Summit: Mount Passaconaway (4,043')
Trail route: Dicey's Mill Trail
Trail conditions: Hard packed trail from the bottom to the summit
Weather: Cood temps with wind at the summit, full sunshine and blue sky
Total miles: 9.8
Total time: 5:30
After a cold and windy day on Saturday it was supposed to be a bit warmer and less windy today. I would be hiking this summit with Scott and Lisa. Usually I like to hike both Whiteface and Passaconaway on the same day but I had already done Whiteface in March. Scott and Lisa had also hiked Whiteface so we only needed Passaconaway today.
This is one of my longest drives to a trailhead, almost two hours and there was also the time change with a loss of an hour and a very early wake-up time. We met at the Ferncroft parking area. There were no other vehicles when I arrived but that quickly changed as another hiker arrived with Scott and Lisa pulling in soon after. I had read the trail report from yesterday for this hike and we made the decision to leave the snowshoes in the car but did bring the butt sleds.
We started our hike bare booting. Some sections of the road walk were very slippery with other areas of frozen mud. Once on the trail we found it to be frozen solid and once we started going up the microspikes went on. We crossed a log over a shallow water crossing, there were no mishaps. Past this point the trail started its moderate climb up.
As we got closer to the summit there was a cold wind blowing. We stopped and put on another layer. At the outlook just below the summit we had spectacular views but it was quite cold and we moved on to the summit. This is a summit without a view so we didn't stay long before starting our descent. We started seeing other hikers as we started down.
Just past the outlook I saw Lisa drop down and start butt sliding. I was not sure if this was accidental or intentional. When I caught up I found out it was completely intentional. Once we got to the Rollins Trail junction the trekking poles got packed up and the butt sleds came out. This started an exhilarating ride down. Along one of the flat sections I saw a couple of familiar faces, Tom and Suzanne. I had met them on the trail once before while hiking Mount Whiteface. We stopped and chatted before continuing our ride down.
We were able to butt sled all the way down to the water crossing. We packed the sleds from here as the trail is rather flat for the rest of the way out. The snow was getting soft from the warm temps and sunshine but the trail was still solid and there was no postholing. Back on the road we were trying to avoid mud and wet ice. We arrived at the parking area to find it full with cars parking along the road.
It was a great day to hike this mountain and we all had a blast butt sledding down. Mount Passaconaway was W47 for Scott and Lisa. They now have only one more summit to complete the Winter 48 4,000 footers. They plan on finishing next weekend on Cannon Mountain, a great summit to finish on!
Enjoy the photos and videos!
An almost full moon setting behind Mount Jefferson on my drive to the trailhead
Moon setting behind the Moats
Sunrise at Ferncroft
The hike starts here
Road walk to the trailhead
Lisa crossing a log over a brook
Sun coming up over the ridge
Arriving at the Rollins Trail junction
Pattern on a cut tree
The last steep up before reaching the summit
Waterville Valley ski trails can be seen over a ridgeline
Tripyramids
Franconia Ridge in the distance
Snow-capped Mount Lincoln and Mount Lafayette
Mount Garfield
Twins
Mount Whiteface
Scott and Lisa butt sledding down
Lisa crashes into the trees unscathed
Blue sky above
Scott having a good run on the butt sled
Starting the road walk back to the Ferncroft parking area
A look back
The hike ends here
I was the first car in the parking area early this morning
Spectacular view of Mount Washington on the drive home
Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!
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