| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Avalon, Mt. Field (attempt), Mt. Willard, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Avalon Trail, Mt. Willard Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked along Rt 302 |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Slush |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Crossings are mostly unbridged, water was high-ish but no problem rock-hopping. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw many happy pups. I did not have my dog, but she would have needed boots or Musher's wax to keep her toe fur from balling up in the sticky snow. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
I intended to do a Field-Willey-Tom loop, but pivoted to Avalon and Willard.
A-Z started out promising, though the distinct lack of snowshoe tracks was alarming. At the junction with Avalon, it looked like A-Z toward Tom had been broken out only by boots. I went up Avalon trail. Also, bare boot broken. Put my snowshoes on at the steeps, but the trail is a mix of smooth sled track and narrow posthole track (this is one of the few times I was thankful for the sledders, for widening the trail). When I got to the Avalon spur and started heading toward Field, it was 12-18" of slushy soft completely unbroken heavy snow. While I'm certainly no stranger to a trail-breaking sufferfest - given the late afternoon hour and the off-and-on sleet/rain mix that was on the menu, I opted out of breaking up to Field. I think if this was hit early in the day or during lower temps, it wouldn't be as difficult.
The Avalon view of the Presis was amazing, and Mt Willard Trail was a dream in microspikes after all the soft trails today. |
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 | Name: |
woodsyjess |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-03-13 |
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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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