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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Field, Mt. Willey, Mt. Tom, NH
Trails
Trails: Avalon Trail, Willey Range Trail, Mt. Tom Spur, A-Z Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Friday, April 22, 2011
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parked at Highland Center with plenty of space. Depot was clear and open for parking. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Blue, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Both lower crossing were open, but water levels low. Rock hopping was easy. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: A few minor blow-downs through out the hike. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Dogs might have problems in the areas described below 
Bugs
Bugs: None 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Conditions: Trail had a firm, hard, base throughout the hike, with several inches of fresh powder, deeper on the ridge. Lots of hidden ice beneath the new snow, which made for some tricky traction problems, until it softened up later. We were the only ones on the trails today. There wasn't a sign of any track or trough on the trails today from earlier in the week. We wore Hillsounds and Micro Spikes up the Avalon Trail to the summit of Field. Crampons wouldn't have been overkill for this section. From Field, we wore snowshoes, and they stayed on for the duration of the hike. We had no problem finding the trail over to Willey from Field, but someone who is not familiar with this trial would certainly have route finding problems. From Field to Mt. Tom spur the route was easy to find. No problems with the Mt. Tom Spur to Tom. The worst section of trail, was the A-Z from Tom Spur Jct. to Avalon Jct. It was hard to find the correct route at times. One section at the second gully stream crossing was very dangerous. Slide sloping with blue ice beneath. Crampons would have been the safer bet through here. We made it with our MSR's, but really took our time. All in all a great day out with beautiful weather. Hiked today with Bill & Scott Marcotte, and Steve Moore, who finished his April Grid today.  
Name
Name: Wolfgang 
E-Mail
E-Mail: rjmartin@fairpoint.net 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2011-04-22 
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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