| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Whiteface, Mt. Passaconaway, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Blueberry Ledge Trail, Rollins Trail, Dicey's Mill Trail, Walden Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, April 4, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Four cars at 7:15 AM, ten at 5:30 PM. This left plenty of room at the recently expanded Ferncroft lot. They ask that you park head-in. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The only notable one is on the Dicey's mill trail over the Wonalancet 2.3 miles from the Ferncroft lot. The water level was low enough to allow rock-hopping. There is a log you can tightrope across when the river is higher. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One small blowdown on the Rollins trail 1/4 - 1/2 mile from the junction with Dicey's mill. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Some dogs will require help on the Blueberry ledge scrambles. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Whiteface mountain, Mount Passaconaway
Blieberry ridge trail, Rollins trail, Dicey's Mill trail, Walden trail, Spur trail to outlook
Barebooted almost to the top ledges of Whiteface, then used microspikes until 1/2 mile from the parking lot. Optimal would have been "rock spikes" starting about halfway up Blueberry ledge to handle spotty blue ice, then good microspikes after the Ledge outlooks, all the way to Passaconaway, and halfway to the trailhead down Dicey's mill trail.
Patches of blue ice up Blueberry ledge were manageable without traction thanks to embedded pine needles or postholes that provided steps. Spikes are still better.
Rollins trail was frozen granular or stable monorail, with a few patches of mud poking through.
Dicey's mill was frozen granular above the junction with Rollins trail. Below the junction it turns to monorail,then the snow becomes patchy and disappears completely about a 1/4 mile above the river crossing. Once over the river, patches of snow reeapear for a short while. The lower part of Dicey's mill is the only area that had running or standing water on the trail (avoidable).
Postholes were avoidable and were actually an aid since they provided steps or toeholds at times. Only in the spur to the Northern Passaconaway outlook were they an annoyance.
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 | Name: |
Al S |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-04-05 |
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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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