| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Willey, Mt. Field, Mt. Tom, Zealand Falls, Thoreau Falls, Ethan Pond, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Kedron Flume Trail, Willey Range Trail, Mt. Tom Spur, A-Z Trail, Ethan Pond Trail, Thoreau Falls Trail, bushwhack, Webster Cliff Trail, Saco River Trail, Sam Willey Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, June 9, 2013 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at Willey House touristy area, felt like a secure lot with store. Have heard of break ins at Ethan Pond which is hidden from road, so willey house might be best bet. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
*Crossing at Thoreau Falls was tricky. Its on slabs only a few feet from a big drop of the waterfall below. Would have required stepping in at least 6 inches of fast, concentrated flow. I look upstream and couldn't find a better spot, so skipped the crossing and retreated today. Could have been done, but with soaked feet and care not to slip given the consequences of a slide there. Would definitely be skeptical of this crossing after a major rain event.
Kedron Flume crossing was nothing despite recent rain, would take a big event to make dangerous. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Ladders on Willey might be an issue, but its your dog. |
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 | Bugs: |
Black flies swarming in parking lot in am, but only an issue later in day in boggy parts of Ethan Pond trail. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Great figure 8 loop (19.5 miles 4850' with spurs/extras) for redliners that features varied scenery of peaks, ponds, waterfalls, talus field, and ladders. Cool and socked in when I went over peaks early in day, but some views. Kedron flume and willey range ladder side where fairly wet and slick, slowing pace. A-Z down to hut was well maintained though felt little travelled and had some wet mossy rock sections. Wide open section in talus field below whitewall mountain is one of my favorite spots, head a few dozen yards down the zeacliff trail for the best perspective framed by in rhodora. See note on Thoreau Falls, which is a unique corkscrew gorge type fall. I bushwhack on the right bank a ways, but that offered no easy alternative down either. Rhodora, lady slipper, and trillium in full bloom along boggy sections of Ethan Pond Trail between falls and Ethan Pond making for a colorful tunnel. Closed out the loop by walking road from ethan pond trailhead (technically part of AT) to pick up Saco River trail (pleasant) and did all spurs and backtracking for redlining. Awesome day out and rewarding route! |
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 | Name: |
John in NH |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-06-10 |
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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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