September 7, 2009
I didn't want to drive to the Whites today. I wanted to hike of course, just not drive. As a result, I had trouble getting motivated and didn't reach the trailhead until 10:15. After hiking solo the last few days, I wanted a little company so I brought Madison. I started off on the Dicey's Mill Trail before turning onto the Tom Wiggin Trail.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Despite the warning on the sign above, I liked this trail. It was steep but not nearly as steep as some of the trails in the Whites.
Next I began scrambling across the ledges of Whiteface. Here's the view over to Chocorua which is way in the back.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Looking over to Passaconaway
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The more rugged the trail, the more Madison likes it.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Madison on the south peak of Whiteface.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
We then headed up and over the wooded summit of Whiteface before proceeding to Passaconaway.
We tagged Passaconaway and turned right around.
View near the summit of Passaconaway
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I came down Passaconaway the same way I went up. I wanted to hike the connector trail between these two trails. I met a couple hikers that I had hiked with once before. Memory test - I think it was Charlie and Nancy. They said they check my site occasionally. If I got your names wrong please let me know. I then took the Walden Trail. The first 1.2 miles were a repeat for me, but the next mile was new. There were two very nice outlooks which required short side trails to get to.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Looking across to Mount Paugus
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I then got on another new trail, Old Mast Road
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
This trail was gentle and smooth. I jogged most of the way back to my truck.
Madison and I finished about 3:30. Well my 5 days of straight hiking is over. I hiked 75 miles, but I don't want to know how many miles I had to drive.
| 
