| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
West Field, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Avalon Trail, A-Z Trail, Willey Range Trail, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, December 30, 2013 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Train station was not plowed this morning, so parked at Highland Center. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Three main crossings were somewhat snowbridged. Minor crossings had some openings, but easily hopped. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One blowdown between the Willard junction and the first water crossing - could be done with a handsaw (ran out of daylight, so didn't bother). |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
Some significant variance in last night's snowfall totals - maybe 4" in Ashland, 1" down low in Franconia, and perhaps 6"-8" at the trailhead. Larger amounts higher up.
Avalon and A-Z Trail up to the Mt. Tom col was packed out well for snowshoeing. Adequate snowpack (over a foot) and very little exposed ice. Mt. Tom Spur, Avalon Trail, Willey Range Trail, and A-Z Trail all appeared to be broken out as of end of day today.
From the col, we headed up the Willey Range Trail, then dropped down toward West Field. In hindsight, we dropped off too soon, getting sucked down the fall line as we avoided some unsavory woods. We eventually had to slab hard. Not an efficient track at all. Snow depths ranged from 1 to 3 feet. Snowshoes absolutely needed.
We hugged the ridge for the return trip from West Field, ending up in good woods into and initially out of the col, however we hit some steep, thicker stuff higher up (probably should have slabbed toward Mt. Tom more aggressively), ending up on a small slide that had nice views. We eventually popped onto the Willey Range Trail and then headed back to the Mt. Tom col and out.
Dramatic change in temperatures during the day - above freezing south of Franconia Notch in the morning, upper 20s at the parking lot at the start, ending at 5 degrees with a nasty wind in the parking lot at the end. |
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 | Name: |
rocket21 |
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 | E-Mail: |
rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-12-30 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos |
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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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