Hoped to do Tom and/or Field, but Only Avalon Broken-Out: (23-Dec-2008)

[1HappyHiker]

My game plan today was to hike up to Mt. Tom via the Avalon & A-Z Trail. Then, depending upon trail conditions, possibly do a loop by going from Tom to Field, and then descend via the Avalon Trail back to the trailhead. I thought there might be a fairly good possibility that at least the route to Mt. Tom would be broken out.

As I started the hike, things were looking great! The Avalon Trail was very well broken out. However, when I came to the A-Z Trail junction, there was a surprise! The A-Z Trail was not broken-out. There was nothing but pristine, white, undisturbed snow covering the trail. That was the bad news. However, the good news was that the Avalon Trail continued to be broken out beyond this junction.

So, at this point I had these options: A) go to Mt. Avalon, or B) try to break-out the A-Z trail to Mt. Tom alone with nearly 2 feet of snow on the trail, and with my MSR snowshoes (for which I did not bring my tails today!). I suppose there was also an option “C”, which would have been to turn around and try another hike somewhere else. However, with no knowledge as to what other trails MIGHT be broken out, option “C” didn’t get much consideration!

So, choosing option “A”, I made my way up to Mt. Avalon. Just before hanging a left onto the spur leading up to summit of Avalon, I did a quick check to see if the Avalon Trail possibly had been broken out to Mt. Field. It had not. When I got to the Avalon summit, I was surprised to see quite a gathering of hikers. In talking with this “mini-crowd” of 7 hikers, I discovered that they not all part of the same group. A few of the people who were there on the summit had just completed breaking out the trail shortly before me and the others folks arrived.

I thanked the “trail-breakers” profusely for their good work!! And, I must admit to having a few pangs of regret for not meeting up with those guys somewhere along the way so I could have at least helped somewhat with the trail-breaking. But, I guess what goes around comes around. I’ve done my share of trail-breaking on other occasions.

There was some sun on Avalon, and very little wind. So, it was very pleasant to hang out there for awhile. And since Mt. Avalon appeared to be the “only game in town” today, I guess it wasn’t overly surprising that two other groups of hikers were making their way up the spur path to Avalon just as I had started to descend!

The view today toward Mts. Jackson & Webster was good.​

And, the view looking S/SE down the Crawford Notch was also good today.

However, the view toward the Presidential Range was partially obscured by cloud cover.

And, here’s just a small sampling of some of the folks who were hanging out and enjoying Mt. Avalon today.

1HappyHiker

 

[bandana4me]

I knew I should have gone up to Tom today! I went with the intent of breaking a trail. I noticed that there were only one set of tracks on the Avalon Trail, but I did Avalon and Field a couple of weeks ago.

BTW I recognize the 2 hikers in the last pic they were heading in when I was heading out!

 

[NewHampshire]

Dang, what lovely pictures John! I have ben to Avalon once, also in winter, but Jen, BobC and I got goose eggs on views...all socked in. I hated it because everyone talks highly of the Avalon views. Oh well, just means I have to go back .

But I can say one thing about about the trail from Avalon down to A-Z....it is one KILLER glissade run!!!! BobC and I got one run that easily had to be a 1/4 mile

Brian

 

[1HappyHiker]

I can say one thing about about the trail from Avalon down to A-Z....it is one KILLER glissade run!!!! BobC and I got one run that easily had to be a 1/4 mile

Brian

Yep, even if you don’t get views on Avalon, the ride back down to the A-Z junction can be worth the climb! You’re oh so right about it being one KILLER of a glissade run! I can recall one winter when I was almost the “KILL-EE” (if that is a word). With my sock cap pulled over my ears, and my own grunts & groans on the steep upward pitch, I didn’t hear a “train” of humankind barreling down the trail, but I did manage to jump off the track in time. Hey! Stuff like that is good for you! Keeps your reflexes finely tuned!