| 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: |
Tuesday, February 19, 2019 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Nicely plowed! Just remember to park head-in to the left so enough cars can park there on busy weekends! There is room for at least a dozen cars but only 4 if you park selfishly. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The crossing near Dicey's Mill is only 4 steps wide whether you choose 'The Log' or rock-hop option. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
2 hikers also in in snowshoes had gone out before me and packed the trail down nicely and made it easy to follow on the spotty Rollins Trail. Perfect snow conditions! |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Too steep for dogs to negotiate safely and the loose snow on Rollins Trail would have been exhausting for them. |
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 | Bugs: |
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|
 | Lost and Found: |
That single snowshoe mentioned in an earlier posting. |
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 | Comments: |
Temp in the high teens and windy on the summits. I'm a strong hiker and not a big fan of exposure, but the Blueberry Ledge trail was quite easy all the way to the top. A few steep areas and some moderately exposed ledges but the snow was so grippy, I didn't even use poles or an ice axe. The Rollins Trail was the most arduous leg of the loop. Hundreds of little twists & turns, low-hanging branches, evergreen gauntlets looking to stab you or poke your eye out and varying snow conditions. The Dicey's Mill Trail was like a steep sidewalk but there are enough areas of loose snow that warrant keeping your snowshoes on even for the long descent. In these conditions I kept snowshoes on from start to finish and completed the 13-mile loop in 5:05 starting at 11:15 & finishing at 4:20 in the parking area. It would have taken somewhat longer if the 2 snowshoers didn't do the EXACT same loop an hour or two ahead of me (thanks!). 5:45 was my goal on an unbroken trail so their efforts eased the pressure of my usual late start. Only 5 more winter 4000-footers to go! |
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 | Name: |
swamibob |
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 | E-Mail: |
hynoskyb@aol.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2019-02-20 |
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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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