East Sleeper (3840') #58/100 NEHH
Whiteface, Passaconaway (been there, done that)
15.3 miles, 4800 feet, 7:30
Any hike that starts with a moose sighting has been a good hike. Today's trip was no different. Finally I got a day where I could escape the office and not cause any grief (my tester took the day off too which helps.) I almost went Presidential, but the peakbagger in me has been wanting to add to the NEHH total and I haven't done so for a whole year. East Sleeper was at the top of the list. I love the view of the house and barn with Whiteface and Wonnalancet towering behind. On the way to the road, movement in the field behind me caught my eye and it was a moose. I got as close as I could which wasn't really that close.
I headed up the Blueberry Ledge Trail which, save for a few blowdowns and occasional mud and wet rock, was in fine shape. I had done this ascent in late December for the winter 48 and was thinking how it seemed less steep. Maybe the snow filled in the spaces as it often does. At the ledge scramble I stopped for a short break. The views were hazy which kind of made me glad I hadn't gone Presidential.
The wildlife was in abundance today since I was the first one up. I scared (and they scared me) a handful of grouse, toads, butterflies and various rodents. The bird songs were beautiful, and I believe the majority of them belonged to this junco or its kin. Break #2 was taken at the south summit where I was able to catch this photo.
Staying here too long would result in an uncomfortable number of black fly bites so I struck off for my primary target - East Sleeper. The Kate Sleeper trail is a green trail. Moss, ferns, star flowers, bunchberry, bluebead lilies, and moose poop (OK, not green). It was wet, muddy and slippery. I had brought my filter in case I needed water (at the Downes Brook Jct.) but was OK. Just beyond this junction there was a small cluster of snarled blowdowns. Right on schedule, the East Sleeper spur appeared. Took a quick picture and since there isn't anything to see, turned around for the return to the Rollins Trail.
Given the proximity to Whiteface, I turned left and tagged the summit. This was the half-way point if I continued on to Passaconaway. Turning around was definitely shorter, but going down Blueberry Ledges seemed a bit daunting and so I continued on. The Rollins Trail has a beautiful scent of spruce. I remembered it well from August 2006 (and to a lesser degree, last December.) While nobody would call this trip a "view hike", if you stop and peek at the outlooks (where the trail is literally on the edge of the ridge) there are some things to see.
In December, the clouds were low and we saw nothing the entire trip. After tagging the real summit of Passaconaway (both spur paths to be sure), I retreated to the viewpoint and ate. Being over 6 feet tall helps with the views, limited as they are. The bugs were not as bad here as they were on Whiteface so I was able to enjoy myself for 10 minutes or so before heading down. Dicey's Mill is a nicely graded ramp to the floor of the bowl and right at the end I saw the only other people of the day-the property owner mowing the lawn, and a family heading in to camp.
All Photos on Picasa
Tim
Whiteface, Passaconaway (been there, done that)
15.3 miles, 4800 feet, 7:30
Any hike that starts with a moose sighting has been a good hike. Today's trip was no different. Finally I got a day where I could escape the office and not cause any grief (my tester took the day off too which helps.) I almost went Presidential, but the peakbagger in me has been wanting to add to the NEHH total and I haven't done so for a whole year. East Sleeper was at the top of the list. I love the view of the house and barn with Whiteface and Wonnalancet towering behind. On the way to the road, movement in the field behind me caught my eye and it was a moose. I got as close as I could which wasn't really that close.
I headed up the Blueberry Ledge Trail which, save for a few blowdowns and occasional mud and wet rock, was in fine shape. I had done this ascent in late December for the winter 48 and was thinking how it seemed less steep. Maybe the snow filled in the spaces as it often does. At the ledge scramble I stopped for a short break. The views were hazy which kind of made me glad I hadn't gone Presidential.
The wildlife was in abundance today since I was the first one up. I scared (and they scared me) a handful of grouse, toads, butterflies and various rodents. The bird songs were beautiful, and I believe the majority of them belonged to this junco or its kin. Break #2 was taken at the south summit where I was able to catch this photo.
Staying here too long would result in an uncomfortable number of black fly bites so I struck off for my primary target - East Sleeper. The Kate Sleeper trail is a green trail. Moss, ferns, star flowers, bunchberry, bluebead lilies, and moose poop (OK, not green). It was wet, muddy and slippery. I had brought my filter in case I needed water (at the Downes Brook Jct.) but was OK. Just beyond this junction there was a small cluster of snarled blowdowns. Right on schedule, the East Sleeper spur appeared. Took a quick picture and since there isn't anything to see, turned around for the return to the Rollins Trail.
Given the proximity to Whiteface, I turned left and tagged the summit. This was the half-way point if I continued on to Passaconaway. Turning around was definitely shorter, but going down Blueberry Ledges seemed a bit daunting and so I continued on. The Rollins Trail has a beautiful scent of spruce. I remembered it well from August 2006 (and to a lesser degree, last December.) While nobody would call this trip a "view hike", if you stop and peek at the outlooks (where the trail is literally on the edge of the ridge) there are some things to see.
In December, the clouds were low and we saw nothing the entire trip. After tagging the real summit of Passaconaway (both spur paths to be sure), I retreated to the viewpoint and ate. Being over 6 feet tall helps with the views, limited as they are. The bugs were not as bad here as they were on Whiteface so I was able to enjoy myself for 10 minutes or so before heading down. Dicey's Mill is a nicely graded ramp to the floor of the bowl and right at the end I saw the only other people of the day-the property owner mowing the lawn, and a family heading in to camp.
All Photos on Picasa
Tim
