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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Avalon, Mt. Field, Mt. Willey, Mt. Tom, NH
Trails
Trails: Avalon Trail, Avalon Spur, Willey Range Trail, Mt. Tom Spur, A-Z Trail, bushwhacks
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, March 28, 2010
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Crawford Depot lot still has a decent sized snowbank blocking it. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Blue, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: On Avalon Trail, first crossing was still snowbriged, but second crossing was open (easily rock hopped). On A-Z Trail, both crossings were snowbridged. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Plenty of blowdowns on all mentioned trails. Missing one sign at Avalon-A-Z junction. Avalon Spur sign tree has fallen down. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Still top to bottom snow coverage. Barebooted to the second Avalon Trail crossing, then wore snowshoes for the balance of the hike. A bit icy heading up the steeps to Avalon - I suspect Micropsikes would not quite be adequate to descend this safely. Trail very vague beyond Avalon - no recent traffic. Willey Range Trail a bit rough between Field and Willey - stayed on trail for the first half, then opted to bushwhack in open woods for awhile, as to avoid postholes and leaning spruce. Hopped back on trail about a quarter of a mile before the summit. From Field to A-Z Trail, it didn't look like anyone had been on the Willey Range Trail proper in a very long time. We stayed on the proper trail for most of the way, though there were plenty of blowdowns and lots of low clearance. The Mt. Tom Spur Trail is off course near the summit, going a bit too far west - may be an issue when the snow softens up again, as there is spruce lurking below. In general, snow was firm in the high elevations with 1-6" of wind drifted powder on top. Don't be fooled by the minimal snow at the base - there's a sustained 5 feet of snow along the ridge, drifting deeper in many places. Snowshoes seemed to offer perfect floatation and traction. From Mt. Tom Spur down, we bushwhacked along the trail in open woods in places, as the footbed is a bit messed up. The gully area is particularly tricky, as there isn't much of an established footbed, and the walls are very firm.  
Name
Name: rocket21 
E-Mail
E-Mail: rocket21 at franklinwebpublishing dot com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2010-03-28 
Link
Link: https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos/NewHampshire/mtavalon-2010-0328.php 
Bookmark and Share 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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