Solo Backpacking on Mt Passaconaway – 3 Days of Camping in New Hampshire

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Join me for 3 Days Ultralight Backpacking on Mt Passaconaway, deep in the Wilderness of New Hampshire’s White Mountains.

Join me for 3 Days Ultralight Backpacking on Mt Passaconaway in the White Mountains, deep in the wilderness of New Hampshire.

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For this 3 day, 2 night backpacking trip, I decided to spend a few days exploring Mt Passaconaway, a 4,000 footer nestled in the Sandwich Range Wilderness of of New Hampshire.

My plan for this trip wasn’t to crush miles, but to instead slow things down and really have a chance to get an intimate look at a smaller area, something I often don’t always do. With it’s combination of a hardwood populated rolling lowland approach hugging the beautiful Oliverian Brook at 1,200′ elevation, followed by a short, but steep rocky ascent up to the ridges leading to the summit of Mt Passaconaway at 4,043 feet, it seemed like the perfect choice for such a trip.

I would spend my first day looking for a suitable break in the dense foliage to camp along the babbling sounds of Oliverian Brook for the night. On day two I would head up towards the summit in search of a clearing just short of the summit to the previous sight of an old lean-to shelter called Camp Rich.  The shelter was removed many years ago, and is no longer listed on newer maps.  According to reports though, there are still some great clearings for camping in the area, which is a rarity at higher elevations in the White Mountains.  Allegedly, there is a rather reliable water source running nearby as well.  Again, a rarity near tree line in the Whites.

My backpack was pretty light for this adventure, consisting of only my trekking pole tent, trekking poles, a single titanium pot with DIY alcohol stove for cooking, a simple foam sleeping pad, 40° down quilt, hardshell jacket, and a mid-layer synthetic hoodie for extra warmth, as the daily low was expected to be in the upper 30’s Fahrenheit. This was pushing it a bit, but I’ve found that the hoodie and hardshell combination works pretty well as a cold weather parka down to around the mid 30’s.  A more detailed list of backpacking gear can be found below.

Despite a temporary minor lower back muscle injury that slowed me down a bit from my normal pace, this ended up being a really fun backpacking trip.  It gave me an opportunity to appreciate the merits of spending more time soaking in a single area at camp or along the trail, rather than hiking triple the miles to hit multiple summits.  While I really enjoy doing hikes like that too, it was pretty awesome to appreciate the character of a single mountain and the random treasures it had to offer.

Route Overview White Mountains Mt Passaconaway Backpacking Trip- Sintax77

Trailhead Used: Oliverian Brook Trailhead, Kancamangus Hwy, Albany, NH 03818
N43° 59.747′ W71° 21.032′

This is an easily accessible parking area located right off of Rt 112 with room for a half dozen cars or so.  No permit or fee is required to overnight backpack in the White Mountains National forest.

Trails Used

  • Oliverian Brook Trail
    • Setup camp along Oliverian Brook near the junction with Passaconaway Cutoff Trial.
  • Passaconaway Cutoff Trail
  • Square Ledge Trail (west towards Passaconaway summit)
  • Dicey’s Mill Trail
  • Shortly after joining Dicey’s Mill Trail, keep you’re eye out for a faint spur trail to your right.
    • Camp along the spur trail at one of the multiple open camping options near the former site of Camp Rich (shelter has been removed).
  • Backtrack on Dicey’s Mill Trail
  • Spur trail to Mt Passaconaway Northern Scenic View
  • Walden Trail
  • Passaconaway Cutoff
  • Oliverian Brook Trail
  • Return to Trailhead

Grand Total Mileage:  10.2 Miles
Grand Total Gross Elevation Gain:  3,340 feet

Notable Backpacking Gear