SEM Backpack Series #5, Sept. 24-25, 2016, Mts. Whiteface and Passaconaway

AMC SEM Post-Hike Trip Report

TRIP DATE: Saturday-Sunday, September 24^th-25^th 2016                   

TRIP LOCATION: Mt. Whiteface & Mt Passaconaway (New Hampshire)

MEETING TIME: 0915AM

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING LEADERS):         6         

TOTAL HIKING TIME (IN HOURS): 29 hours (duration of backpack)

LENGTH IN MILES: Around 13 miles

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN (IN FEET): Roughly 3800ft

DIFFICULTY: AA3B (A=very strenuous; B=strenuous; C=average; D=easy)

LEADER NAME(S): Leslie Carson

CO-LEADER NAME(S):   Joshua Tefft

TRAILHEAD PARKING LOCATION & DESCRIPTION: Ferncroft Parking area.  Fifteen car lot with Porta-John.

CAR SPOTTING REQUIRED?:  No                  TIME REQUIRED TO SPOT CARS: N/A

WAS TRIP WITHIN WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST?         Yes

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAILS HIKED AND TRAIL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED:

We start out at 0950 from Ferncroft parking area on Saturday, September 24^th, with 6 total backpackers.  We started the day hiking 3.3 miles to Mt. Whiteface (4020ft), which included some steep climbing and some rock scrambling.  There were some spectacular views from ledges and rock faces we traversed.  We utilized the Blueberry Ledge trail, Blueberry Ledge Cutoff trail, and Rollins trail up to this point.  From there we ascended and descended some 2.4 miles on the Rollins trail, and then headed up to East Loop of the Dicey’s Mill Trail, about 0.2 miles to the former Camp Rich Shelter site.  We made camp at the former shelter site around 1730 and made use of a nearby stream for water. 

On the second day, Sunday, September 25^th, we headed up a fairly steep 0.7 miles to the less spectacular summit of Passaconaway (4043ft), but not too far away was a beautiful viewpoint.  We continued 0.6 miles on the East Loop trail to Square Ledge trail, which led to many steep descents along the way.  We traveled 1.8 miles on Square Ledge trail, then 0.5 miles on Square Ledge Cutoff to Oliverian Brook Trail.  From this point all the elevation gain/loss was very mild.  After 1.1 miles on Oliverian Brook Trail we continued another 2.1 miles down Kelley trail back to Frencroft parking area, concluding our trip at 1430. 

WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR HIKE: Day 1: It was a sunny and cool day in the low 50’s.   Temperatures danced around the freezing point overnight, but everyone was well prepared and stayed warm. Day 2: It was clear, cold, and windy at times with temperatures starting in the low 30’s and pushing to the high 40’s, low 50’s as the day progressed. 

OTHER COMMENTS (problems, views, terrain, etc.)

IMPORTANT: Contact Hike Committee Chair ASAP with any medical emergencies or other serious incidents.