Went for the audible on Whiteface

Trip Details - Part One (The Fail)
Date: July 3^rd, 2017
Total Distance: 3.01 mi (via Trimble Outdoors Navigator Pro on iPhone 4S. Officially shutdown. I need a new app!)
Total Time: 1 hour 26 minutes
Total Elevation: 167 ft gained

Trip Details - Part Deux (The Audible)
Date: July 3^rd, 2017
Total Distance: 10.92 mi (via Trimble Outdoors Navigator Pro on iPhone 4S. Same as above.)
Total Time: 4 hours 51 minutes
Total Elevation: 2959 ft gained

Boomer and I headed up north for a fun pre-Independence Day hike up Mt. Whiteface. After previously doing the fun the Blueberry Ledges with BishopX a few years back I knew that I wanted to avoid those with Boomer. The trails of choice were the back way up to the Sleeper Ridge and then make our way over to Mt. Whiteface. This was a solid plan, except for the fact that a few days prior this region of New Hampshire was victim to a freak thunderstorm that caused all the rivers to flash flood. I was optimistic that by the time we were getting up there the water levels would have subsided. As I passed the Rocky Gorge Scenic Area and saw that it was coned off with signs saying it was closed, I began to worry that our plan to hike Downes Brook Trail was going to implode. We continued on and got to the trailhead. Shortly we were on the trail making our way to the first of six crossings of the Downes Brook. As soon as we got to the first one it was clear this idea was not going to work. The brook was flowing very fast, kneed deep in most areas, and no matter where we looked to cross every stretch appeared to have a hole that was at least waist deep. To get Boomer, myself, and our stuff across safely just was not looking good. We tried bushwhacking along the brook's edge for a bit and eventually came to a cool campsite, but the brook was also getting wider and the slope on the non-trail side was getting less feasible to push through. We decided to call it and turn around. Mt. Potash branches off of this trail and only has one crossing so we made our way back to that and tried to salvage this trip. Well that crossing was not any better as again it was knee deep in most spots and Boomer was not in to swimming at this time. We put our heads down, turned around in defeat, and headed back to the car.

The trail does not continue straight. It instead takes a hard right!

Here is the first crossing on the Downes Brook Trail. The picture does not do it justice. At the base of the rocks on the other side of the trail is a deep hole that appeared at least waist deep.

While packing up the car I started thinking hard about previous trip reports for Mt. Whiteface and how most said they took dogs up Blueberry Ledge Trail. So we drove down the Kacamagus and back into an area where I have cell phone service. I pulled up New England Trail Conditions and read a few reports. The consensus was that the trail is fine for dogs but they may need help on the upper ledges. Maybe it was not as bad as I remembered. I decided to go for the audible and salvage the day. About 30 minutes later we were at the Ferncroft Road parking lot. We then made our way to the Blueberry Ledge Trail.

Private bridge, but hikers are welcome and this is the way to the start of the Blueberry Ledge Trail.

This picture is a bit confusing, but the trail is to the right of the big rock and metal gate.

All the way up to junction with the Tom Wiggin Trail, the trail is rather tame. The last three quarters of a mile the trail climbs almost 700 feet via numerous ledge after ledge. These ledges are steep (some are vertical) and all of them are high enough that a dog is not going to easily jump up to the top on their own. I ended up having to lift Boomer up them all. It was exhausting, and he was not enjoying it. Once we finally made it to the top I made the decision to scrap our original plan which was to descend back the way we came. I was not sure we could safely make it down the same way we went up. I saw other solo hikers doing it with their dog, but I just was not confident and my energy levels were dwindling.

Some tame open ledges.

One of the infamous Blueberry Ledges! Yup, that is straight up.

We took some time on the south summit to rest and enjoy the view.

South Summit

Summit markers

Looking out towards the Ossipee and Belknap Ranges.

We then headed over the true summit.

Summit cairn

Following this we continued on the Rollins Trail around the bowl. There were at least three good outlooks along the way.

Mt. Chocorua

Mt. Passaconaway

Mt. Hibbard on the right.

We then jumped on the rather nice Dicey's Mill Trail. This was our first time on it and I have to say the footing was great. It was nice to not have to walk on rocks the entire way down. Eventually it crosses the Wonalancet River, but it did not look impacted by the recent storms. We stayed on Dicey's Mill Trail until the end instead of going over the bridge and back on to the Blueberry Ledge Cutoff Trail. It was odd when the trail just ended and we were in a clearing on a farm. I felt even sketchier when the gate at the end of their driveway was closed. Thankfully the sign said hikers were welcome.

The bridge heading back over to the Blueberry Ledge Cutoff Trail.

An old rock wall at the farm's clearing.

Fear not the sign says hikers are welcome even though its a private drive.

It was nice to get out and hike, but I do not honestly believe the Blueberry Ledge Trail is dog friendly and would not recommend anyone hiking up it with their dog.

With the closing of Trimble Outdoors Navigator Pro I am not able to post the map right now until I find a new service to host my GPS tracks. As soon as I decide on one I will try and re-upload all my maps.