| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Potash Mountain, South Potash Mountain, Mt. Passaconaway, Mt. Whiteface, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Downes Brook Trail, Potash Mountain Trail, bushwhack, Downes Brook Slide Trail, Dicey’s Mill Trail, Rollins Trail, Kate Sleeper Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, April 16, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Lots and lots of rock hopping of Downes Brook. Only got my toes wet on the final lowest crossing of Downes Brook, that was a tricky one. I kept my snowshoes on for all of them. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Bunch of smallish blowdowns clustered on Kate Sleeper near Whiteface summit. A bunch more on upper Downes Brook trail, not hard to get around and still frozen. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
No |
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 | Lost and Found: |
No |
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|
 | Comments: |
A long day to do this figure-8 loop around Downes Brook. Potash was done in bare boots but rock spikes would be good descending for somewhat avoidable ice. I used snowshoes on the whack to the canister on South Potash, trees were dry but in the shade was soft post hole snow. The snow was firmer climbing the north side of Passaconaway via the slide, which was a ton of fun. I love frozen waterfalls. Not too steep, and good woods on the side to avoid any tricky spots. I came out near the view spur for the view, but probably less thick to go straight for the summit. The trail to whiteface was spikeable, well packed. Snowshoes went on again for the untracked Sleeper trail down, which was hard to follow, then the madness of Downes Brook. Snowshoes stayed on most of this rough trail, except a few awkward side hill sections. The many crossings were done in snowshoes, it wasn’t worth it to take them off each time. |
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 | Name: |
Carl G |
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 | E-Mail: |
calxjohnson@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-04-16 |
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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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