Sunday I hiked Passaconaway and Whiteface in the Whites. I slept at the trailhead Saturday night, and I am quite a fan of the mattress I got for the back of my car! Anyway, the hike was frustrating but good. Snow-covered branches reaching across the trail hit my face and my pack, dropping snow all over me and into the outer pockets of my pack. I took the trail less traveled to the top of Passaconaway and postholed every few steps. I brought my snowshoes, but it wasn't bad enough to justify using them. I find my snowshoes so cumbersome that I'd rather randomly posthole. On the way up Whiteface a branch caught one of my snowshoes and ripped both of them out of my pack. I screamed and cursed the AMC for not doing basic trail maintenance. The few on top of Whiteface made it all worth it, especially since the sun was out and warming the summit. I made good time down the mountain and took advantage of a flat, warm and dry rock on the side of the trail and soaked up some rays.








