Saturday, July 12, 2025
Summits: Passaconaway, Whiteface
Start/Finish: Downes Brook TH
Miles: 12.4
Elevation gain/loss: 3930′
After getting up early and driving for a bit, I started at 7:15am from Downes Brook TH. I tried out a new-to-me bushwhack off of Passaconaway to make a loop with Downes Brook trail. But turns out my shoes’ soles had turned into ice skates on all rock, loose dirt, and sticks and roots. I found this out at the first of 8+ water crossings of the day when I slipped and fell down a rock slab and landed in the creek up to my waist, losing one of my water bottles.
Descending the bushwhack, I fully wiped out, falling on my butt or back three times. I literally butt scooted in wet slab and still nearly fell down a waterfall, but at least I beat the thunderstorms. And my water filter needed replacing and the pressure broke my filtering bladder so I underhydrated on this hike, but I made it work.
