Blueberry Ledges, Rollins and Dicey Mills Trails, 11.9 miles, 3800', 6:45, 26-Dec-2009
BikeHikeSkiFish, OldMan, LRiz, ADKnBVI (Tim & Val)
I re-packed my backpack on Christmas morning, after getting a few new hiking-related items - a folding saw, new gloves, and new socks. I wasn't gung-ho to hike on Saturday given an iffy forecast, but I was debating Whiteface and Passaconaway. When Larisa posted she was going, Ed asked me if I was game, and a plan was formed. We met at the Ferncroft trail head at 7:45 and Larisa showed up with Tim and Val to make a group of five. The weather was not as bad as it could have been and we didn't get rained on, or even slowed down on the drive. As expected however, the clouds were rather low and the few views available on this trip remained hidden from view. Trail conditions were good up to 3000 feet or so - firm enough to bare-boot. Above 3000 feet, however, it got soft and snowshoes were recommended. I resisted putting them on until we were over the ledges, reusing existing postholes both man- and moose-made where possible. The ledges were challenging, but not particularly icy, and all made it over the top slowly but without incident.
Ferncroft Road, Open Ledge where the Cutoff re-joins Blueberry
As there were no views from the south / false summit, we tucked into the woods, ate and drank. A hot beverage of coffee mixed with hot chocolate went down very nicely. The Rollins Trail was softer with deeper and windblown powder and the holdouts (Ed and I) donned our snowshoes. A five-minute break on the true summit for photos and we descended the ridge bound for Passaconaway.
Ed enjoying the views of Squam, Tim on Whiteface (#26)
The trek over to Passaconway follows the Rollins Trail along the connecting ridge. The snow filled in the gaps in the roots and spaces between rocks. Every now and then was a bit of an icy patch on the downhill side of a rock or blowdown, but overall the going was faster than in summer with a nice snowshoe track to follow. At the Jct. with Dicey's Mill, we took a short break, left some packs, and hoofed it up the summit cone. At first the trail follows a handful of switchbacks, but eventually it goes straight up. Televators were most-helpful here. I remember in the summer that the foot bed was very rocky and uneven--today not so! Advantage: winter. The summit of Passaconaway is just a wooded spot, virtually indistinguishable from any other wooded spot, or any of the surrounding rocks. That nice even track made descending a delight and we flew back down to the Rollins Trail Jct.
Tim & Val on Dicey's Mill, Tim on Passaconaway (#27)
While having a final snack and adjusting layers for the trek out, Ryan (aka Farmer) came running down the Rollins Trail out on a training mission for the winter record. Best of luck to you! As Dicey's Mill is essentially a ramp, and again with an outstanding track to follow, we flew back to the car. Right at the parking lot gate, Ryan (who had previously not hit the summit) caught up with us. My summer time was 7:30 (book time 7:50), and we made the round-trip in 6:45.
All Photos (no views today, so only a handful...)
Tim
BikeHikeSkiFish, OldMan, LRiz, ADKnBVI (Tim & Val)
I re-packed my backpack on Christmas morning, after getting a few new hiking-related items - a folding saw, new gloves, and new socks. I wasn't gung-ho to hike on Saturday given an iffy forecast, but I was debating Whiteface and Passaconaway. When Larisa posted she was going, Ed asked me if I was game, and a plan was formed. We met at the Ferncroft trail head at 7:45 and Larisa showed up with Tim and Val to make a group of five. The weather was not as bad as it could have been and we didn't get rained on, or even slowed down on the drive. As expected however, the clouds were rather low and the few views available on this trip remained hidden from view. Trail conditions were good up to 3000 feet or so - firm enough to bare-boot. Above 3000 feet, however, it got soft and snowshoes were recommended. I resisted putting them on until we were over the ledges, reusing existing postholes both man- and moose-made where possible. The ledges were challenging, but not particularly icy, and all made it over the top slowly but without incident.
Ferncroft Road, Open Ledge where the Cutoff re-joins Blueberry
As there were no views from the south / false summit, we tucked into the woods, ate and drank. A hot beverage of coffee mixed with hot chocolate went down very nicely. The Rollins Trail was softer with deeper and windblown powder and the holdouts (Ed and I) donned our snowshoes. A five-minute break on the true summit for photos and we descended the ridge bound for Passaconaway.
Ed enjoying the views of Squam, Tim on Whiteface (#26)
The trek over to Passaconway follows the Rollins Trail along the connecting ridge. The snow filled in the gaps in the roots and spaces between rocks. Every now and then was a bit of an icy patch on the downhill side of a rock or blowdown, but overall the going was faster than in summer with a nice snowshoe track to follow. At the Jct. with Dicey's Mill, we took a short break, left some packs, and hoofed it up the summit cone. At first the trail follows a handful of switchbacks, but eventually it goes straight up. Televators were most-helpful here. I remember in the summer that the foot bed was very rocky and uneven--today not so! Advantage: winter. The summit of Passaconaway is just a wooded spot, virtually indistinguishable from any other wooded spot, or any of the surrounding rocks. That nice even track made descending a delight and we flew back down to the Rollins Trail Jct.
Tim & Val on Dicey's Mill, Tim on Passaconaway (#27)
While having a final snack and adjusting layers for the trek out, Ryan (aka Farmer) came running down the Rollins Trail out on a training mission for the winter record. Best of luck to you! As Dicey's Mill is essentially a ramp, and again with an outstanding track to follow, we flew back to the car. Right at the parking lot gate, Ryan (who had previously not hit the summit) caught up with us. My summer time was 7:30 (book time 7:50), and we made the round-trip in 6:45.
All Photos (no views today, so only a handful...)
Tim
