Whiteface (I lived up to that name) 2/5

[HikerBob]

Poison Ivy, MEB, bpschroder and a sickly HikerBob tackled the notorious Blueberry Ledge trail to visit Whiteface. The original plan was to also take in East Sleeper and rendevous with Carole who was climbing up from the Kanc by way of the Downes Brook trail.

Sometimes things don't go as planned and it was my feeling like cr*p and suffering even more than usual that slowed us down. We did summit Whiteface and descended by way of the Rollins and Dicey's Mill trails.

Despite my suffering it was a great day to be in the mountains. Not a cloud in the sky from dawn til dusk and temps in the 50's!!

I had Ivy agree to write up a fuller trip report so this is a brief (by my standard) intro

HikerBob

 

[coldfeet]

Hi Bob,

Sorry you aren't feeling well. Get better so we can hang out. Coldfeet

 

[Panama Jack]

Mountain fever

Must be some going around, your the third sicj hiker this week. I was the first

PJ

 

[carole]

We all have bad days, HikerBob. I am pleased with my choice to do the Downes Brook route. It was hard work just getting to the Kate Sleeper junction and I had in mind quitting there but found there were recent snowshoe tracks to the Sleepers (and my time was good) so I pressed on. By then the snow was getting really sticky so it continued draining me. When I got back to E.Sleeper and saw only my track to the summit I figured you all might not be coming. My note was untouched at the Downes/Kate junction so I took a welcome break before heading down. I was looking forward to the company but I enjoyed the day.

 

[poison ivy]

I'll probably get the trip report done tonight, as I got home earlier than I expected after hiking Mt. Tom.

Until then, I've managed to get my pictures up. Anyone interested can find them here

- Ivy

 

[HikerBob]

Great pics Ivy, although I always look at pictures of myself and go... "Wha..?"

Now it's your turn

My pics are up but I have yet to write the main blurb.

They can be found starting HERE

Carole - glad you had a good hike, it was a spectacular day to be anywhere in the White Mountains. Once again, sorry my sub-par (even for me) day meant we didn't get to meet up.

On that note, I've been looking for reasons for my suffering and can only attribute it to a combination of circumstances.

Four hours of sleep followed by a four hour drive doesn't start any day too well, although I've done it often enough. I also passed on stopping for a coffee and hot bagel sandwich on the drive up. That put me on low energy to start with. Despite delayering the warm sun, no breeze and probably a slightly quicker pace than my usual amble with a zillion photo-ops got me heated up. I probably didn't drink enough and got to the 'food is not appealing' stage when I really needed to stoke the fires some.

Despite my suffering it was a great day out with a great bunch of folk.

Bob

 

[poison ivy]

Here's the trip report...

As HikerBob, MEB, bpschroder and I geared up in the Ferncroft parking lot we could see a brilliant blue sky blooming over Mt. Whiteface and Mt. Wonalancet and knew we were in for an incredible day in the mountains. We headed out of the parking lot and over to Squirrel Bridge, which leads over to the Blueberry Ledge trail at about 8 a.m. We headed into the woods on a pretty gentle trail wondering whether the upcoming ledges would be tough to tackle.

As the trail became a little steeper and a little icier, it was very clear that we had all overdressed for this amazing spring-like day. For my part, I had two layers on and could just feel the sweat running down the back of knees. We all stopped for a few minutes to take off a few layers or vent as best we could to deal with the climbing temperatures. Poor bpschroder had picked this day to try out his new winter hiking pants… and was roasting for much of the day without ever making a complaint!

In a little over an hour, we managed to reach the upper Blueberry Ledge Cutoff trail junction and were treated to our first views, back to the snowfields around the Ferncroft parking lot and to the mountains beyond. As we hiked on, HikerBob said that he was having a little trouble with his calves and wasn’t feeling quite as energetic as usual. However, he felt fine enough to continue on and we had plenty of time and daylight for a leisurely hike, so we continued on.

We donned our crampons soon after the junction while heading up a somewhat icy slope and of course, everything turned to grainy, mushy snow at the top. Nevertheless, we left the crampons on, knowing that the ledges would be coming up sooner or later. It took a little longer than we expected but we soon arrived at the viewpoint and got ready to tackle the toughest ledge, which still has holes from the wooden ladder that used to be there. It was actually fairly clear of snow and had a coating of mushy ice -- which made it challenging to get your crampons to bite in. However, there are plenty of handholds on the way up so we made it up without and difficulty.

At the top, there was an amazing view of Washington, the southern Presidentials and Chocorua… it was just an all-around incredible day for hiking for every mountain we could see. With just a few more scrambles and some careful steps over some icy spots on the trail, we made it up to the ledges just below the summit at 12:30. The temperature reading on HikerBob’s thermometer read about 50 degrees.

The original plan was to head over to East Sleeper too but those sunny ledges really just sapped all of my motivation away from me. We lounged on the ledges for about an hour soaking up the sun and enjoying the view. It was so warm that MEB’s famous peanut butter balls melted in her pack, so we didn’t get a chance to try them. The lounging worked out fine though because we decided that it would be preferable to head down via the Rollins and Dicey’s Mill trails rather than try tackling the ledges going downhill.

So after an hour, we headed over to the actual Whiteface summit to take the requisite pictures. I was concerned because the little bump that we decided was the summit didn’t look that familiar to me from my trip up Whiteface for the all-seasons list. After checking the map, however, I feel pretty confident that I made it there last time… or at least hope I did.

