| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Willey, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Ethan Pond Trail, Willey Range Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, July 28, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Got last spot in small lot. Room on road well. Sldovaccess to Ripley Falls from this lot so I expect it’s bonkers sometimes |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Easy rock hops |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Severe, unmitigated erosion on WRT |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Very steep and scrambly mile with many ladders. Only for extremely athletic pups! |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Continued our streak of steep and gnarly trails today! We unfortunately (or fortunately) orphaned Willey last month due to my dog’s decrepitness, earning us a fun trip up the fun side of Willey. It rained last 24 hours, so it was a wet Willey, or maybe a slick Willey? Either way it was exciting. The ladders are fun (I think), although maybe terrifying for some. Only other time on this trail was in February 2017, when I had no idea what I was doing. I tried to get up the last snow-covered ladder in snowshoes and fell/slid fifty feet down the mountain. I recall Fin casually stepping out of the way as I rocketed past and a look of horror on my friend Dan’s face. I survived unscathed, then had severe muscle cramps for twelve more miles on a loop that almost killed us. Fond memories!
Met friendly duo Grace and Shawn on viewpoint near summit. Grace graciously graced us with her last three homemade oatmeal chocolate chip coconut macadamia cookie. Gracias, Grace!!! Descent was easier than expected. Ladders were a breeze. The eroded, gravelly sections were much worse in my opinion. A Brazilian couple with nothing except a half plastic bottle of water each (no packs), in sneakers asked us at base of ladders if they were almost at top?! Said they had people waiting for them below and were really tired but wanted to summit. Explained the 800’ of crazy steepness above them, pointed at their sneakers, and tried to very gently persuade them of their folly. They indeed turned around and were grateful for the info. Crazy unpreparedness-glad we ran into them when we did! Another fine, rugged adventure with my tiny peeps.
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 | Name: |
James, Badass, Silent Running |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-07-28 |
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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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