NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
NewEnglandTrailConditions.com:
MA
|
ME
|
NH
|
RI/CT
|
VT
|
Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Hibbard Mountain, Mt. Passaconaway, NH
Trails
Trails: Old Mast Road, Wonalancet Range Trail, Shortcut, Walden Trail, Square Ledge Trail, East Loop, Dicey's Mill Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, December 24, 2011
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: plenty of parking at Ferncroft - mine was the first car in the lot.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Black, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: no issues. Only real crossing was on Dicey's Mill - could have crossed on rocks but I walked the gang plank (downed birch).  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Several major blowdowns in the wilderness trails. I think there might be a sign missing at the outlook near Mt Hibbard - I thought the trail was the outlook - I went around and finally found the actual trail.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: would be OK for dogs except for the steeps up Walden Trail - there are some pretty dicey icy knee-ups!!!! 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Enjoyed the loop. Took longer than anticipated due to poor footing/4-5" new powdery snow over glare ice.


Put on the microspikes once at wilderness boundary on Wonalancet Range Trail. I took the Mt Hibbard cutoff up, then looped down over Mt Wonalancet and had a little difficulty with the ice sheets especially coming off the highpoint of Mt Wonalancet into the ice field. Wasn't sure where the trail went so I hugged the shrubs to the left of the open area (with views). Then, coming off the junction onto the Walden Trail down into the col to Passaconaway I found the microspikes completely unmatched for the ice flows - switched to full crampons after several BIG bouncing falls. Not sure how you could do Walden Trail and the summit of Passaconaway without full crampons. I carried snowshoes but the show depth was never enough. From the summit of P-way I barebooted down Dicey's Mill trail with no problems. Never saw ANY footprints or anyone at all all day until I saw some snowshoe prints below Dicey's Mill's millsite. Awesome day to get out!!!! Challenging day for footing - crampons seem to hit bare rocks under the snow at times and ankles are pretty beat up!!!! But, the ice is VERY serious under the fluffy snow!!!!
 
Name
Name: Becca Munroe 
E-Mail
E-Mail: beccahiker@yahoo.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2011-12-24 
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.

Copyright 2009-2024, All Rights Reserved