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Trail Information and Geological Information
The Mount Whiteface and Passaconway Loop, located in the White Mountains near Wonalancet NH, is a 11.3 mile loop trail. Rated as difficult, plan to climb over 4,000 vertical feet and spend between five to seven hours on the trail. See figure on the left for the hiking map from All Trails:
Being another summit in the White Mountains, Mount Whiteface's geological history is consistent with that of the other White Mountain hikes we have completed. We highly recommend that you re-read our "Mount Moosilauke" entry -- it provides detail into the mountain building events and glaciation that created this unique mountain range.
Our Findings - June 2, 2021
Geologist in action! Here you see Christian attempting to climb the steepest part of the hike. The outcropping -- a fine-grained granite with a touch of feldspar (hence the red color) -- is smooth. This smoothness is most likely due to the most recent era of glaciation, about 12,000 years ago.
Another geologist in action! This time, Wilder examines the U-Shaped valleys thousands of feet below. Additionally, notice how smooth the granite outcropping is. This smoothness is, once again, due to the role that glaciation had in forming the landscape of the White Mountains, as well as other forms of erosion.
Another outcropping of granite as we made our way up Mt. Whiteface. The stress lines on the rock, we predict, have been created after millions of years of erosion -- wind, water, ice, temperature changes, and now homo sapiens.
Guess what?! We found more granite -- New Hampshire is, after all, the granite state. Of particular importance in this sample is the pinkish color. This suggests a high prevalence of feldspar.
Now compare the sample above to the one on the left. Though they are both granite, their colors are clearly different. This one contains more quartz and biotite mica, giving it the mostly white with intermittent black.
Geologist in action! Here is Wilder, providing scale to this massive granite boulder. Glaciers, we predict, transported this sample and left it here around 12,000 years ago, totally isolated from any other outcroppings nearby.
Looking Southwest towards Mt. Whiteface, from Mt. Passaconaway's summit. The former reaches 4019' of elevation, while the latter 4042'.
Above: Looking South from Mt. Whiteface's summit.
Below: Looking Northeast from Mt. Passaconaway's summit. Mt. Washington (6288'), the tallest mountain just right of center, is visible.
Christian looks out atop Mt. Passaconway. He is grateful for the lush green landscape spreading out before his eyes.
Geologists in one final picture together atop Mt. Passaconaway. Perfect weather, combined with a truly enjoyable trail, made this the ideal end to our senior project.
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