We definitely picked the right direction for the Rollins Trail… it goes up and down plenty of little humps, which made for great glissading in the areas that weren’t on the fringes of cliffs. We had great occasional views through the trees into the bowl between Passaconaway and Whiteface, as well as over to the Tripyramids and the Osceolas. We reached the Dicey’s Mill Trail at about 3:15 and took a short break before heading down the trail for some boot skiing ballet. We made great time along that trail (at least for us slower folks!) and managed to get back to the Ferncroft parking lot by 5 p.m.

It was just an amazing day to be outdoors, especially with such terrific company -- thanks so much to bpschroder, MEB and HikerBob for making this hike so much fun. This was winter peak number 11 for me, winter peak number 8 for MEB & number 36 all-season for HikerBob. I think bpschroder said he wasn’t actively pursuing the lists (yet!)

- Ivy

 

[HikerBob]

Ivy - thanks for doing a great write up. As time goes by the hard time I had of it fades away and what is left are memories of a fantastic day in the mountains in incredible weather with great company.

I'll also repeat my thanks to Ivy, MEB and bpschroder for making allowances for my off day.

Ivy, one comment on your picture title 'Ice axe' - Rather than demonstrating the use of an ice axe I think the picture better demonstrates the venting capabilities of full side zip pants

On the topic of axes. In winter I usually carry an alpine axe and have used it to self belay on snowfields and for hooking trees, rocks and snow on steeper sections. However, the one time I tried using it to try and get a purchase on hard ice the darn thing just bounced off.

Looking towards the Blueberry Ledge trip I decided I needed a little more security and splurged on a Petzl Charlet technical axe, a new stock item for EMS. Now I'll never be tackling real ice climbing so why the technical axe?

Well, for the same reason I wear technical capable crampons - they are designed for and do the job when things get tough.

The axe has a wicked sharp pick and enough mass to get a grip in serious ice. The handle has a great handgrip and the standard leash has a wide padded wrist strap that will hold you even if you let go of the handle.

While an alpine axe would certainly have worked, and indeed some went up without using an axe at all, this axe gave me great confidence when tackling the tougher sections.

Bob

 

[Jim lombard]

Bob that picture (#17) just sums it all up for this winter. Two years ago when I hiked Blueberry ledge in February that sign was completely buried. But who am I to complain, this year, three winter hikes so far and no failed summits! Picture #3 was really nice too.

 

[MEB]

I had a great time on Saturday....the weather could not have been better! A bit on the hot side though and shedding the bottom layer can become quite the balancing act! Great trip report and pictures too!
Hikerbob I hope you are feeling better....there is nothing worse than having an off day.
Poison Ivy, I'm jealous that you got to go out again on Sunday.
And yes, BP Schroeder I do not know how you survived in your new "toaster" pants all day long with out one complaint!

MEB

 

[poison ivy]

HikerBob -- If that picture bugs you, I'll take it down... I didn't even notice the venting as I was too interested in the ice axe. I spared you the final one looking back on the mountains though!

By the way, I really like your picture of the tree with the blaze!

- Ivy

 

[HikerBob]

Ivy - no problem with the picture

Just the usual "Is *that* what I look like?" thoughts but I'm long past caring about stuff like that.

I was pretty washed out for the rest of the weekend but otherwise nothing lasting. Just going to put it down to an off day.

Bob

 

[MichaelJ]

I'm more shocked at Bob wearing a white shirt instead of a red one...

Those are *great* pics and writeups, both of you. I am soooo jealous and sorry I had to bag out of this trip. My memories of Whiteface are grey and pouring rain in all directions, so the idea that there are views up there is foreign to me.

Bob - pic #3 is fantastic. The detail is gorgeous.

When I was up there I found the Rollins Trail interminably boring, but I guess it beats trying to come back down the ledges. Dicey's Mill, on the other hand, as you found is a great place to cruise. Go back in the summer sometime ... the foliage in there is beautiful.

Bob - pic #39, yup, that's the Dome. It's an odd perspective to see it from there at that angle; you're actually looking into the *other* side of Carter Notch at the wall from which the Rampart fell.

Pic #43 - I drew the requisite line, 218° true, and hit the cluster of Doublehead-Percival-Morgan, then pretty much nothing past Squam Lake.

Great hike, folks!

 

[bpschroder]

Awesome Hike

Ivy the trip report you wrote up was excellent. Thanks everyone for sharing your pictures, here’s my pictures

I’m sure anyone that was out on the weekend of February 5th and 6th of 2005 couldn’t help, but enjoy the splendid spring-like weather New England was in. I had a great time on this hike and really enjoyed the company of HikerBob, MEB and poison_ivy just as much as the weather. Whew!… next time I’ll keep a spare pair of shorts with me so I won’t cook in some nice warm (hot) pants. Since I was having such a great time I was able to ignore the extra heat easily. Ivy, I’ll have to start tallying up the list, but for the winter list this would be only the second on the list out of the 48.

Special Note: Anyone traveling on Route 113A watch out for nasty frost heaves from North Sandwich to Wonalancet.

 

[poison ivy]

Great pictures Brian!

- Ivy

 

[HikerBob]

I agree - more great pics! Yes, BP you deserve a medal for wearing those toaster pants and not complaining - I think I may have done enough of that for the both of us

MichaelJ - the 218 bearing was a little off However, taking a bearing on a mountain that is 80+ miles away without a mirror compass and being accurate is difficult.

I posted this as a puzzle on the AMC board and people got to the right answer despite a couple of misleading clues. We know all about misleading clues eh Cabot Team?

Ignore my stated bearing and look closer at hand for clues to the correct bearing, then take a peek at the earlier view from the first open ledge. That will put you on the right track.

Bob