Rollins Rhyme (Whiteface/Passaconaway 2/20/10 TR)

This would be a lucky, ducky day;
My brother thought all night of his friends foolish way;
Foolish to be climbing Mt. Washington in snow coulds of gray;
Forocious winds and 20 below windchills the report did say;

So a call I got at 7:30 in the morning;
My brother did call and ask if I was hiking;
Scott was sick and I would be home sulking;
But not now, we were soon off for some 4000 foot peak bagging;

We parked at Ferncroft at ten-o-eight and headed up Blueberry Ledge;
Sky's were mostly sunny, a snow packed trail we climbed the steep ridge;
Jeremy kept a quick pace, I kept the pics to a minimum which made me cringe;
We soon took off the heavy outer-gear as it was warm just a smidge;

Just below the ledges we met up with an older couple on the trail;
The very funny lady said to go ahead, that she "moved like a snail";
Over the steep ledges we went, making it to the false summit with a joyous wail;
It was 1pm so we ate our lunch and they did the same, the woman and male;

Tummy's full, pushing on to the true summit with excitment a-fluttered;
Down and up almost missing the cairn, with snow most of it was covered;
Now the dreaded Rollins Trail..."this trail will surely kill us", I muttered;
I thought of this long, annoying, PUD infested trail, ugh, I shuttered;

But much to my surprise it was packed pretty well;
So we charged down this ridge like two bats-out-of-hell;
A long hour and a half later, behind us this ridge fell;
My brother and I exhausted with signs of defeat did I smell;

But one last challenging push did we have to complete this story;
Long switchbacks and steep pitches, boy was this trail ornery;
Then finally reaching the top at three p.m, oh the exictement and glory!
And down to the view for one last look to the North, oh so stormy;

We hussled down now to reach the truck before we lost the light;
Passing the couple we had seen earlier drained like us of their might;
Sliding and scurrying we reached the end, timed just right;
5 pm, on the road we arrived, the sunset a warm, comforting sight.

Hike Overview:

Bagged my 26/48 4000 footer
Bagged my first 2 winter 4k's!

Total Time: 7 hours
Total Mileage: 11.5 miles
Total Elevation Gain: 4,450 ft.

Weather: Mostly Sunny Sky's, Clouding over around 2:30pm. Winds off and on in areas 20 mph. Temps ranged from low 40's at the base to low 30's/upper 20's on the summits. Trails well packed. Light traction required on the Whiteface ledges and Passaconaway. Another beautiful February day!

Pics of this hike HERE

"A Foggy Hike"

"A Foggy Hike"

Though your footing be rough and rocky,


Your steps slow as you tread uphill,


And although the view is foggy,


The cool, moist air eerily still,


Care not what challenges hinder your climb,


Carry on keeping your weary, persistent pace,


For on a mountain is there no better a place,


No better a place to pass the time.


Jason S. Morris

Mt. Whiteface trip report 6/13/09

Didn't plan on hiking Saturday but my mother (Tiny Tornado) called Friday and asked if I was hiking. The weather sounded all right so I said OK let's do it. Scott sat this one out as he had a long, stressful week at work and wanted to sleep in and get stuff done. Decided to do Whiteface in Sandwich Range as Scott (Ascender) and I only got a view of clouds when we hiked it in "07". I decided on making a loop out of it ascending Blueberry Ledge Trail and descending Rollins and Dicey's Mill Trail. We got to the town of Wonalancet late at 10:30, but to my surprise the usual overflowed Ferncroft parking lot had a couple spaces open. We headed up the popular route of Blueberry Ridge TR. The skeeters were buzzing and the black flies out too A pleasant gradual hike for about .6 miles then the trail get's pretty rocky before you come to your first rock slab, with limited views south. For the first time I was noticing lichen and moss on the rock in a different way after reading about granite succession in Tom Wessels book "The Granite Landscape " http://hikethesummits.blogspot.com/2009/06/granite-landscape.html. You continue your gradual climb in and out of trees/scrub & rock slabs before re-entering the woods. About 2 hours in you get your first good view to Whiteface's massive ledge then soon you reach the first set of rock scrambling. This area is tough especially the area where a ladder once helped out that is no longer there. If you have issue with heights or climbing you should not attempt this trail. Once you've climbed several ledges and rocks you are rewarded with several good eating areas and a ledge with view across to the whiteface ledges (which I seemed to miss this time...blocked by tree growth?). Soon after at 1:30 we reached the double rock knob of Blueberry Ridge, another good spot for lunch with views North East to Washington, East to Passaconaway, Paugus & Chocorua and South to the Lakes Region and South West to Sandwich Dome. We broke out lunch and swallowed it quickly due to the onslaught of black flies that were swarming us We continued on to Rollins Trail, dropped down then back up and passed the Whiteface true summit (a small cairn in the woods). Rollins Trail follows the "U" shaped ravine along the wooded ridge about 2 miles in length with 2 small ledge look-outs towards blueberry ridge and whiteface. You PUD (pointless ups & downs) your way along, at times with a 1500' drop to your right that would be pretty scary if not for the small pine making a safe barrier. The trail is rocky on it's upper sections but generally has pretty easy footing. We made our final drop and climbed over Passaconaways South Ridge to Dicey's Mill trail. We headed down on this TR saving Passaconaway for another day. Rollins Trail was very gradual with very easy footing with only a few steep pitches. We passed a Parish group from Tewksbury. Mass. of about 15 kids and 5 adults heading for camp Rich. We passed by several large old trees in the valley made a couple river crossings and got back to the road at 5:00 passing by some beautiful old homes who's homeowners have a great back drop of mountains to look at everyday Not too bad of a day dispite the BF's and an enjoyable route over an enjoyable mountain. Pics on Flickr> http://www.flickr.com/photos/excape1/