Mount Whiteface, 4,020 ft high lies somewhere along the Sandwich Wilderness Range. Its another member of the white mountains and it on the day I hiked it with my younger brother Alex, it certainly lived up to its name.
It was one of those nights (in May) where you just say, I want to go hiking tomorrow, pick a mountain, and go. In our case, we picked a mountain we had never heard of but which had a reputation as a strenuous hike, “Mount Whiteface.” We hopped in our mothers grey minivan, made a Dunkin’s run, and allowed our GPS to lead us further into the boondocks. Luckily the drive was beautiful; various bridges over tumbling rivers with houses built along the sides, ancient water mills still hooked into large granite walls, and colorful flowers to top it off, peeping between the granite stones. Picturesque is the word, and yet it doesn’t give justice to the naturalness of the beauty.
Mount Whiteface is the second peak.
It was almost disappointing when we realized we had reached our destination, a dirt parking lot near a small private white home. The mountain loomed far…far…in the distance, and the hike started off very slowly and very flat. So, if you face the mountain yourself, know that the flatness continues for some time, and it’s not necessary to call your father to double check on the directions in your white mountain guide book. Also, enjoy the lack of elevation while you can, because when it hits, it hits hard. The trail becomes very steep. 
So steep was the trail that although we started in a warm green climate, we soon began seeing traces of snow. Those traces became 2-3 feet of snow covering every inch of ground. And unfortunately for us, because it was May the snow was only strong enough to hold our weight in the very center of the trail, a safe stepping space of about 5 inches across. Miss the mark, and you landed knee high in powder with an icey top layer (just perfect for scraping up your calf).
first signs of snow!
a lot more snow
We never actually reached the summit, but we did reach the white face. The only opening free from tree cover, a 10′X20′ area, leading to a cliff edge. The views weren’t amazing and mount whiteface isn’t a mountain I will be rushing back to, but hiking in snow did make it an experience to remember. There’s only one thing I wished I had had on this trip: gaiters! If you don’t know what they are, gaiters are a water proof fabric that covers from your ankle to your knee and is put on over your hiking boots with a full length zipper up the back. They are great for protecting that part of your leg from branch scratches, puddles, oh and falling through snow.
whiteface cliff opening. the highest we climbed
