Mount Passaconaway via Dicey's Mill Trail

Weather was comfortably cool, almost no bugs (no black flies!) and no rain so the a bunch of folks were out hiking today.  The four of us set off ahead of schedule and made good time up to Passaconaway - so good it was too early for lunch!  Yeah there is no summit to speak of, but Dicey Mills trail was really well built (lots of granite steps along the way) and it is well maintained so an easy and pleasant 4000 footer. One can see why it's a popular hike.  We all headed back down but Alexander and I decided to add in Mount Whiteface.  We split off at the Rollins trail while Mo, Fred and Carl headed back to their cars. Whiteface is another non-summit summit, but the ledges afterwards were inspiring as always.  I wanted to get home a bit earlier so I took the Tom Wiggins cut off back to Dicey Mills but Alexander took the Blueberry Ledge trail all the back to Ferncroft Trail. Great hiking day.  Extra points if you can spot the toad in the c/u shot.  

By New Hampshire 4K peak standards, the Dicey's Mill Trail to the summit of Mt. Passaconaway (4019 ft) is considered moderate at 8.9 miles with 2900 elevation gain. It’s a pleasant and popular hike. The trail is well maintained, but like most peaks in the White Mountains, the last stretch of trail leading to the summit is rocky. Passaconaway has a wooded summit but there is a nearby outlook with great views. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/new-hampshire/mount-passaconaway-via-diceys-mill-trail We’ll send out trail/weather conditions by mid week if we are a go or no go. Have all your typical hiking gear - sturdy hiking boots, at least 2 liters of water, lunch, snacks, bug spray, appropriate clothing and maybe a head net if you are particularly sensitive to flying things. There are a few manageable water crossings (unless there is a lot of heavy rainfall before the hike day, we’ll keep an eye on it) and at this point in May we should be done with snow and spikes. Mt. Passaconaway is 42nd highest peak in New Hampshire. Please be in good hiking shape for this one, as the pace will be moderate.