BIGEarl
Well-known member
March 26, 2011: Willey Range
Trails: Avalon Trail, Willey Range Trail, Mt. Tom Spur, A-Z Trail
Summits: Mount Field, Mount Willey, Mount Tom
Hikers: Trail Trotter (Sue) and me
After the hike to Hale we needed to adjust our plans. Plan A for the day was Carrigain, but our late finish on Hale made an early meet time very difficult. We had no others planning to join us on the Carrigain hike so alternates were considered. A later start and a short hike would be a better choice for the day. A loop of the Willey Range from Crawford Notch seemed like a good idea. We made the change on the drive home from Hale and re-planned our timing for the day.
A two-hour delay for the meet time was nice, but both of us could have enjoyed a little more sleep. Right on schedule, Sue pulled into the Park & Ride lot and we were quickly loaded and headed north. The plan was to hike the loop from the Highland Center. We hadn’t yet decided clockwise or counter-clockwise; that was a decision that could wait until we reached the Avalon – A-Z trails junction.
One thought we had after three days of trail breaking was a later start would give the Crawford Notch crowd a chance to get out ahead of us and open the trails. This was the case. We found the trails nearly all broken and fairly well tracked out. The only exception was the summit spur to Avalon – it was not broken out when we reached the area and still not broken out when we left.
The early hike on Avalon Trail was easy. The trail was generally a nice snowshoe track even though there was a huge number of bare booters out hiking the area. We passed the first crossing and found a section of the snow bridge gone. The second crossing was open but the water was down and crossing was easy. In a very short time from our start we were approaching the Avalon – A-Z trails junction and in need of a decision; which way to go. I had been thinking about it and considering this trail is usually easier to ascend than descend at this time of year I suggested we head for Mount Field first, and hike the loop clockwise. Within thirty yards we stopped to lift the televators and were climbing to the Avalon Spur. The forecast for the day predicted west-northwest wind but in this area the wind was coming through from the east-southeast (at least it seemed that way). We made our way to the Avalon Spur junction, were getting hit pretty hard by the strong wind, noticed the spur wasn’t broken out, and decided to skip the side-trip and head for some denser shelter to stop and layer-up. The conditions were uncomfortable.
Once both of us had some warmer mittens and face masks in place the hike was again pretty comfortable. We knew the climb from Avalon to Mount Field involved several steep pitches all leading to a “false ridge”. Be patient and eventually we’ll reach the final steep climb to the ridge. Finally, we found ourselves standing at the junction with the Willey Range Trail (WRT) and just around the corner from the summit. A short 100 yards and final steep pitch and we were on the summit of Mount Field and getting hit by the forecast 35 mph gusting to 45 mph wind. We didn’t hang around very long at all. Soon, we were on the hike to Mount Willey.
This time through there had been traffic to Willey and we expected a quick hike out and back. It went well, but sections of the trail were completely snowed in. Hikers that had returned to Mount Field just as we were leaving should have left visible tracks but they were completely drifted in. It’s interesting how quickly these things can change.
Sue and I are pretty familiar with the trail between the peaks and had little trouble in navigating these areas. Soon we were back in the wind, this time on Mount Willey. Again, we didn’t hang around for very long and were soon on our return hike to Mount Field. On the hike north to Mount Field we found sections of our own tracks missing. The wind was really coming across the ridge, and there was still a large amount of snow in the trees waiting to come down. I’m sure the trail will be completely gone in a day.
We cleared Mount Field and continued north on WRT for Mount Tom. Hiking the Willey Range right now is great; the trail conditions are as good as they get with a smooth snowshoe track and very few blowdowns. In a short time we reached the WRT – A-Z trail junction. We made the turn and soon made another turn on the Mount Tom Spur leading to the summit. In roughly twenty to thirty minutes we were standing on the summit of Mount Tom and enjoying 35 mph gusting to 45 mph from the west-northwest.
We didn’t hang around. Mount Tom was #3 of 3 for the day and we were on our exit run. The trip back down to the A-Z Trail was fast as was the hike back to the trailhead. The A-Z Trail from the height of land down to the junction with Avalon Trail is in pretty rough shape mainly due to bare booters; oh well.
We hit the Avalon Trail, cleared the crossings along the way, and reached the trailhead with no need for headlights. Considering our extremely late start time this was a real surprise.
After a quick stop at the Highland Center to change we were on the highway south enjoying cold drinks and some M& M’s.
A little vacation hiking with Sue is always fun and this week didn’t disappoint. Thanks Sue.
