| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Tom, Mt. Field, Mt. Willey, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Avalon Trail, A-Z Trail, Mt. Tom Spur, Willey Range Trail, Ethan Pond Trail, Kendron Flume Trail, railroad tracks |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, May 14, 2014 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I was the only one in the Crawford Depot parking lot at 8:30. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow/Ice - Postholes |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The first crossing on Avalon Tr required a step on a submerged rock. Gaiters helpful. All other crossings were rock hops. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Overall the trails were in descent shape other than the snow. There is a little confusion at the reroute just south of the Field - Willey col due to a blowdown. I took out a 6 inch spruce that had fallen in line with the trail near the southern terminus of the Willey Range Tr. There are a couple large ones on Kendron Flume Tr that will require a bigger saw. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
No real issues for trail dogs today on the trails although I did see Marlie post hole several times. We walked the tracks back and what I hadn't noticed in November was the amount of tar on the ties along the high trestle. In the sun it was very wet and I had to spend over an hour cleaning Marlie's paws when we got home and they still aren't clean. |
|
 | Bugs: |
None yet. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
I found a little bit of everything but the only thing worth salvaging was a yak trax and a nickle. The rest of the list includes: glove liner, mitten, chapstick, candy, two dozen wrapper pieces, cigarette butt, squeeze bottle cap, hillshound red rubber tabs, lollipop stick, lots of trail side toilet paper, and a feminine pad. Come on ladies! The last two items I left behind as my bio hazard kit was at home. |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
The weather turned out to be perfect and I even caught a light sunburn. I barebooted to Mt Tom the put on micros for the descent. Thin monorail starting around 3000 feet and mostly soft ice. Over to field the snow depth increased over two feet in spots with the deepest I saw being three feet. Walking the monorail was like being on a balance beam. Sometimes firm sometimes not. Once in a while I would get lucky and be able to walk next to it. Over to Willey it was more of the same with occasional clear sections. Walking a bit slower and careful foot placement seemed to work best. There were only traces of monorail heading down Willey but patchy ice kept the micros on until the ladders. The ladders we clear of snow and ice except for the bottom step. The DOT is currently working along the RR tracks 1/4 south of Crawford Depot.
With my truck in sight we were cut off by a young moose on the tracks. We all stopped and looked at each other. After looking around and seeing some people at the depot, the moose started walking straight at us! I began back pedaling, leash in one hand and camera in the other. The moose got within ten yards of us, then dropped into the brush on the west side of the tracks and posed for another picture. VERY COOL! Oddly enough, Marlie never barked and her fur didn't stand up.
11 miles. 3500' elev+ 7 hr 5 min |
|
 | Name: |
IQuest |
|
 | E-Mail: |
iandanner@hotmail com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2014-05-15 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
