Welch-Dickey Loop, Snow's Mountain, Waterville Cascades - Waterville Valley, NH
April 19, 2003

I set some ambitious plans for my first White Mountain's hike of the 2003 three-season hiking year.  Usually, I like to begin the hiking season with a southern exposure trail with good views.  Cardigan, Monadnock, and Welch-Dickey are the usual suspects.  This was the earliest Spring Hike I've ever conducted, and I was ready to face some snow pack.  However; being in above average physical condition in April due to an aggressive Alpine Skiing season, I was more than ready for this extended romp through some of Waterville Valley's best treasures.

Ascending by the traditional Counter-Clockwise route, I left a surprisingly sparse parking lot at just past 9AM (three other cars).  I would return to a bus load, but more on that later.  The trail up to Welch's Cliffs was in excellent condition and remains one of the best maintained trails I have ever been on.  Meticulous care is given to ensuring run off and erosion are kept to a minimum, and also ensuring the trail is graded levelly for all ability levels.  Occasional muddy sections did occur, but I had no problems keeping high, dry, and clean.

Coming to Welch's Cliffs are always a treat.  The rocks encircling the re-vegetation areas are not only great for the environment, but make for interesting features of the mountains.  Slightly hazy views were offered of the Sandwich Range and Tripyramids.  Cool.

Ascending the steep granite slabs of Welch was slightly more tricky than planned.  The granite slabs were mostly dry; however, occasional snow and ice near the summit made things fun and interesting.  After summiting Welch, I partook in a lunch and enjoyed the views.

Onward to Dickey!  The descent into the col between the two peaks featured the first major snow pack of the trail.  Not too surprising given the northerly exposure.  Great care was made on the hard pack snow which resulted in no slips or post holes.  The cairn in the col looked a lot smaller than my last hike on the loop.  

More occasional hard snow pack and ice greeted me on my ascent of Dickey.  This slowed my progress, but was not dangerous in the least.  I paused halfway up Dickey for a few pictures back toward Welch (pictured above).  Notice the snow pack is mostly confined to the actual trail.

Very near the summit of Dickey, I paused for a self portrait using my camera's auto-timer feature.  Here I am with Welch and the Sandwich and Squam Mountain Ranges behind me.  After this ledge, the trail summits through the woods, and begins it's descent in and out of trees and ledges.

After passing over the huge ledge that scars Dickey's southern ridge, the trail dropped into the above sequence of ice sculptures and icicles.  It made for an impressive scene.  The trail descends along this ice covered ridge for approximately 200 feet before turning right into the trees.

After leaving this fine display of ice and rock, I engaged in the long drawn out slog back to the car.  Lower elevations of Dickey are unremarkable, but the trail work remains excellent.  Several large sized blow downs covered the trails in places, but were easily climbed over/under.  An excellent 3+ hour start to a long day of hiking!

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