| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Tom, Mt. Field, Mt. Willey, Mt. Avalon, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Avalon Trail, A-Z Trail, Mt. Tom Spur, Willey Range Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, November 30, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at Crawford Depot’s small winter lot off US 302 in Crawford Notch. The AMC section is closed. This dirt surfaced lot is plowed in winter and can hold 10-15 well parked cars. I had no issue in 2WD ramming through the small snow berm just off the paved highway. I live for such snow antics… |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The first major water crossing coming from Crawford Depot was mostly covered in thick ice. I was able to cross on the ice without punching through both out and back. Pick your route carefully. My route looked more like the waltz than a hike across a water crossing. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One face-basher on Willey Range headed out towards Mt Willey. Branches removed so able to duck under it at present snow levels. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Great trails for dogs. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
One black glove mounted on the trailhead sign for Avalon Trail at Crawford Depot. |
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 | Comments: |
The Teal Goat and MaineBeefMan mostly covered this already on Monday. Below are some tid-bits left out and surface changes:
Avalon Trail: nicely blazed in yellow. Broken out. Great footbed underway (see ya later rocks and roots!! Suckahs!!). All signs up and legible, removed snow from a couple of signs. Recommend ascending this trail due to the numerous ice flows on the section from the junction with A-Z trail to the junction with Willey Range Trail. Not ready for snowshoes yet. Microspikes kept me upright over all the ice as I decided to descend this trail from Mt Field. See water crossing above. This early morning I met the super friendly Rachel (not of Rachel and Isis) and friend negotiating the ice on the crossing. I am sure we will meet again!
Mt Tom Spur: not blazed. Well broken out. Such a nice walk over the frozen snow sidewalk! Summit carin still mostly visible. Views included the glorious gently falling snow from the inside of a grey cloud. I think I’ve seen this before…
A-Z Trail: this is blazed. I am totally blanking on the color. I think it was blue. Maybe. I know it was NOT white. :) Trail broken out. All junction signs up and legible. Great sidewalk worthy footbed. I clocked a faster ascent time than when I did this in early summer. Could wear snowshoes here, but with freezing temps Microspikes proved to be the footwear of choice. No ice on trail.
Willey Range Trail: only blazed in blue from the summit of Mt. Field to Mt. Willey. Footbed/ snow trench shaping up, though not as nice as Avalon and A-Z. I “broke trail†though the new 0.25 inches of snow that fell overnight. The footbed is firm and sooooooo much better than the loose rock and eroded trail I found this summer. I was flyin’. There are major boney sections near the summit of Willey. I don’t recommend tearing up your irreplaceable (if you’re lucky enough to have gotten a pair) snowshoes, yet. Once a good storm comes through, snowshoes would really help to smooth out this portion of trail. All signs up, cleared of snow to make legible.
Avalon Spur: this signed, unblazed, broken out, little footpath takes you up a steep 100 yards to what is normally a small peak on the “52 With a View†list. Ha! I got up and personal with thick grey clouds and light wind. Take that, view seekers! 😉 Free moisturizer courtesy of dense clouds! At least I could look back to see Mt Field. |
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 | Name: |
Remington34 |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-11-30 |
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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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