Tripyramids, Whiteface, Passaconaway

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TEO

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Fivealltheway hiked these mountains on 15 June.

I'm thinking about doing them in the reverse order of his trip, starting off with the Livermore Trail>up the North Mt. Tri Slide>Kate Sleeper Trail>Dicey's Mill>Walden>Square Ledge> Passaconaway Cuttoff>Olivarian Brook Trail.

Does anyone have a good idea of the mileage? Effort wise, how would it compare to Franconia Ridge, going up the Flume Slide Trail and down the Old Bridle Path? Easier day, about the same, or longer/harder?
 
TEO,

I did this hike last summer. Livermore Trail, up North Slide, Kate Sleeper to Whiteface and out on the Olivarian Brook, via Passaconaway, which sounds almost the same as your plans. It was about a 16 mile hike. I posted a trip report of that hike at the time on this site, but I am not sure how to send you a link to that report.

I have not done the exact Flume Slide to Bridle Path hike that you mentioned for comparison but I would think that they are similar in overall time and effort ie: going up North Slide is similar in effort to going up Flume Slide. Your proposed hike maybe a couple of miles longer than a Flume to Bridle Path hike.

Enjoy.
 
If you spot a car you will have about an hour drive before and after the hike just to to pick up cars.

I submit going up the Sabbaday Brook Trail which is a nice easy lope up to the slide. This slide is easy for a goat, and is only a couple hundred feet up to the ridge. Bag North Tripyramid making sure you go the extra 300 feet down to the top of the North Slide. The views to the West are magnificent, though the trail borders on bushwhack (but you were going to do this anyway). Then do Middle and South Tripyramid. The view from the top of south slide is a great place for lunch. The Kate Sleeper Trail is only 200 feet down on the left. Then proceed as you have planned over The Sleepers, Whiteface and Passaconaway and out Olivarian Brook Trail. Now you only have a 2 mile hike up the Kanc to your car. I posted a trip report and map in October of 2006 (I went down Downes Brook Trail).
 
My trip was my longest day hike so far (20.5 miles including 3.5 on the Kanc, 5,300’). I found the trip to be more satisfying than expected. I agree with Paradox about the views on the Tripyramids. The views from Whiteface are also worth the extra 0.2 miles.

Hopefully, the blowdowns on the Kate Sleeper Trail will be cleared for your hike. All were manageable with some crawling & climbing, but there sure were a lot of them.
 
I pulled out my AMC White Mountain guidebook last night and added up the mileage last night. 18.4 miles. Eminently doable. Of course, the descent off of Passaconaway back to the Kanc will be a bit of a slog, but such is life.
 
TEO's hike

We did a similar trip on Memorial Day weekend. We parked at Oliverian TH and easily hitched a ride to the Greely Ponds TH. This saved having to drive two cars and it was nice to come out at the car after our hike! Although we spent three days doing the route, it is definitely doable in a long day. I have also done the Flume loop that you mentioned, but it doesn't compare in length to your proposed trip or the trip that we did. If you decide to go the way we did, keep in mind that the Greely Ponds Trail to Tripyramid Trail section is a cinch!

Have fun!
 
Last summer I parked my car at Oliverian trail head, unhitched my bike from the bike rack, put Atticus in the basket and pedaled down to the Pine Bend Brook trailhead and we hiked back. A great way to do it and easily done with one car. The Sleepers ended up being my favorite part of this hike...go figure.
 
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