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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Field (attempt), NH
Trails
Trails: Avalon Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, March 13, 2016
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Mud! 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Blue, Slush 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Both crossings in the first mile of the Avalon Trail were open. I crossed downstream of the trail for the first crossing and upstream of the trail for the second.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: In good shape with only a couple of blowdowns.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: To be discussed in main section. 
Bugs
Bugs: None. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: I lost a pair of gray Warby Parker sunglasses. Please email me if found and I will pay for shipping.  
 
Comments
Comments: My plan today was to hike Field and Willey. Trail was firm but otherwise in fine shape up to the split with A-Z trail. Shortly above the split I began meeting people, all of whom told me the trail ahead was very icy. I met one couple with a cattle dog who had turned around just as I was meeting with them - one of the humans had left his crampons at home and the dog was having a tough time as well. Shortly after that conversation I encountered the first really icy section. A walk-around through the woods had been used by previous hikers, but I assume they had come through yesterday because even those herd paths had firmed up. My dog was having a terrible time and kept looking at me inquiringly, as though he was asking, "Is this really the plan?" He clearly was not having fun. I was in snowshoes at this point and the footing was too uneven. As I switched back to spikes, I had to tie him to a tree because even as he was waiting for me I was afraid he would step on blue ice and risk a 100+ foot slide. At that point the whole endeavor began to seem absurd. How much more of this would we have to deal with before we made the ridge, and how much would I stress about the descent even while I enjoyed the ridge walk? At this point I made the shitty and disappointing decision to turn around (this was probably also the point that I left my sunglasses behind - about 10 feet off the actual trail, all but guaranteeing they will never be found!).

It is never a good feeling to drive from Boston only to turn around and go home, especially in such beautiful weather. But I was making a decision for both me and my dog, who voiced his dissent to the best of his ability to do so by pouting at me and dragging his feet on the hairier parts of the ascent. I figure other dog owners might benefit from this story when choosing a trail in the coming days.  
Name
Name: Chris & Oscar 
E-Mail
E-Mail: oneilcp@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2016-03-13 
Link
Link: https:// 
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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