Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Mt. Whiteface (attempt), NH |
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| Trails: |
Blueberry Ledge Trail, Blueberry Ledge Cutoff Trail |
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| Date of Hike: |
Thursday, February 4, 2021 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Ferncroft parking lot plowed and not icy. |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Traction |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
Not advisable, given the ice on the ledges |
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| Bugs: |
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| Lost and Found: |
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| Comments: |
Blueberry Ledge Trail was badly postholed, but we smoothed it out with our snowshoes. The postholes ended at a small overlook around 2900 feet, where the trail turns and gets steep. We broke trail from there to the ledges. Snow was deep, with major drifting and we lost the trail a couple times. Very tough. We got to the first steep ledge and saw snow over serious ice. We then huddled and made a decision. Given all the energy we expended breaking trail, plus the energy to get up the ledges, plus the strong likelihood of breaking out the Rollins Trail, we decided to turn around. The prospect of breaking out Rollins and possibly getting a bit lost on the broad ridge was of our greatest concern. If anyone wants to try Whiteface and Passaconaway, be sure to bring snowshoes, good traction and possibly an ice axe. People going up the ledges will likely knock away most of the snow, so it will be pure ice in spots. On the other hand, between us and another nice group of four using snowshoes who we met on our way down, the trail to the ledges is nicely broken out. No idea if that group went further than the ledges. We decided to take the Blueberry Ledge Cutoff trail on the way down, just for some adventure. It was not broken out, but was fairly easy to follow and a we found it to be a nice alternative. |
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| Name: |
Marty |
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| E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-02-05 |
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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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