| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Passaconaway, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Dicey's Mill Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, February 23, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
As previously noted, 113A is quite a ride w/ the frost heaves. I think riding a buckin' bronco might be a smoother ride! Ferncroft offers ample parking for probably 20+ cars. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Wet/Sticky |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Mostly snow-bridged. Crossing at Wonalancet River (2.3 miles from Ferncroft) required a little caution. Removed snowshoes here for crossing. Could either carefully cross using large log, or water flow was minimal enough to rockhop across. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Dicey's Mill is in excellent shape. Blue-blazed. No blow-downs to speak of. Easy to follow with well-defined monorail from start to summit. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Dicey's Mill would likely be a good choice for experienced winter-hiking dogs provided the trail is consolidated / hard-packed. Nothing technical. A few water sources. |
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 | Bugs: |
- |
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 | Lost and Found: |
- |
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|
 | Comments: |
Beautiful winter day felt more like early spring - temps near 40 degrees, no winds, and blue skies. Great views to Franconia Ridge at lookout just below summit spur, and to Presidentials at the north ledge lookout just after summit spur.
Dicey's Mill is a long slog to the top. Snowshoes from start to finish was our choice today, but saw numerous people in spikes and a couple barebooters. Looked like spikes were balling up quite a bit as we saw a couple with softball-sized snowballs under foot. Snow conditions are fairly well consolidated with a well-defined monorail to the summit. Given the warmth, snow got soft and sticky early in the day. Minor postholing just after Wonalancet River crossing but easily avoidable. There are 3 easily spotted and recently created short bushwhacks just below summit cone that help eliminate the last 3-4 switchbacks. Trail out to the north view ledge (beyond summit spur) had not been broken out until we went out there, and it didn't look like anyone had approached from Walden Trail since the last snowfall. |
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 | Name: |
Charlie |
|
 | E-Mail: |
skcharles at comcast dot net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-02-24 |
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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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