Double Bow
New member
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2005
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Alright so I've been slacking about getting this thing put together. Whatever! The only reason I'm getting to it now is because I'll have two more to write after this weekend!
Anyway, Tuco and I got an early start but, we still got to the trailhead a little late and found that Rols had already headed up the trail. We ran into Hiker Ed and the two people he was hiking with in the parking lot before we started. After chatting a bit, Tuco and I took off. I was pretty glad to be doing this hike since I hadn't bee up those peaks since '01. It was almost like I hadn't done them. Actually, I hadn't gone up the spur to Avalon before so, that WAS a first.
We moved along pretty well up the Avalon trail but, we stopped once we got to the junction with the A-Z trail. There we took a little bit of a break and put on crampons. This was a very smart decision as the made the rest of the hike much easier. There were some parts that would have been a little scary without them. While we were stopped, Hiker Ed and his crew passed us.
After climbing steadily and steeply for aways, we reached the Mt Tom spur. On the way up, we saw Hiker Ed's crew coming back down. they had ditched their packs at the spur junction. They told us Rols was up ahead. Sure enough, a few minutes later, we saw him coming down. He told us to make sure to check out the views to the right and left and that he was going to keep going slowly over toward Field. He had originally been planning on just doing Tom, but, the weather was warm and the sun was shining. Who could resist staying out a little longer?
On Tom, we got the views I had been denied in '01 when it was socked in. it was still cloudy but, we were able to see some cool stuff. After checking out both spots, we headed back down. As we headed up toward Field, Tuco said his leg was bothering. We made it over to Field and saw Rols there we talked for awhile until Rols started down towards Avalon. Being prudent about how his leg was doing, Tuco said he'd stay on Field as I went out and back to Willey. It was in the 30's and there was no wind on Field so, I wasn't worried for his safety. I mentally promised that I'd do the 2.8mi RT in less than 2hrs. I didn't want him waiting around forever.
The Willey Ridge trail between these two peaks had been widened since i had been there but, it wasn't as well packed as the earlier section had been. I cruised along for a bit, really enjoying the terrain. Then I came across Hiker Ed's crew again. He told me he saw a couple of my friends on Willey. I knew they were planning on doing it but, I didn't realize that we were that close timewise. This made me push a little harder in hopes of maybe catchng them but, it was of no use. When I got there, they were gone.
Oh, well. I still got good views from the lookout. I had remembered a rock cairn on the side of the trail near the summit but I didn't see it, just one largish rock. Then I realized... DUH! The rest of it's under the snow and ice. Sometimes I forget that I'm feet above the ground.
Anyway, I headed back and had a ball with that too. Once I got back to Field, the sky was the clearist it had been all day. It was amazing! How many days is it where Field has the best views of those three?!?!
On the way down, we went up Avalon and took in those great views. Who'da thunk my first "new" peak in winter would be Avalon??? Well, it was great and I was glad that we did it. Maybe next time I'll do a side trip and bag Willard for the first time!
We got out to the parking lot at dusk so, I thought the timing pretty good. Overall, it was a great day with great company and great views.
Pics to come when I get arounf to it!
Anyway, Tuco and I got an early start but, we still got to the trailhead a little late and found that Rols had already headed up the trail. We ran into Hiker Ed and the two people he was hiking with in the parking lot before we started. After chatting a bit, Tuco and I took off. I was pretty glad to be doing this hike since I hadn't bee up those peaks since '01. It was almost like I hadn't done them. Actually, I hadn't gone up the spur to Avalon before so, that WAS a first.
We moved along pretty well up the Avalon trail but, we stopped once we got to the junction with the A-Z trail. There we took a little bit of a break and put on crampons. This was a very smart decision as the made the rest of the hike much easier. There were some parts that would have been a little scary without them. While we were stopped, Hiker Ed and his crew passed us.
After climbing steadily and steeply for aways, we reached the Mt Tom spur. On the way up, we saw Hiker Ed's crew coming back down. they had ditched their packs at the spur junction. They told us Rols was up ahead. Sure enough, a few minutes later, we saw him coming down. He told us to make sure to check out the views to the right and left and that he was going to keep going slowly over toward Field. He had originally been planning on just doing Tom, but, the weather was warm and the sun was shining. Who could resist staying out a little longer?
On Tom, we got the views I had been denied in '01 when it was socked in. it was still cloudy but, we were able to see some cool stuff. After checking out both spots, we headed back down. As we headed up toward Field, Tuco said his leg was bothering. We made it over to Field and saw Rols there we talked for awhile until Rols started down towards Avalon. Being prudent about how his leg was doing, Tuco said he'd stay on Field as I went out and back to Willey. It was in the 30's and there was no wind on Field so, I wasn't worried for his safety. I mentally promised that I'd do the 2.8mi RT in less than 2hrs. I didn't want him waiting around forever.
The Willey Ridge trail between these two peaks had been widened since i had been there but, it wasn't as well packed as the earlier section had been. I cruised along for a bit, really enjoying the terrain. Then I came across Hiker Ed's crew again. He told me he saw a couple of my friends on Willey. I knew they were planning on doing it but, I didn't realize that we were that close timewise. This made me push a little harder in hopes of maybe catchng them but, it was of no use. When I got there, they were gone.
Oh, well. I still got good views from the lookout. I had remembered a rock cairn on the side of the trail near the summit but I didn't see it, just one largish rock. Then I realized... DUH! The rest of it's under the snow and ice. Sometimes I forget that I'm feet above the ground. Anyway, I headed back and had a ball with that too. Once I got back to Field, the sky was the clearist it had been all day. It was amazing! How many days is it where Field has the best views of those three?!?!
On the way down, we went up Avalon and took in those great views. Who'da thunk my first "new" peak in winter would be Avalon??? Well, it was great and I was glad that we did it. Maybe next time I'll do a side trip and bag Willard for the first time!
We got out to the parking lot at dusk so, I thought the timing pretty good. Overall, it was a great day with great company and great views.
Pics to come when I get arounf to it!
