| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Whiteface, Mt. Passaconaway, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Blueberry Ledge Trail, Rollins Trail, Dicey's Mill Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, March 5, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The roads and Ferncroft were well plowed when I arrived just after 9:30AM. The lot was more than half full, mostly XC skiers. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Crossing on Dicey's Mill was low, I crossed slightly upstream from the log. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
This would of been a tough one for most dogs. There were a few pups playing in the lot when I arrived, and some paw prints lower on Dicey's Mill Trail, but I didn't see any on the trails. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
I found a pair of REI mitts on the road near the entrance to the lot, left at the kiosk. |
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 | Comments: |
Solo hike today so I deliberately delayed the start time hoping to benefit from the hard work of others. If I saw no tracks on BLT before me I would of been good with turning around and head back home. However, I found a nicely pathed out snowshoe track and a couple of hikers strapping on their snowshoes when I got to the trail junction. So I strapped on my snowshoes while thinking for once I may have some luck on my side, well that luck was short lived...
I always expect the ledges to be a PITA after fresh snow, and they were, but not as bad as expected. There were significant drifts and loose footing, I'm sure those before me struggled more. Higher up on the ledges I encountered a group of three heading back down (something I personally won't do). They were breaking trail and there was another hiker behind them, said they made it to the summit and decided to head back rather than continue on. I continued on and found the other hiker on the false summit where the other's tracks stopped (if you are reading this, sorry folks, but you didn't get to the summit). I had a brief talk with the other hiker (Bence, super friendly guy), I informed him I would be heading to the summit then breaking out Rollins to Dicey's Mill (since I refuse to descend the ledges), and he said he would likely follow.
Now begins a solo trek the length of Rollins trail through +/- 18 inches new snow with drifted sections past my waist. Not a single step where I didn't sink knee deep. This was certainly the worst breaking I have done this year and right up there with some of my most memorable sufferfests. At about the halfway point I concluded that if Dicey's Mill was untouched I was going to bail on Passaconaway. An hour and twenty minutes later I reach the Dicey's Mill junction and find there are a few snowshoe tracks heading up. I said a loud swear word since I would of been more than happy to head down but since there are tracks I knew I had to continue.
Shortly after I caught up to three hikers (Isaac, Ryan and Ryan) who were taking turns breaking trail. Apparently a few others started up before them but they all turned back. Strength in numbers, the four of us then rotated through, each having our turn, breaking up to Passaconaway. On my descent back down I crossed paths with Bence again who was making his way up.
Obviously snowshoes are needed if doing any of these trails in the foreseeable future. Rollins only seeing two sets of tracks today will still be a workout tomorrow. |
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 | Name: |
Kyle L |
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 | E-Mail: |
kjlanctot g mail |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-03-05 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.strava.com/activities/8667214908 |
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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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