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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Passaconaway, Mt. Whiteface, NH
Trails
Trails: Oliverian Brook Trail, Passaconaway Cutoff, Square Ledge Trail, Walden Trail, Dickey’s Mill Trail, Rollins Trail, Blueberry Ledge Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, April 16, 2022
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parked at Oliverian Brook trailhead lot off NH 112. This large lot is dirt surfaced, snow free and firm. Kiosk at end of lot, no privy. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: The tributary to Oliverian Brook on Passaconaway Cutoff is negotiable with either rocks or fallen logs across this brook. We used one of the logs but you could make a variety of routes to keep feet dry. The deepest point at the crossing was 2 feet.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes:  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Great trails for dogs. 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Route:
Oliverian Brook > Passaconaway Cutoff > Square Ledge > Walden Trail > Dicey’s Mill > Rollins Trail > Blueberry Ledge (to Whiteface summit and back) > Rollins Trail > East Loop > Walden Trail > Square Ledge > Passaconaway Cutoff > Oliverian Brook > end.

Oliverian Brook: there are blue diamonds on trees on the very initial portions of this route as it coincides with a cross country ski route. After this the trail is not blazed. The trail was snow and ice free for its entirety. Much mud present with some flooding in the bog area. All signs, and arrow signs, up and intact. Very easy to follow footbed.

Passaconaway Cutoff: not blazed. Easy to follow footbed. We donned spikes at 2300 feet as monorail and ice were presenting real obstacles at points. You could completely bare boot to the junction with Square Ledge if you wished. Mix of bare trail, monorail, and exposed rock on this trail.

Square Ledge: not blazed. Simple to follow footpath. We wore spikes as the mix of spring conditions warranted some form of traction. Our morning assent was on mostly firm footbed/trench/monorail interspersed with open trail until 3000 feet where the snow pack was consistent and firm. Our evening descent (with active rain) was on quickly disintegrating monorail/trench. Maybe snowshoes would have helped in upper elevations. But I found too frequent and too long sections of ice to warrant a change of footwear. The trail is chewed up now, but it doesn’t matter. Spring is here! Destroy the snow! :) Signs are up, but they are old and blend in with the trees.

Walden Trail: blazed in blue. Lots and lots of ice. Blue ice, black ice, you name it, it was there. Spikes worked great, even on the steep portions. We beat up our spikes as many large rocks and ledges were exposed. Surprisingly, the log and rock stairs leading to the summit were completely exposed. Snow melt off allowed us to refill exhausted water bottles near the view point.

Dicey’s Mill: not blazed (that I recall). Simple to follow footbed. Dude. Traction. Oh the ice… But the ice was softening giving us supreme purchase, mostly.

Rollins Trail: blazed in blue, though most are very faded. Footbed simple to follow. We stayed in spikes as ice was a frequent encounter. I mean large slabs of blue ice. Ledges covered in ice. There was a section where snowshoes would have been helpful, but then thick, slick ice flows would soon follow. So spikes it was. Thankfully most of the ice was softening and provided purchase up & down the awkward bits. Lots of postholes. Not judging- just observing. The spine of the monorails and the trajectory of the trenches made walking a bit of a balancing act.

Blueberry Ledge: small segment taken to Whiteface summit. This was not blazed but simple to follow. Summit area free of snow and ice. Surprising view today.

My ending point: I brought my snowshoes and did not put them on once on any of these trails. Ice was encountered so frequently that I would have certainly slid around in my super awesome snowshoes. Spikes worked best in upper elevations, bare boots in lower elevations. This really doesn’t matter, though, as our descent was slathered in rain. The trails were literally melting before our eyes.

Sooooo… best of luck!  
Name
Name: Remington34 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2022-04-16 
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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