| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Whiteface, Mt. Passaconaway, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Blueberry Ledges Trail, Rollins Trail, Dicey's Mill Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, November 30, 2019 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Ferncroft overflowed. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Dicey's Mill was a little tricky due to ice glazed rocks, but not too high. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
I cut out a few blowdowns on Blueberry Ledges to stop the herd paths forming around them. A few remain, including a large one about a quarter of a mile or so in if I recollect.
The tree at one of the lower scramble ledges has come down, probably due to thousands of people climbing around it because the iron rungs were removed. One birch remains, but it will suffer the same fate if the situation isn't fixed (I think the rungs should be restored). |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Saw a black glove liner on a branch on Blueberry Ledges. |
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 | Comments: |
Snowshoes were optional today, but will be required if the storm comes through.
Ferncroft was bare ground. Some isolated but extended stretches of blue and black ice ascending the Blueberry Ledges (e.g. up to the upper Cutoff junction). Snow cover started soon thereafter and was full by the Wiggins junction. I donned spikes there and left them on until Rollins. A few of the scrambles were tricky due to ice and some may prefer more than spikes if going tomorrow. Snow pack around this stretch was 2 to 6 inches, but fairly crusty, so decent base building.
Rollins Trail had 1 to 2 feet of snow. The trail is fairly well bootpacked right now without too much ice. Snowshoes will be a must with the incoming snow, though I regretted not having them today (even with spikes, the loose granular resulted in more spinning of the wheels than necessary; snowshoes would have provided much better footing).
Dicey's Mill to the summit was barebootable, though the top scramble ledge was getting worn down to blue ice from buttsliders.
Dicey's Mill had full snow cover until just below the Wiggins junction, then transitioned pretty quickly to full bare ground with occasional blue ice.
Very nice sunny day without too much wind on this side. Temperatures hovering around freezing down low. |
|
 | Name: |
rocket21 |
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 | E-Mail: |
rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2019-11-30 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos |
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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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