NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Beecher Cascade, Pearl Cascade, Mt. Avalon, Mt. Field, Mt. Willey, Mt. Tom, NH
Trails
Trails: Avalon Trail, Cascade Loop, Mt. Avalon Spur, Willey Range Trail, Mt. Tom Spur, A-Z Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, January 23, 2016
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parked at the end of the Highland Center lot. Looks like the depot lot had been plowed recently, but there was a fresh bank of unplowed snow at the entrance. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow/Ice - Small Patches 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: First crossing on AZT is solidly ice bridged. Second is open, but easily hopped. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: A few scattered minor stepover blowdowns on the MTS. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Sure. Saw a couple. 
Bugs
Bugs: Nope. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Nothing. 
 
Comments
Comments: A nice cloudy day (sun came out later) to hit all three Willey Range peaks plus Avalon. Also did the short loop to the cascades for redlining. I used spikes up to Field. I had forgotten how steep the approach to Mt. Avalon is. Even in Hillsounds I was slipping due to the grade. Crampons would not be overkill here. The scramble below the Avalon summit is icy, use caution there. Once at Field, I switched to snowshoes as the ridge was a mess. It had drifted over and I saw several people with no snowshoes at all or carrying and not wearing them. Myself and a few others packed it down the best we could so the track is decent now. I kept the shoes on over to Willey and back, then back across the ridge to Tom. The ridge is the only place where shoes are helpful. All other trails are solid. Some folks were setting up camp near the MTS as I left. Switched back to spikes there and then a nice descent down the AZT with some amazing alpenglow on the Presidentials.  
Name
Name: KenM 
E-Mail
E-Mail: knacgray@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2016-01-23 
Link
Link: https:// 
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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