Elevation: 2,903 ft. (overall) 4,646 ft. (total)
Time: 3:03 (Whiteface) 5:16 (Passaconaway) 7:37 (Total)
Trails: Dicey's Mill Trail, Tom Wiggins Trail, Blueberry Ledge Trail, Rollins Trail, Walden Trail, East Loop
For Mt. Whiteface and Mt. Passaconaway, I planned on a clockwise loop since I had done them in the other direction the last time I was here. My plan was to take some trails up and down that would be new to me on these peaks. Starting off from the Ferncroft parking lot, I headed up to the end of the road. The house there is cooperative with hikers and allows them up the driveway and across the lawn to the start of the trail. It's easy to follow the path so you don't have to wonder around looking for it.
Looking up from the parking lot
I started up the Dicey’s Mill Trail. The trail was easy to follow and started off pretty gradual. There were quite a few leaves on the ground today, but they weren't creating bad footing yet. After a few small climbs and some easy walking, I was at the Tom Wiggin Trail. The warning on the sign could be a bit discouraging for some people, but I was still game to try it. I headed down the trail, and after a bit of mud, was at the brook crossing. I found a safe place to cross and kept my feet dry.
The river crossing
Heading up the Tom Wiggin Trail, it starts to climb right after the crossing. It isn't too steep to start though. After working a bit further up into the valley, the trail starts to turn more directly uphill and starts to get harder. There are some interesting spots along the trail including one large boulder right next to it. As the trail got steeper, I was expecting the leaves on the ground to cause traction problems, but they never really did. The leaves weren't slick and while the dirt underneath was loose and not compact, it wasn't hard to climb up. After some steep climbing, the trail starts to turn towards the right some and head into the conifers. Footing is still a bit rough. As the trail gets closer to the top, it turns left again and the path gets narrower. Some of the trees could use a bit of trimming through here. You have to push through a bit in some places.
Starting to get steeper
Getting rocky
Up on the ridge now, it was a short hike to the ledges. Everything was nice and dry today, so it was easy going over them. The ledges provide the nicest views of the day. After a nice rest on the false summit and enjoying the views, I made the short hike to the wooded summit of Mt. Whiteface. After a short stop for a couple pictures, I was headed down the Rollins Trail. It was just cool enough and there was just enough water that there were a couple small icy spots and I nearly fell once. There are a few nice viewpoints along the ridge that provide good views to the east. It was impressive to see how much work had been done along the ridge to clean up all of the fallen trees.
Open area along the ledges
View from the false summit (top of the ledges)
After getting down to the intersection with the Dicey's Mill Trail, it was time to start the climb up Mt. Passaconaway. The trail was quite wet with water running down it or across it in many locations. The water was never deep though, and it was warm enough now that none of it was turning to ice. The trail makes its way to the summit with a series of switchbacks before one last final rocky climb. At the top of the climb is a small view point just before the short side trail to the wooded summit. Just past the summit is another view point that has views north and east. After some time here, I continued down the trail making a loop around the summit.
A section of blow downs that has been cleaned up
A section of trail with water running down it
View near the summit
After getting back to the trail I came up, it was a short distance to the intersection with Dicey's Mill Trail. After talking with the group of hikers here, I headed down. The gradual decline of the trail and the good surface make it obvious why this seems to be the most popular route up the mountain. The descent down to the river went quick, even with the thick layer of leaves on the trail that could have been slippery. There are multiple trees down across the river near the crossing which provide dry footing to cross on. From here down, it was again an easy hike over gentle terrain that just had a layer of leaves on it. The hike went quickly and I was soon walking back down the road to the parking lot and my car.
Dicey's Mill Trail
For all the pictures from the hike, just go HERE
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