Under beautiful deep blue skies we set off at about 8:30. The woods were just beautiful and all draped in heavy deep snow. The ledges of Whiteface were visable as we walked down the plowed road. We had a good sign right off as a huge Newf greeted us with what seemed like barks of encouragement from somebody's dooryard. He could've been Brutus' brother.
Our group of five was me, Andy F from Rocks, Jeb Bradley, Bob Shiloh and his son Doug. We were in good spirits as we came to the end of the road and made tracks across the field past the the last farmhouse. We entered the woods there and decided right off to begin 10 minute intervals of leading and following. The snow was close to 2 feet deep and very powdery. So the leader would spend 10 minutes breaking and then head to the end of the line. I watched as Jeb tapped the Sandwich Wilderness sign. One of his accomplishments as US Congressman had been to expand the wilderness to the west of here by thousands of acres. Thanks Jeb!
We made great progress this way and it seemed the first 2.3 miles to the brook crossing went very well. A snow covered log provided an easy bridge for us. We were very optomistic of our chances to make the summit. It gets a little steeper after the brook, we continued in our 10 minute break strategy with the wooded Mt Wonalancet getting lower and lower.
As you dropped out of the lead position it allowed for a quick water and snack while the group trudged onward. We really didn't pause very long at all but the going was very slow. The snow grew deeper and took on the consistancy of unsifted flour and sugar with each lift out of the snowshoe taking more effort.
The Rollins intersection was our planned lunch-stop but as 12noon came and went, we opted for the next sunny spot to sit and eat. I think we only spent 10 minutes eating as some of us got cold. I changed out of my wet and frozen fleece and gratefully pulled on my warm winter jacket and new gloves.
As we finally reached the Rollins at around 1pm, we knew at least an hour lay ahead of us. .9 miles to the summit in summer is pretty easy but now we were in nearly 3 feet of snow and deeper in spots. By now we'd gone from 10 minute intervals to 5 minute. I can't stress how important this was to our chances at the summit on this day. We'd hoped that one of Ed Hawkins big mid-week groups would pass us and give us a break but it was not to be.
I was tired and my left big toe was numb by then (I'd find out later that there was a hole in the outer wool sock :(. But we were determined and wound our way up the cone into stunted snow covered trees. I tried to take the lead on our last steep pitch, the blue opening ahead seemed so close. But I fell over after only a couple of minutes in waist deep snow. Darned short legs! Andy was much stronger and took over. Bob, Doug, and Jeb had all done amazing work to this point.
We reached the outlook near the summit at 2:30, 6 hours after we had begun. The summit was only a little further and we were grateful to have made it to the top on this day. Passaconaway had his first visitors for the winter of 08-09 and we were glad to have that honor. A long way still was ahead so we only spent 15 minutes up there enjoying some food and a little rest.
Jeb thinks he found the summit!
The hike down off the cone was a blur, we all went as fast as we could down the broken trail. I was disappointed that at the few glissade spots, the snow was simply too soft to slide. We were all completely exhausted and fell many times even on some flat spots.
3.8 miles to go now, the sun began to go down. I don't know how many times we fell on our way down the trail. I fell at least a dozen times, whoosh! at least it was a soft landing. Getting up was another matter. When you see a strong 23 year old strong young man fall down numerous times, you know how exhausted we were.
The sun was setting quick and I hoped to reach the crossing before total darkness. We did and then it was just 2.3 miles, oh yeah, just 2.3 miles, sure! I put on my headlamp which lasted about 20 minutes before blinking out. Gotta check that fuel gauge before these hikes! Andy's and Jeb's were enough to help us past the tricky spots which included a huge blowdown that seemed to be no problem in the morning.
I think we all whooped with joy as we reached the first farmhouse. Yeah!! And we also wouldn't have to hike across the field, the road in had now been plowed! It was nice to be back on firm ground again.
This was an epic hike for sure, it's one you'll remember for a long time. This was Jeb's idea of a winter warm-up........hmm, heck of a warm-up Jeb!
Mt Passaconaway was a winter repeat for me (but a new one for December) It was Jeb's 28th and Andy's 24th in winter. Bob and Doug counted it towards their all-season list as a new peak,
