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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Field, Mt. Willey, NH
Trails
Trails: Zealand Trail, A-Z Trail, Willey Range Trail, Ethan Pond Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Monday, September 2, 2019
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Big lot at Zealand is great as always. Remember, unless you have the year pass on your windshield, you will need $5 to park. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Most fine. I'll take the fifth on one. Not much on Willey.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Beautiful work on the Willey Range trail with that huge mess the hurricane left. Saw the notes (plastic ribbon tied to trees) for upcoming projects in the real marshy part of Ethan Pond Trail. Thanks! 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Several great dogs out today. The upper section near Field and the rest of the Willey Range Trail is dry, so plan accordingly. 
Bugs
Bugs: Spider webs. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Some one penned a short love note on some birch bark and left it for the recipient. Hope they see it. 
 
Comments
Comments: Looking for something nearby (we were camped at Sugar Loaf 1). We needed A-Z, the section between Field and Willey, and The section from Ethan Pond shelter to Shoal Pond. It was a beautiful day, so it would be good for views.
A-Z trail is exquisite. Area after leaving Zealand Trail is somewhat brushy, the rest is great. Variety of landscape ranging from wide open birch glades, ferny spots, and a flat section full of evergreens. Lots of water along this trail. Stop to look over your shoulder here, from time to time there are views.
Good signage where it meets the other trails. Nice gradual approach to Field, and a perfect day for Field.
On to Willey. Waumbek is right (he posted on this recently)! The descent from Willey is a MESS! Stairs are good, though. Section between Field and Willey had its moments, good (a few views, some obstructed) and bad (broken up slippery crappy rocks). Great view near the summit. Horrible descent. I knew it would take a while (not that I'm fast to start with) and we still had a long way to go. Prema had asked "You do realize we're 7 miles from the car." Tempted to descend Kedron Flume and walk back hoping someone would feel sorry for this idiot and her daughter. Besides, those seven miles would be relatively flat.
It was a quick walk until after the spur to the pond. From this point on, there is quite a bit of maintenance planned, but for now there would be a lot of slipping around in the boggy mess, especially with the waining light. And while we do carry headlamps, I find I don't get as much depth perception after dark and then it is a snail's pace.

This was an exercise in patience and confidence. We have a lot of experience in night time travel (planned and unplanned!) and when I realized this loop was much longer than I thought (pay attention better to the mileage next time you dope!) I just reminded myself that unlike Rome, Owl's Head was done in a day, and this would be a couple miles shorter. Prema is the best partner I could hope for. We got out quite late, but my self-confidence was vastly increased. And we only a ten minute drive from our tent.  
Name
Name: Beckie and Prema 
E-Mail
E-Mail: beckiejani@yahoo.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2019-09-02 
Link
Link: https:// 
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