Date of Hike: 6/13/15
Dicey's Mill Trail: 1.9 miles / Tom Wiggin Trail: 1.1 miles / Blueberry Ledge Trail: 0.6 miles / Rollins Trail: 2.4 miles / Dicey's Mill Trail: 5.2 miles
Total Miles: 11.2 (3,860 feet elevation gained)
Trip Report:
- Decided to do a quick afternoon hike when Whitney headed to work. I drove over to Ferncroft to do Whiteface and Passaconaway via the Tom Wiggin Trail which has a reputation for being very steep and lose.
- This would be the first time hiking in from Ferncroft during nice weather, every time I had hiked from this end it was between Thanksgiving and February so I was very happy to have nice weather to enjoy the gradual approach to the Tom Wiggin Trail.
- The Tom Wiggin Trail was steep and did have some lose dirt and leaves sections but it wasn't as exciting as I had hoped it to be. It's definitely a lightly used trail and a great option to get away from the crowds for a little bit but there's no cool features to the trail, it's steep and in the woods, that's about it.
- After a mile the Tom Wiggins Trail gains the ridge at its junction with the Blueberry Ledge Trail, a few tenths of a mile below the ledges. This is the highlight of the hike, where the trail ascends up steep rock slab that can be a little unnerving for some but a blast for most.
- Above the ledges I made my way to the outlook and took a break before hooking onto the Rollins trail over the official summit which I blew right past. The summit is a small pile of rocks on the side of the trail and I wasn't paying attention until it was to late.
- The Rollins Trail curves high above the 'Research Bowl' before descending to the junction with the Dicey's Mill Trail. From here I hiked up to the summit of Mount Passaconaway before turning around and booking it down the mountain. There is a nice outlook just west of the summit on the trail with a nice view to the Tripyramids and Sleepers.
- When I made it back to Ferncroft I decided to check out the cemetery located above the trailhead. It was pretty cool to check this out as there were a lot of tombstones dating back to the 1800's!
- While W&P aren't the coolest mountains on the 48 list, Ferncroft is a nice little area to hike in from, you get to walk by old houses and cabins and a few open fields which remind me of classic New England farmhouse paintings.
Dicey's Mill Trail: 1.9 miles / Tom Wiggin Trail: 1.1 miles / Blueberry Ledge Trail: 0.6 miles / Rollins Trail: 2.4 miles / Dicey's Mill Trail: 5.2 miles
Total Miles: 11.2 (3,860 feet elevation gained)
Trip Report:
- Decided to do a quick afternoon hike when Whitney headed to work. I drove over to Ferncroft to do Whiteface and Passaconaway via the Tom Wiggin Trail which has a reputation for being very steep and lose.
- This would be the first time hiking in from Ferncroft during nice weather, every time I had hiked from this end it was between Thanksgiving and February so I was very happy to have nice weather to enjoy the gradual approach to the Tom Wiggin Trail.
- The Tom Wiggin Trail was steep and did have some lose dirt and leaves sections but it wasn't as exciting as I had hoped it to be. It's definitely a lightly used trail and a great option to get away from the crowds for a little bit but there's no cool features to the trail, it's steep and in the woods, that's about it.
- After a mile the Tom Wiggins Trail gains the ridge at its junction with the Blueberry Ledge Trail, a few tenths of a mile below the ledges. This is the highlight of the hike, where the trail ascends up steep rock slab that can be a little unnerving for some but a blast for most.
- Above the ledges I made my way to the outlook and took a break before hooking onto the Rollins trail over the official summit which I blew right past. The summit is a small pile of rocks on the side of the trail and I wasn't paying attention until it was to late.
- The Rollins Trail curves high above the 'Research Bowl' before descending to the junction with the Dicey's Mill Trail. From here I hiked up to the summit of Mount Passaconaway before turning around and booking it down the mountain. There is a nice outlook just west of the summit on the trail with a nice view to the Tripyramids and Sleepers.
- When I made it back to Ferncroft I decided to check out the cemetery located above the trailhead. It was pretty cool to check this out as there were a lot of tombstones dating back to the 1800's!
- While W&P aren't the coolest mountains on the 48 list, Ferncroft is a nice little area to hike in from, you get to walk by old houses and cabins and a few open fields which remind me of classic New England farmhouse paintings.
Ferncroft parking area
Hikers Welcome!
Hiking through an open field with the Sandwich Wilderness ahead
Tom Wiggins and Blueberry Ledge Trail
The steep Blueberry Ledge and a nice view from above the ledges
Mount Passaconaway
Looking east all the way to Mount Chocorua
Views from the outlook just below the summit
Passaconaway spotted from the Rollins Trail
The Tripyramids
Mount Passaconaway summit (left) and the Dicey's Mill Trail
Wonalancet River
Walking back through the open field
Nice old farm house
Heading back to the Ferncroft parking lot
Old Jewell Cemetery
A nice little spot to rest
Signs in Ferncroft
Signs along the trails
Route and hiking data
april first 2016. I just got back from hiking mt. whiteface. 60 degrees as i started, hiked to tom wiggins trail, beautiful trail until i got about halfway up. The trail was all ice, had to bushwhack all the way up. I would have turned around but got too far up. verrrrry dangerous conditions, for the first time in my hiking career, i was terrified. god was with me today. DONt attempt this trail in icy conditions.
ReplyDeleteWith a year like this I'm not surprised you ran into that horrific icy situation. It'll be a few more weeks before the ice leaves the trails of the whites, it's nasty everywhere right now!!
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