Pictures will follow.
Trails: Avalon Trail, Willey Range Trail, Mt. Tom Spur, A-Z Trail
Summits: Mount Field, Mount Willey, Mount Tom
Hikers: Trail Trotter (Sue) and me
After the hike to Hale we needed to adjust our plans. Plan A for the day was Carrigain, but our late finish on Hale made an early meet time very difficult. We had no others planning to join us on the Carrigain hike so alternates were considered. A later start and a short hike would be a better choice for the day. A loop of the Willey Range from Crawford Notch seemed like a good idea. We made the change on the drive home from Hale and re-planned our timing for the day.
A two-hour delay for the meet time was nice, but both of us could have enjoyed a little more sleep. Right on schedule, Sue pulled into the Park & Ride lot and we were quickly loaded and headed north. The plan was to hike the loop from the Highland Center. We hadn’t yet decided clockwise or counter-clockwise; that was a decision that could wait until we reached the Avalon – A-Z trails junction.
One thought we had after three days of trail breaking was a later start would give the Crawford Notch crowd a chance to get out ahead of us and open the trails. This was the case. We found the trails nearly all broken and fairly well tracked out. The only exception was the summit spur to Avalon – it was not broken out when we reached the area and still not broken out when we left.
The early hike on Avalon Trail was easy. The trail was generally a nice snowshoe track even though there was a huge number of bare booters out hiking the area. We passed the first crossing and found a section of the snow bridge gone. The second crossing was open but the water was down and crossing was easy. In a very short time from our start we were approaching the Avalon – A-Z trails junction and in need of a decision; which way to go. I had been thinking about it and considering this trail is usually easier to ascend than descend at this time of year I suggested we head for Mount Field first, and hike the loop clockwise. Within thirty yards we stopped to lift the televators and were climbing to the Avalon Spur. The forecast for the day predicted west-northwest wind but in this area the wind was coming through from the east-southeast (at least it seemed that way). We made our way to the Avalon Spur junction, were getting hit pretty hard by the strong wind, noticed the spur wasn’t broken out, and decided to skip the side-trip and head for some denser shelter to stop and layer-up. The conditions were uncomfortable.
Once both of us had some warmer mittens and face masks in place the hike was again pretty comfortable. We knew the climb from Avalon to Mount Field involved several steep pitches all leading to a “false ridge”. Be patient and eventually we’ll reach the final steep climb to the ridge. Finally, we found ourselves standing at the junction with the Willey Range Trail (WRT) and just around the corner from the summit. A short 100 yards and final steep pitch and we were on the summit of Mount Field and getting hit by the forecast 35 mph gusting to 45 mph wind. We didn’t hang around very long at all. Soon, we were on the hike to Mount Willey.
This time through there had been traffic to Willey and we expected a quick hike out and back. It went well, but sections of the trail were completely snowed in. Hikers that had returned to Mount Field just as we were leaving should have left visible tracks but they were completely drifted in. It’s interesting how quickly these things can change.
Sue and I are pretty familiar with the trail between the peaks and had little trouble in navigating these areas. Soon we were back in the wind, this time on Mount Willey. Again, we didn’t hang around for very long and were soon on our return hike to Mount Field. On the hike north to Mount Field we found sections of our own tracks missing. The wind was really coming across the ridge, and there was still a large amount of snow in the trees waiting to come down. I’m sure the trail will be completely gone in a day.
We cleared Mount Field and continued north on WRT for Mount Tom. Hiking the Willey Range right now is great; the trail conditions are as good as they get with a smooth snowshoe track and very few blowdowns. In a short time we reached the WRT – A-Z trail junction. We made the turn and soon made another turn on the Mount Tom Spur leading to the summit. In roughly twenty to thirty minutes we were standing on the summit of Mount Tom and enjoying 35 mph gusting to 45 mph from the west-northwest.
We didn’t hang around. Mount Tom was #3 of 3 for the day and we were on our exit run. The trip back down to the A-Z Trail was fast as was the hike back to the trailhead. The A-Z Trail from the height of land down to the junction with Avalon Trail is in pretty rough shape mainly due to bare booters; oh well.
We hit the Avalon Trail, cleared the crossings along the way, and reached the trailhead with no need for headlights. Considering our extremely late start time this was a real surprise.
After a quick stop at the Highland Center to change we were on the highway south enjoying cold drinks and some M& M’s.
A little vacation hiking with Sue is always fun and this week didn’t disappoint. Thanks Sue.
Pictures will follow.
