| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Passaconaway, Mt. Whiteface, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Oliverian Brook Trail, Passaconaway Cutoff, Square Ledge Trail, Walden Trail, Dicey’s Mill Trail, Rollins Trail, East Loop |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at Oliverian Brook trailhead off NH 112. This large dirt lot was dusted with snow in the morning, snow free in the afternoon. It is plowed a short distance in winter. Kiosk, no privy. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Slush |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The water crossing on Passsaconaway Cutoff was achievable on ice slathered rocks in the AM, dry rocks in the PM. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
No obstacles for dogs. |
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 | Bugs: |
Ha! Nope! |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Route:
Oliverian Brook > Passsaconaway Cutoff > Square Ledge > Walden Trail > Dicey’s Mill > Rollins Trail > Dicey’s Mill > East Loop > Walden Trail > Square Ledge > Passsaconaway Cutoff > Oliverian Trail.
Oliverian: the portion that is shared with a cross country ski trail is blazed in blue diamonds. The rest is unblazed, but easy to follow. The new snowfall was a dusting this morning, gone this afternoon. Mud patches were frozen and easy to walk over in the morning, but boot suckers in the afternoon. Very few, scant pieces of ice on trail. Bareboots more than sufficient.
Passsaconaway Cutoff: snow depth increased to 0.5 inches for the most part. Few, short sections of ice that needed no additional gear. In the afternoon, much snow had melted and required no additional gear to descend. Plus the snow was very sticky in the afternoon and will ball up on spikes. The grade is excellent. Not blazed. Simple to follow. See water crossing note above.
Square Ledge: just past the junction is a short, but thickly ice slathered section that descends over a ledge. I just butt slid down this in the morning. Quite the adventure to keep from impaling myself on a tree! In the afternoon spikes were most helpful. Snow levels oscillated between 0.5 to 0.75 inches. It was nice fluffy snow in the morning, sticky wet stuff that clung to my spikes in the afternoon. Snow was just enough to hide the multitude of little protruding rocks that would catch my spike and send me careening down trail. Buggahs!
Walden: oh let the escapades begin! Traction. Much needed. Nearly all of the steep ledges have some form of ice. A few are completely covered in blue (read: clear) ice. I was confidently able to negotiate everything in spikes. Lots of dry, or snow crusted rocks to stop momentum or gain purchase on for those ledges and boulders not completely covered. Snow levels around an inch, but it is not consistent. Pine trees lovingly dumped snow on my arms and pack. Thank you, thank you so much! ;) This trail is blazed in blue, and due to the tight corridor is simple to follow.
Dicey’s Mill: lots of ice. Just as much as I expected and have previously experienced. Snow levels around an inch. Traction most useful. Water points open. Pheasants scared the begeebus outta me! Is this trail blazed? I don’t remember… No matter. It is a popular trail and usually always broken out.
Rollins Trail: blazed in blue. Snow levels around an inch and fairly consistent. Ice present in enough quantities and over enough ledges that traction stayed decidedly on. No issues negotiating the ice in spikes. Some more gnarly sections had been blessed with enough snow to provide solid purchase even though it was at a steep angle. At times I felt like I was back in ballet class; “And point and flex, and point and flex…” I was able to make quick time across the ridge. As there was no view today, I stopped at the carin delineating Whiteface’s summit. It was covered in snow, but identifiable. Then I walked all the way back…
East Loop: small and few ice sections. Mostly snow in levels between 0.5 to 1 inch. Traction stayed on, though not necessary through here. I was able to follow the trail without issue.
I had these trails and peaks all to myself today. No other persons encountered. No other footprints seen in the fresh snow. Thus I enjoyed a plethora of animal tracks on all trails. Squirrel, rabbit, fox. One set of prints crossed the trail and looked big enough to be bear. But the tracks were over frozen, snow free ground so I didn’t get a chance to confirm the print origins.
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 | Name: |
Remington34 |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-11-14 |
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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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