| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Eisenhower, Mt. Pierce, Mt. Jackson, Mt. Tom, Mt. Field, Mt. Willey, Mt. Avalon, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Edmands Path, Eisenhower Loop, Crawford Path, Webster Cliff Trail, Webster Jackson Trail, Avalon Trail, A-Z Trail, Mt. Tom Spur, Ethan Pond Trail, Willey Range Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, July 24, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at the trailhead for Edmands Path on Mt Clinton Rd. I approached from US 302 in Crawford Notch. The rough road is paved for the 2.2 miles from US 302. Parking area signed, hard to see as the sign is blocked by branches. Lot is dirt surfaced, large. No fee or privies. Kiosk in the woods. Road and lot are closed in winter (gated). |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Nothing of significance. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Ladders on Willey Range have several missing stairs, but are still sound. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Great trails for dogs except for the 1.1 miles Willey Range trail between Willey summit and junction with Ethan Pond trail. This section is brutally steep with several long ladders. |
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 | Bugs: |
Noseems and black flies the most pesky. But much fewer in number than last month. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Two day route that I dub "The Convoluted Loop."
Route:
Edmands > Mt Eisenhower Loop > Crawford Path (AT) > Webster Cliff > Webster Jackson trl > Avalon Trl Mt Tom Spur > A-Z trail > Ethan Pond Trail > Willey Range Trail > Avalon Trail > US 302 > Mt Clinton Rd
Edmands path: blazed in blue. Simple to follow foot bed. Goes above tree line.
Mt Eisenhower Loop: marked with carins. Simple to follow.
Crawford Path: this is the AT and is marked with carins. Heavily travelled Path.
Webster Cliff: this is the AT and is well blazed in white. Very steep descent from Pierce to Mizpah hut (hut open), then one of my favorite trails between the hut and Jackson. Steep ledge scrambles to get Jackson summit. Sometimes winter is so much easier... Super crowded summit on Saturday. Lots of alpine vegetation taking a beating. On the way down the summit cone, I was letting people come up one of the tricky ledges (up has right of way), when three people came from behind me and started to push past me on the ledge. I told them to wait as two people were coming up. Bi%$ches looked right at me and proceeded to push past me and the people coming up on a narrow sliver of ledge. The people coming up said, "That's not a safe place to get around someone." Those punks scoffed and kept barging thier way down without regard. At least everyone else on the trails were patient and courteous. I had a few evil thoughts about those persons...
Webster Jackson: it is blazed in blue, but more frequent blazing is in lower elevations. Very rough trail, well worn. Trailwork in progress on Saturday. Awesome group of older hikers from Quebec met. 60 is definitely the new 40.
Avalon: well blazed in yellow for its entirety. Well worn Path. Very steep in parts between A-Z jct and Field summit. No cliffs.
A-Z: blazed in yellow. Well established footpath, much less travelled on segment between Willey Range and Zealand trail. Very pretty with lots of water on this part as well. The trail on the Avalon side is steep, but not precarious. Much better grades on the Zealand side.
Mt Tom Spur: not blazed. Quick 0.5 jaunt to viewless (in summer) summit. Quicker jaunt after dropping that overnight pack!! Carin at summit. There are several herd paths that may be confusing.
Ethan Pond: this is the AT and is well blazed in white. I freaking love this trail. It is gently graded with lots of water and backcountry camping options.
Willey Range: see dog note above regarding ludicrously steep segment. That steep 1.1 miles took me an hour and 15 minutes to do (in a full pack). Trail is only blazed in blue between Field and Willey summits. Frequently travelled trail between Field and Willey. Some erosion on this part as well. Busy trails on Sunday. |
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 | Name: |
Remington34 |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-07-25 |
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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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