DICKEY MOUNTAIN: 1/3/18

Mark Klim and I took advantage of a break from the Arctic blast for a leisurely snowshoe hike up Dickey Mountain. It turned out to be a magnificent winter day for one of the best (when snow conditions are good) snowshoe treks in the Whites. (Note that in lean snow times, this trail can be very icy on the ledges, requiring traction - in the form of Microspikes or even full crampons - and caution.)

The trail up Dickey had an excellent packed snowshoe track.

There were many deer tracks along the lower part of the trail.

Ice flows approaching the first ledge.

Emerging on the great snow-covered granite slab on the south shoulder of Dickey.

We made our own tracks across this expanse.

King of the hill.

Looking across to Dickey and Welch.

Contrail left by one of a pair of fighter jets that were playing in the sky.

Not many days lately where this would be comfortable.

Ghostly Moosilauke.

Snowshoe hare tracks.

Emerging on the vast upper south slab of Dickey. The extensive bare ledges of Dickey and Welch may be the result of a large forest fire that burned the southern spurs of Mt. Tecumseh around 1820.

Soaking up the sun.

Wide-screen vista to the south.

View NW, slightly off-trail. Just below here we encountered some White-winged Crossbills and Boreal Chickadees.

Approaching the summit of Dickey. Though only 2734 ft., it has a big-mountain feel. Elevation gain to the summit is just under 1700 ft.

Northern vista from a near-summit ledge.

High peaks of the Sandwich Range: the Tripyramids, the Sleepers and Mt. Whiteface.

Descending into a massive view of Sandwich Dome.

We broke trail on a winding route out to the great north ledge of Dickey.

In places the powder was knee-deep.

Emerging on the north ledge, almost two acres in extent.

This ledge, which in summer is accessed by an obscure spur path, is an outstanding viewpoint.

Looking north to the wild southern spurs of Mt. Tecumseh. The windblown north side of the ledge was quite icy.

Big vista to the NW.

Mark gazes out at the Kinsmans, Cannon and the Franconia Range.

Peering across the slab to Sandwich Dome and neighbors.

The Tripyramids, with the South Slides well-displayed.

Heading back, a look at the wild ledgy hump of Welch Mountain.

We opted not to go over Welch, and headed back up to the summit of Dickey.

Sandwich Dome's double summit, with Jennings Peak on the left. Shadows in High Brook ravine.

The Franconia Range, looking sharp.

Heading down the lower ledge to an interesting sky.

The marks of beech bark disease.

Mark spotted this trough in the snow - perhaps made by a porcupine?