Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
| Peaks |
Mt. Avalon, Mt. Field, Mt. Willey, Mt. Tom, NH |
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| Trails: |
Avalon Trail, Willey Range Trail, A-Z Trail, Mt. Tom Spur |
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| Date of Hike: |
Monday, November 8, 2021 |
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| Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at Crawford Depot. Plenty of room on this weekday. On a good weekend day this lot fills up quickly in which case one must park in other spots nearby. |
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| Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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| Recommended Equipment: |
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| Water Crossing Notes: |
In the morning crossed the lower Crawford Brook on submerged rocks and sand to avoid stepping on surfaces exposed to the air that may have an icy surface. The upper Crawford Brook crossing had dry rocks to hop across on. Small brooks on the A-Z trail were easy to cross. |
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| Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails in generally good condition. The footing has been improved on the Avalon Trail between the junction with the A-Z trail and the Mt Avalon spur in recent years. The Mt Tom Spur Trail was improved a few years ago. The path to the Mt Tom southern outlook needs brushing. A sign at the split in the Mt Tom Spur trail to direct hikers to the summit path or the outlook would be helpful as I met some hikers returning from the viewpoint who didn't realize they hadn't reached the summit. Some trees across trails high above the surface that are no problem with no snow pack. |
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| Dog-Related Notes: |
Good for dogs if they can avoid the steep ice areas. |
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| Bugs: |
A few flying insects. |
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| Lost and Found: |
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| Comments: |
There was a smorgasbord of trail conditions. The most ice was on the Avalon Trail starting before reaching the Mt Avalon spur with more icy ledges & rocks between the Mt Avalon spur and the Willey Range Trail. One can use rocks, roots, and well-trodden paths paralleling the main trail to avoid the worst of the icy ledges and rocks. Most of the Willey Range Trail was free of ice except for the north slope of Mt Field that had a moderate grade. Little to no ice on the Mt Tom Spur and the A-Z Trail. I did not use the microSpikes. I would recommend carrying traction in case you need them. The mud was generally frozen and easy to walk through.
Good views of the Presidential Range, Mt Carrigain, the Bond & Twins from various spots. Be sure to walk just south of the Mt Willey summit to the best overlook to the left of the trail.
Met many hikers today including a shy three year old boy. |
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| Name: |
WAUMBEK |
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| E-Mail: |
waumbek@roadrunner.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-11-08 |
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| Link: |
https:// |
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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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