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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Avalon, Mt. Field, Mt. Willey, Mt. Tom, NH
Trails
Trails: Avalon Trail, Willey Range Trail, A-Z Trail, Mt. Tom Spur
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, April 7, 2013
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: First one in the lot at Crawford Depot this morning. Lot fairly full at 1:45. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: All major ones but the upper crossing on the Avalon Trail had solid snow bridges. The upper crossing was open, but water is very low and it was trivial. Couple open seeps, but most of those still well-bridged too. A couple postholes in a couple of these. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Avalon Trail in good shape. One 8" step-over before the A-Z junction that isn't a real issue right now. Willey Range Trail on the Willey side of the Field-Willey col is still a bit of a mess, lots of work evident in here, probably a little more needed this spring. Very passable right now though. Willey Range to Tom Spur, the Tom Spur, and A-Z Trail all good to go. A few minor leaners here and there, most likely non-issues once the snow pack recedes. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Crusty ice/snow pack right now, otherwise fine though. 
Bugs
Bugs: Nope. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Weather was way better than predicted for the day. Partly sunny skies to start, quickly clouded up but Washington was still clear when I hit the Avalon summit. Brief sleet storm as I descended Field towards Willey, lasted about 20 minutes, then skies gradually cleared and by the time I hit Tom, the blue skies were back. Practically clear by the time I hit the lot! Very windy along the ridge though, so stops to admire the great views were limited.

Trails were mostly hard-packed. Some minor drifting on Avalon in the flats near the Avalon Spur, and some drifting here and there between Field and the Field-Willey col, but overall microspikes were fine and in the case of the Willey Range Trail, my steps were drifted back in on my return to Field anyway. Trail a tad softer heading to Tom Spur. A-Z down from Tom was hard-packed as well. The steeps on Avalon Trail were packed flat, but manageable with just the spikes. Aggressive snowshoes might work well here too, particularly if it softens some. Snowshoes recommended in general as things warm up the next couple of days and the icy crust turns to slush.

Looked like a decent track heading up Willey's ladders to the view point, and a sole set of snowshoe prints headed down A-Z towards Zealand.

Nice, fast trip out. Only saw 2 people, shortly after I descended past the A-Z/Avalon junction, they were in jeans, sweatshirts, and sneakers. Wonder how the steeps of the Avalon Trail went without traction... Guess the rest of the people that parked in the lot reached Field after I had headed over to Tom.  
Name
Name: madmattd 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2013-04-07 
Link
Link: https://mattshikes.blogspot.com 
Bookmark and Share Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense.

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