| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Field, Mt. Willey, Mt. Tom, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Avalon Trail, Willey Range Trail, Mt. Tom Spur, A-Z Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, January 12, 2016 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Depot parking plowed and icy. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
As expected after Sunday's rain-thaw event, both crossings of Crawford Book proved challenging, unappealing, and time consuming. For the first crossing, we went downstream a bit, and for the second, upstream a bit. Waterproof boots and spikes are a must, poles very helpful. Good luck! |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Had these 3 peaks to ourselves. Wore spikes car to car. Would not wear dull spikes right now. Mine are brand-new Hillsounds which were very much appreciated this day.
Avalon Trail was very icy, and falling snow was not adhering. After getting across Crawford Brook x 2 (see above), we opted first for the steeps of Avalon Trail direct to Mt. Field and were happy with that choice, thinking it a more pallatable choice to climb the sustained icy steeps rather than descend them.
Apart from the short, abrupt vertical pitches which were quite icy, Willey Range Trail to Mt. Willey was easy--a nice, smooth, hardpacked sidewalk. Snow started falling in earnest, sparkling snowflakes so pretty! We turned on headlamps for the return to Field and made quick work of the 0.9 m to A-Z Trail, trail still a nice, smooth hardpack. No gray jays on Mt. Tom this particular evening. :)
A-Z down from Tom had a lot of frozen little postholes that were quickly filling in with the light, fluffy snow that were thus very hard to see and made for some annoying ankle jerking and cautious foot plants. Trail near rivers was very icy and precarious on descent, even with spikes. Crossing Crawford Brook in a snowstorm, under light of headlamps, made second crossings even more adventurous.
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 | Name: |
Snowflea & Cruddytoes |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2016-01-13 |
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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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