| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Whiteface, Mt. Passaconaway, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Blueberry Ledge Trail, Rollins Trail, Dicey's Mill Trail, East Loop, Walden Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, October 21, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
About a dozen cars in the lot at 9AM, with a few more at 3PM. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The log crossing on Dicey's Mill Trail is easily managed. For most of its length, the wide log is paired up with a narrower log, nicely widening the platform. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Blazing is sparse on Blueberry Ledge Trail, especially below the junction with the cutoff trail. The thick carpet of freshly fallen leaves made following the curves of the trail tricky in spots; I saw two hikers who had wandered 100 yards or so off trail. The same issue is in play in the lower woodsy section of Dicey's Mill, but part of the problem there is getting distracted by the amazing fall colors.
There were several widowmakers over the trail, including a couple of signifcant ones. The first straddles the Rollins Trail about 0.7 miles west of the junction with Dicey's Mill. The second is BIG, running right above Dicey's Mill trail for about 30 feet, just above the junction with Tom Wiggins Trail. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
In spite of the previous night's frost, there were a few swarms of fly-mosquito hybrid critters - I believe the technical term is "bugs" - on the lower sections of Dicey's Mill. They contentedly stuck right to me when I walked through them, but didn't protest when I brushed them off. Not a problem, but just a little surprising for the time of year, and otherwise no issues. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Absolutely beautiful fall day. 34 degrees in the lot at 9AM, but the sun and lack of wind made it feel like at least 50, and I didn't end up changing my layers all day. Things have dried up since the last posted trip report. The scrambling sections of Blueberry Ledges were bone dry in the morning sun. There were still some muddy sections, especially on Rollins Trail, but they were easily avoided. The squishy mud did make it easy to forget that many of the "wet" spots on the rocks in this area were in fact ice, setting up the occasional slippery surprise, but these icy spots were sparse and easily avoided.
Skies were clear, with panoramic views in all the lookout spots. Foliage was past peak, more so on Blueberry Ledges; the colors on the lower sections of Dicey's Mill were just mesmerizing in the full afternoon sun. All told, it was a fantastic day and a fantastic spot to finish up my second round of the 48. |
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 | Name: |
Vane |
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 | E-Mail: |
cables617 at gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-10-22 |
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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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