Blueberry Ledges, Rollins, and Diceys Mill Trails.
We did the route clockwise, there being a concern about the state of the ledges and rock faces on Whiteface. That concern was well-placed. The lower ledges were covered in a slippery black ice, making them extremely perilous. At some spots at lower elevations there was ground frost, but we didn't hit any real frost, snow or ice on the trails until around 2,500 feet, give or take, on the way up, which was for the most part southern facing and at exposed to the sun.
Around 2,500, we put on microspikes and kept them on until around 2,200 feet on the Dicey's Mill Trail. Travel would have been quite hazardous without them.
The faces were frosty! Everywhere we stepped was covered in ice or snow, fortunately all being quite soft. If one planted a microspike firmly, it held if it should have. I don't think crampons would have been more effective, in fact, I'm pretty certain they would not have been, as the frost/snow/ice was quite thin.
We hit quite a bit of wind on the top cliff of Whiteface, and could hear the winds roaring over head. Rollins Trail is in good condition, although at this point there are a number of blow downs that require some heavy-duty sawing to clear.
Passaconaway had quite a bit of water on some of the trails, which fortunately was not frozen and there was no black ice. The day warmed slightly as it progressed, hovering above freezing.
At the summit of Passaconaway we celebrated Sam Tobin-Hochstadt's completion of his 48!
Dicey's Mill Trail also has a blow down or two, but otherwise is in good condition. Again, we took off our microspikes at 2,200 or thereabouts.
Had the temps been slightly colder and the day been below freezing, things could have been quite different indeed. We were fortunate that the wet trails were not frozen, nor were the ledges and faces on Whiteface. It's a liminal period right now, and I hope the trails dry off dramatically before the real freeze hits.
Brian
We did the route clockwise, there being a concern about the state of the ledges and rock faces on Whiteface. That concern was well-placed. The lower ledges were covered in a slippery black ice, making them extremely perilous. At some spots at lower elevations there was ground frost, but we didn't hit any real frost, snow or ice on the trails until around 2,500 feet, give or take, on the way up, which was for the most part southern facing and at exposed to the sun.
Around 2,500, we put on microspikes and kept them on until around 2,200 feet on the Dicey's Mill Trail. Travel would have been quite hazardous without them.
The faces were frosty! Everywhere we stepped was covered in ice or snow, fortunately all being quite soft. If one planted a microspike firmly, it held if it should have. I don't think crampons would have been more effective, in fact, I'm pretty certain they would not have been, as the frost/snow/ice was quite thin.
We hit quite a bit of wind on the top cliff of Whiteface, and could hear the winds roaring over head. Rollins Trail is in good condition, although at this point there are a number of blow downs that require some heavy-duty sawing to clear.
Passaconaway had quite a bit of water on some of the trails, which fortunately was not frozen and there was no black ice. The day warmed slightly as it progressed, hovering above freezing.
At the summit of Passaconaway we celebrated Sam Tobin-Hochstadt's completion of his 48!
Dicey's Mill Trail also has a blow down or two, but otherwise is in good condition. Again, we took off our microspikes at 2,200 or thereabouts.
Had the temps been slightly colder and the day been below freezing, things could have been quite different indeed. We were fortunate that the wet trails were not frozen, nor were the ledges and faces on Whiteface. It's a liminal period right now, and I hope the trails dry off dramatically before the real freeze hits.
Brian
