| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Whiteface, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Flat Mountain Pond Trail, McCrillis Trail, Rollins Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, August 18, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I was the only car in the lot when I arrived just past noon. Another car or two when I returned but I don’t think they were hiking. I doubt this lot has ever overflowed ;) |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The crossing of Whiteface River was easily rock hoppable. No issues today with how low water levels are particularly further south in the state. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Flat Mountain Pond Trail and McCrillis Trail are blazed in yellow. Flat Mountain Pond Trail’s blazes were pretty faded as I recall and probably weren’t very often but this portion of it follows an old road so no problem following it. McCrilis Trail was actually blazed pretty well down low but the blazing became much sparser as you ascended the steep upper section of trail. The blazes down low also seemed newer than the mostly faded ones at elevation. There are a couple very evident blazes on the ledges where they’re needed as the trail nears its end but most of the blaze once put on ledge mostly appears to be gone. There were no cairns marking the trail above tree line so in winter when the snow covers up the blazed ledges, you’d be on your own. If descending, watch for a left turn off the ledges and into the woods. I think Flat Mountain Pond Trail was clear of blowdowns. A couple old, large, stepovers on the lower portion of McCrillis Trail which will probably remain there. One small blowdown to finagle through somewhere down lower on the McCrillis Trail. It may have been as you get close to the base of the steep climb but not sure. Another, larger blowdown, I believe it was a duck under, part way up the steep climb. Definitely evidence of maintenance though! I don’t recall blazing on Rollins Trail but it was easy to follow. McCrillis Trail could be trimmed back at times on the steep section and could be hard to follow for an inexperienced hiker. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
An experienced hiking dog would probably do fine. May need some boosts up some of the ledges near the south summit but no big scrambles. Not much water after the crossing of Whiteface River though. |
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 | Bugs: |
I heard lots of them buzzing around my ears down low but didn’t see many so not sure what they were. I did okay without bug spray; not too bad. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Some very old winter gloves/hat I noticed that were left at the trail kiosk. |
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 | Comments: |
A nice little afternoon hike to get another peak for my August grid. Was happy to get out once more before I’m out of state for the next several days...ugh. 25/48 peaks for the month of August.
I took the less travelled route to Whiteface. I’d only ever done this trail once before and that was in winter and in the dark so it was nice to do it again. Not a bad way to do Whiteface. I don’t think it’s much harder than just ascending Blueberry Ledge. a nice long, flat, warm up, followed by a somewhat unrelenting and steep(ish) climb but nothing crazy.
Make sure to pay attention to the signs on/off roads on Flat Mountain Pond Trail. McCrillis Trail is a bit overgrown higher up but isn’t too well defined and can be obscure down lower with a lot of leaves covering the trail which would likely make it hard to follow for someone without much experience.
It sprinkled on me a bit here and there but this area didn’t seem to get much rain at all as the trails and ledges were totally dry by the time I got there. Other than a couple spots of nicely dried mud and one nasty, big, deep, mud pit on the lower portion of McCrillis Trail, there wasn’t any mud. There is a path sort of around the mud pit, but there’s also mud there forcing you to rock hop across it.
Saw one guy at the southern summit where I dropped my pack to bag the peak and another couple on my return where I stayed a while to soak up the views. It took me about 2.5hrs to ascend to the southern summit and 1.75hrs to get down with about 0.5hr spent bagging the summit along Rollins Trail and soaking up the views for a total hike time of 4.75hrs...I was impressed with myself :D |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-08-18 |
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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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