Welch-Dickey Loop , NH
April 19, 2004


At Welch's Cliffs, the summit of Welch Mountain in the background.
Patriots Day in Massachusetts brought in a whole lot of heat and sun shine which is not a good thing for the marathoners and not a good thing for hikers either! Arriving at the newly renovated trail head around 10AM, it felt much more like Summer than Spring! The trail head renovations included a much needed expansion, a not so much needed paving job, and a VERY convenient pair of toilets.

This classic White Mountain hike is normally a very popular loop on weekends, however Patriots Day being a Massachusetts only holiday kept the crowds away. We only passed about one dozen other hikers all day and had the trails to ourselves throughout most of the afternoon.

We opted for the traditional counter clockwise route around the loop. The ascent was uneventful aside from the brutal heat without relief of wind. Halfway up towards the Welch Cliffs we found some shade as the trees got thicker with more hard woods and think spruces. We paused for a snack at the cliffs and rested in the shade hoping for some clouds to block out the sun. We got our wish and pressed on up the steepest part of the hike to the summit of Welch Mountain! The cliffs were bone dry and easy to ascend. With a breeze picking up as we came to the summit, we both threw our packs down in exaustion and had a bite to eat and a long rest.


Welch Mountain in the foreground with the Tripyramids in the distance.

After lunch we descended into the col and began the short ascent to Dickey Mountain. Surprisingly, hardly any snow was left! Quite different than my solo hike on the same exact day during the previous year! With a brief pause at the summit to take in the wonderful view towards the Franconia Notch, we began the uneventful descent along Dickey's excellent cliffs. Clocking in at four hours, this loop is no more than a moderate difficulty, but the unrelenting heat in the upper 80's kicked our butts. Perhaps we've skipped over Spring and gone straight into Summer given the abnormally cold and miserable Winter and early Spring!


Nearing the Summit of Dickey Mountain, a look back to Welch Mountain with the Sandwich Range in the background.

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