfident. This is more of a bushwhack than a trail. Nothing like the Firewarden's Tr up Mt Hale. The old trail stays mostly to the left of the slide and crosses on some slippery ledges below a nice pool about 3/4 of the way up. There is a very nice pool abut three feet deep about half way up. Axe and acid blazes on trees could still be seen as well as a few random cairns and I even saw an old blaze on some ledge. Near the top of the slide the trail parralels it through the woods to the right then crosses on a mossy ledge, zigzagging, and eventually following a rocky drainage up. It got very thick through here and I lost the trail, fooled by someone else's footprints and the slight shelves forming as we approached the base of the cliffs. Realizing I was too far east we cut south and followed the only line through some tight trees and popped back out onto the old trail in a well defined corridor. Once on the rocky ridge I was rewarded with handfuls of bluberries.

It was then an easy cruise up to the summit of Passaconaway, over Whiteface to the ledges, then over to East Sleeper to red line the .8 mi between the peak and Downes Brook Tr. It was impressive to see all of the massive blowdowns and cut out trees. It was nice running into Heather, Kali, and company just below East Sleeper. After a quick bite to eat it was a nice stroll out Downes Brook Tr. Thanks Marlie for keeping me company.

15.4 mi. 4290' elev + 8 hr  
Name
Name: IQuest 
E-Mail
E-Mail: iandanner@hotmail com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2015-08-24 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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