AndyF
New member
Anyone one been up or down these ladders lately? I am wondering if they are peeking through the snowpack enough to be used, or buried deep enough to slide over. My guess is somewhere in between.
Willey Ladders
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Woody
Active member
I wouldn't advise glissading over the ladders on the way down. I've done it and felt lucky not to be hurt. My son was glissading behind me and I yelled to him and he was able to self arrest with his ice axe at the top of the ladder.
Jim lombard
New member
I agree with Woody, even in deep snow it's a very bumpy ride. I watched a couple people do it then decided to take off the snowshoes and kick step my way down them.
BIGEarl
Well-known member
I think this one is a matter of "different conditions - different solutions". I don't think there is a single good approach.
A couple seasons ago I went through this area with the hiker formerly known as RLC (BobC), and Jennifer. We glissaded the ladder section and had a blast. There was good snow cover and no sign or prior traffic. We were working with relatively deep snow and no rough trail conditions at all.
Some folks may find this section a bit intimidating while others may go back up for a second run.
It seemed that all prior hiker activity was restricted to the summits and exited back to the Avalon Trail or the A-Z Trail on the way to Crawford Notch. I hiked this trio a couple weeks ago with Trail Trotter (12/29/08) and the situation was similar. The broken trail went as far as the viewpoint on Willey and ended. There was no sign of traffic exiting Willey to the south . Clearly, everybody was making a u-turn and heading back to Crawford Notch. Could be this section offers some prime glissading again.
Usual disclaimer - YMMV.
A couple seasons ago I went through this area with the hiker formerly known as RLC (BobC), and Jennifer. We glissaded the ladder section and had a blast.
There was good snow cover and no sign or prior traffic. We were working with relatively deep snow and no rough trail conditions at all. Some folks may find this section a bit intimidating while others may go back up for a second run.
It seemed that all prior hiker activity was restricted to the summits and exited back to the Avalon Trail or the A-Z Trail on the way to Crawford Notch. I hiked this trio a couple weeks ago with Trail Trotter (12/29/08) and the situation was similar. The broken trail went as far as the viewpoint on Willey and ended. There was no sign of traffic exiting Willey to the south . Clearly, everybody was making a u-turn and heading back to Crawford Notch. Could be this section offers some prime glissading again.
Usual disclaimer - YMMV.
Last edited:
AndyF
New member
I did the hike today. Didn't go up (or down) the ladders. Did the loop from Avalon. I did see some faint signs that someone had come up Willey from the south at some point.
With enough snow anything is glissadable. I have gone up and down slopes with ladders so buried I didn't know they were there until I reread the guide. It is when they are only a little covered that they are dangerous.
With enough snow anything is glissadable. I have gone up and down slopes with ladders so buried I didn't know they were there until I reread the guide. It is when they are only a little covered that they are dangerous.
Jim lombard
New member
Here's when not to glissade the ladder Picture was taken by Bob Hayes on one of our hikes. Ouch! Luckily there was a tree to stop you.
Picture was taken by Bob Hayes on one of our hikes. Ouch! Luckily there was a tree to stop you.
BobC
Active member
Trees are your friends. Around the ladders section, I held onto them quite a bit on that hike with Earl and Jennifer.
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