Whiteface and Passaconaway

Back to the White mountains for a few days to continue working on the list of 4000 footers. Today's goal was to hike Whiteface and Passconaway from the trailhead at Ferncroft. This involved an hours drive from the motel in Gorham to a charming small town. The parking area and the start of the trails are on private land but the locals are generous and friendly (and if you want to become a local, a prominent house near the trailhead is currently for sale). I took the Blueberry Ledge trail to Whiteface. It features some fun steep scrambling as it approaches the summit ridge (the summit itself is a bump in the middle of the ridge). The Rollins trail over to Mt Passaconaway involves a gradual loss of about 900 feet. The Dicey's Mill trail approach to Mt Passaconaway starts with some switchbacks and a short steep section near the top to remind you that you are ascending a mountain. No real views other than a big boulder from which you can see the Tripyramids to the west. The Dicey's Mill trail back to the parking area is now a favorite of mine as it was fairly soft and a gentle slope so you could walk without having to concentrate on each step. Not a lot in the way of views on this hike but a pleasure regardless!

Strolling up the Whiteface Memorial Highway

I had originally planned to do this a few weeks back when it was still somewhat "wintery". There was still a few patches of snow on the road, mostly about 50 yards or so and not too deep. For the most part it was down to the concrete with a fast moving stream in the ditch and torrents draing off the slopes wherever there was a brook. About a third of the way up a couple of guys in a truck with chains on the tires came up behid. It seems that they were seeing how far up they could go. I guess they gave up after the second section of deepish snow altough that was the worst of it and they could have easily made it all the way up. I'm glad that they tried as they plowed a wide swath for me through the only deep snow on the trail.

Other than the random snow on the road and in the woods this was like a mid summer day. It was bright and hot at the top, the view was hazy and there was not a lot of snow in the surrounding area. Seems strange to be able to count such a day towards the winter patch but no complaints from me!

More pics.

Whiteface via Connery Pond

Whiteface was one of my first Adirondack high peak hikes, Mark and I hiked up from the Atmospheric station several years ago. That trail starts with a relentless climb up Marble mountain. Friday's hike from the Connery Pond trailhead was the inverse. The first 3+ miles gain little elevation and are generally soft underfoot. It is a pleasant "walk in the park" to that point. The trail makes a big right turn at Whiteface Landing (a small dock on the shore of Lake Placid) and heads up the side of a brook until reaching a lean-to. At Whiteface Landing you pass a sign that indicates 3 miles to the summit and 2932 feet to gain (yikes!!). The section between the landing and the lean to is not too bad and is still soft.

From the lean-to on, the party is over. From that point on it is steep and rocky (and nasty) with no let up. Thankfully it was almost completely dry. I'm pretty sure that the trees, rocks and whatever wildlife lives up there hear plenty of cussing and complaining from hikers on their way up (probably down too). Most of the ascent is in the woods which at least gives you some protection from the sun as well as trees to use to pull yourself up the steeper bits. Just as you are about to throw in the towel and call for a helicopter the trail breaks tree line and you start to see some views. There are some fun short scrambles and thankfully the rock wall above is the summit.

The summit is a somewhat strange experience. You haul your sorry self over that last rock and think to yourself "Hey, where did all these people come from and how come none of them have backpacks? And who ever heard of families with small kids hiking up a mountain in flip-flops?". Whiteface, has an auto-road to the top. In the summer you can pay to drive up (and in the winter you can xc ski up). It would be a great bike ride, although you would need to check your breaks beforehand! For those that make the drive there is the option of hiking the last few hundred feet with a railing to hold onto or taking the small elevator. There is a restaurant as well as a small gift shop and those binocular things you put a quarter in. While the masses seemed to be enjoying the summit, I bet they secretly wished they were hot, exhausted, sweaty and not quite sure they were going to make it back down to their cars like me! The view from Whiteface is quite something and especially on a clear sunny (not hazy) day and there is plenty of space to find a spot and soak in the view.

The return trip was slow going. I met a few groups on their way up. A short nap at the lean-to was a welcome rest stop. Just as I was nearing the parking lot I could hear someone crying. At first I thought it was my sore feet voicing their displeasure but it turned out it was a family setting out on a walk that one of them was not happy about. I don't know what he/she was complaining about, being carried in a backpack and all!

More photos.