Whiteface & Passaconaway

Trip Details
Date: February 8^th, 2019
Total Distance: 13.14 mi (via Garmin fenix 5X)
Total Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
Total Elevation: 4439 ft gained
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After our botched hike a two weeks ago we were eager to get a success. Unfortunately the weather was not cooperating. Earlier in the week the temperatures had hit an unseasonable 60ºF (obviously not as warm on the summits), but this risked warming up the monorails too much and making them a postholed mess. Friday was also looking like warm weather (50ºF at the base), but was going to start with some rain. The rest of the weekend had the potential for some bitter cold so we had to take the gamble and do our first real winter hike in the rain. We decided to go for the easiest one for us all to get to, which is Mt. Whiteface and Mt. Passaconaway from the Ferncroft Parking Lot. The rain had thankfully died down when we got started around 0915.

We made our way to the Blueberry Ledge Trail with just spikes on. Our hope was that the monorail would remain stable enough to just take the snowshoes for a ride. It was stable only if you stayed directly in the center. A slight misstep and you were sinking in to knee depths. The temperature was warm to, so we dropped layers and were hiking jacketless rather quickly. Unfortunately, not too long after that the rain picked back up so we had to re-don our jackets. At the same time the use of spikes was getting questionable. One in our group switched to snowshoes while myself and another stubbornly kept on. When we hit the ledges I regretted not switching as the snow got quite soft. It was a genuine challenge to stay on top of the snow. There were a few positives, though, as the clouds were starting to break and the ledges were still snow covered making them easy.

The first ledge had probably the most ice, but it was still rather easy.

The clouds were moving on out.

Arriving at the south summit, we found sunshine. We took some time to change clothes and enjoy the views and rather warm temps. We all switched to snowshoes at this point.

Looking towards the Ossipee and Belknap Ranges.

Mt. Chocorua

Mt. Passaconaway

The snow levels were quite high on the south summit.

The Rollins Trail was pretty easy to follow, but the snow was quite softer on the ridge. The next challenge was finding the actual summit of Mt. Whiteface as the snow was clearly over the small cairn I remember seeing. Thankfully after the small col, I took a guess when we got to what I thought was the highpoint. It turned out correct as we found where the old summit marker screwed into a tree right behind us.

We got a couple views, but for the most part we just chugged through the ridge until we got to Dicey's Mill Trail junction. A couple of the spots on Rollins had you hugging the side as the trail got quite narrow and a wrong step could send you sliding down into the trees.

This view was rather daunting as it showed how much we needed to drop and then climb back up to the summit of Mt. Passaconaway.

A view into The Bowl.

Climbing up Dicey's Mill Trail was exhausting at this point. My body is still getting back into hiking shape and though it is a rather short section of trail it felt like it was taking a long time. After the switchbacks we found ourselves at the lookout just past the summit. I had no idea this was even here as my previous time on this summit I took the otherside of the loop and never even came over here.

Looking out towards the Tripyramids.

The Franconia Ridge

Mt. Carrigain

We then went around the corner to the summit area. The wind at this time was following the forecast and had picked up quite a bit. It did not make for a relaxing time on the otherwise boring summit.

My son got me this ball for Christmas to take hiking.

We attempted to take the Walden Trail down to the East Loop Trail as from what I remember it should provide some great buttsliding, but it was not broken out well past its viewpoint. So we turned around and started our otherwise dull trip back down Dicey's Mill Trail. There was some good buttsliding to the junction with Rollins Trail, but after that the trail becomes too gradual. At one point you have to cross the branches of the Wonalancet River on a down tree for about 20 ft. This was rather sketchy to do especially with snowshoes still on. I am lucky I did not take a drink in the cold flowing water. After this the trail was getting soft too so it began balling up in the snowshoes. I was ready for this one to end and in not too much time we were in the random person's backyard that Dicey's Mill Trail dumps into. It is so weird. In the end we knocked two more off our winter list!

The drift whenever we stop is ridiculous. I would say this is off by greater than a mile.