Tri Pyramids and Mt Whiteface and Passaconaway

Passaconaway and Chocorua from Mt Whiteface

I would start this from the Kancamagus Highway.  Despite being sore from Wednesday night's trail run at Olana, I had ambitions to do the 20+ mile loop to knockout these 4000 footers.

It's late May and Memorial Day weekend, but one would not know that on this morning.  Windy and below freezing, it felt like winter.  Fortunately, I had my winter jacket and pants.  Unfortunately, I did not have any gloves, so this would provide some hardship in the first half of the hike.  The cold front brought in a clear blue sky and that's really all that matters.

Dawn arrives early this time of year, so I did not have any excuse to not get an early start.  Instead of the 6am start as planned, I got out just before 7.  The trailhead was located at just under 1500 feet, making the first 4 miles difficult with over 2,500 feet elevation gained.  The Pine Bend Brook Trail, followed the brook for a couple miles, crossing it numerous times.  The forest was a mix of hardwoods and evergreens.  This of course would change near 4,000 feet.

After the first 2.5 miles, the going really got tough.  As Billy Ocean says, this is where "the tough get going."  Chris Hiker apparently is not tough, as I hit a wall literally.  The trail became immensely steep to the summit of North Tripyramid.  And I felt all of it.  The lungs, the quads, the back felt all of it.

Along the way, I came across some sections of snow and ice.  Over night, some snow had left a light dusting.  But the winter that never wanted to end, left its presence.  Most of the snow could be walked around or straight through with little difficulty.  But some ice showed up near the scrambles.  My hands were freezing and this just made them worse, by having to grab on to cold rocks to get around.  I had no problem stopping, as views toward a snow covered Mt Washington could be made out through the trees.

The summit of North Tri Pyramid provided no views, which was a shame because it took a great amount of effort.  The short walk over to Middle Tri Pyramid provided some views to the east.  Passaconaway and Mt Whiteface, my destinatioms, looked closer than I thought they were supposed to be.  Of course the walk over would seem longer.

1st look at Passaconaway

From Middle Tri Pyramid, I crossed the South sub-peak.  The trail goes off the south side and uses a slide.  It was quite steep, but provided some great views over to Tecumseh.  Unsurprisingly, some snow can be found on its slopes.  I could also make out some lakes in the distance.  Soon I'd have to exit the slide to take the Kate Sleeper Trail over towards Mount Whiteface.  But first, I'd head up East Sleeper which happens to be one of the New England 100 highest that's rests under 4000 feet.

The slide on South Tri Pyramid

Waterville Ski area on Tecumseh

Sandwich Dome and Jennings Peak

While walking along the Sleeper Trail, I met a few people coming from the other direction.  I met a couple who spent a cold night.  They asked me if their were any views on the Tri Pyramids.  I said, yes, but no 360 or 180 views.  They told me that sounds better than what they experienced as both Mt Whiteface and Passaconaway have no views.  I met another guy who "confirmed" this.

After briefly disappointed in hearing this and wishing I had chosen another hike on this gorgeous day, I continued on enjoying the area around me.  The Sleepers have plenty of blowdown.  The trail crews did an incredible job clearing much of it.  Never before had I seen so much.  In fact, I never have seen so many cut logs outside a logging area.  Not sure which storm did all this damage, but the crews really must have put in some time and labor to clear it all.

I saw a lot of shit on this day:

What kind is this? Moose?

There was a short herd path that lead to the summit of East Sleeper.  I thought this would be an excellent time to take a nice lunch.  I enjoyed the rest of the walk on the Sleeper Trail, where I met the Rollins Trail, which would lead me over Mt Whiteface (not to be confused with the Whiteface Mt in the Adirondacks).  This would be an interesting walk on the side of some cliffs.  Every once and a while a good little view opened up towards Passaconaway and Chocorua.  From here, Passaconaway looked pretty intimidating.

Making it up and over Mt Whiteface, I made it to the base of Passaconaway.  But not before I watched a guy come out of the woods after bushwacking up the bowl of Whiteface and Passaconaway.  From Mt Whiteface, the bowl looks impressively steep.  A bushwack up it could produce quite a few problems.  But the guy said he didn't run into many cliffs.  I've made my share of bushwacks and it was nice to watch somebody else come out of the woods.

The hike up to Passaconaway proved to be steeper than it looked.  I took many breaks along the way.  I met quite a few people on the way down.  A couple of women told me there were a couple view points that I couldn't miss.  They also told me there is a short hike off the summit to an excellent view.  As my friend always says, "Don't believe anything you hear, and only believe half the things you see."

Lake Winnipesaukee

Survived the winter

Lake Winnipesaukee

Chocorua

Passaconaway would be the highlight of the day as far as views were concerned.  Some great views from the top of a steep cliff over towards Chocorua.  A five minute walk off the summit leads to an excellent 180 panoramic to the north.  So many mountains in view, I couldn't bare to guess all of them.  But Mt Washington with all of its snow and ice was obvious.  Carrigain which dominated the view close up could be made out.  The Hancocks just to the west were visible.  Out in the distance with some snow, I believed to be Lincoln or Lafayette, as they both tower above 5,000 feet.

There's even a sign

Big Bad Washington

Carrigain to the left

Lafayette and Lincoln with some snow

To get to Passaconaway, one must do an out and back on a loop trail.  I mistakenly took this loop in the correct direction, since I missed the first trail from Mt Whiteface.  The trail I took up was incredibly steep, so I took the other trail down.  The trail provided some views to the west of the tri Pyramids.  It also provided a less steep trail which my knees and back were very grateful for.

Tri Pyramids

I made it down and I met somebody else who had done the same thing.  I told him it was a good mistake.  He appreciated the advice.  I continued down the Square Ledge Trail towards Square Ledge.  This trail turned out to be quite rugged.  I took another lunch while making an ascent towards the ledge.  Unfortunately, I missed the main view point, but the trail proved to be quite fun, though difficult to follow at times.

Passaconaway

Spring Flowers

Square Ledge

Mt Paugus from Square Ledge

Crossing the brook

Oliviera Brook

Some more pretty Spring flowers

The pleasant walk out

The walk out would be nice and easy along the Oliviera Brook Trail.  This was very welcome.  It's Memorial Day weekend and quite a few campers could be found out here.  I'd be joining them if I had not forgotten my tent, so the car will have to do.

Here's some video.

Some Stats:   18.5 miles of trail + 3 mile road walk

                     2.5 Hours up Pine Bend Brook Trail to North Pyramid
                     1 Hour to Kate Sleeper Trail
                     1 Hour to East Sleeper
                     1 Hour 20 Min   East Sleeper to Mt Whiteface
                     2 Hour  Mt Whiteface to Passaconaway
                     2 Hour 30 Min Passaconaway to Oliviera Trail via Square Ledge
                     1 Hour 30 Min Oliviera Trail to Hwy
                     1 Hour Walk on Kancamagus Hwy