The day after the solar eclipse was another spring beauty, with abundant sunshine and comfortable temperatures. After slogging through mushy snow on Potash Mountain for the eclipse, I was looking for a hike with minimal snow cover leading to excellent views. Old favorite Dickey Mountain fit the bill.
The lower mile of the south-facing trail up Dickey was bone dry with just a couple of minor muddy spots. Nice!
I always admire the fine rock steps at the top of the hardwood section.
After negotiating one wet section and some old snow and soft ice, I emerged on the lower end of the great slab atop Dickey's SW cliff, looking across at Welch Mountain and the sprawling ridges of Sandwich Dome.
Gazing south to the Campton Range. Still plenty of snow in its north-facing hardwoods.
Spring fever!
Looking down the big ledge from the upper edge. Mount Kearsarge and Ragged Mountain could be spotted in the distance.
One of the many ledge slabs and vistas as you climb Dickey, here looking NW to snow-capped Mount Moosilauke.
The trail ascends and then crosses the upper edge of this huge slab at 2550 ft.
Endless views looking down the expansive slab.
Snowpack lingered in the spruces atop the broad summit at ~2700 ft.
The best view ledges at the summit of Dickey are on the east side, where the rocky cone of Welch Mountain juts up with Sandwich Notch, the Squam Range and the Belknap Range in the distance.
To the north are various wild, trailless spurs of Mount Tecumseh.
A great spread of the Sandwich Range to the NE.
Scaur Ridge and the Tripyramids, with the South Slides standing out.
Heading back down off the summit, the trail opens to a sweeping NW view to the Kinsmans, Cannon Balls, Cannon, Franconia Range and Scar Ridge. Fisher Mountain lurks in the foreground.
The obligatory photo of the mysterious stone circle on a ledge above the big SW slab.
Late afternoon view of Dickey and Welch from the SW slab.
Melting ice flows on a trailside ledge wall.
With a few hours of daylight left on this gorgeous day, I pushed off-trail for some wandering through the open hardwoods high on the west slope of Dickey.
As I wrapped around more to the north, the snow cover became continuous. Time to head back after a half-mile meander.
Interesting lip ledge in the forest.
A small mountain meadow guarded by gnarled oaks.
Looking up from the lower end of the open swath. Or could it be a bootleg ski trail? I did not see evidence of cutting. You never know what you'll stumble across when you wander off trail on a fine spring day.
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