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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, A-Z Trail, Mt. Tom Spur
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, September 19, 2020
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: A few spaces left at the train station this morning at 7:45, though cars had already lined the road (presumably overnighters). Absolute mess prior to noontime, witnessing multiple near-accidents (including someone driving the wrong way on the shoulder of US 302). 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Very low 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Took out a minor blowdown on A-Z. One stepover remains on A-Z, perhaps a few tenths above the Avalon junction. Waterbars in need of cleaning. Lots of unmitigated trail creep (COVID "social distancing" damage) and erosion. Worst active erosion is just below field on the Willey side of the Willey Range Trail; may be time for a relo. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs: BEE WARNING: Ground yellow jackets on the ledge outcropping on Avalon Trail just before the second water crossing (I got stung here a few weeks ago; witnessed them today coming out of the ground on the left side (heading toward the water crossing)). 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Trails are about as dry as can be. This does make the eroded areas more difficult to walk, as the dirt and rock are particularly loose without moisture to bond them to the base surface.

Some very nice fall foliage colors popping up, though the trees are still generally green. The high elevation birch are turning gold.

Chilly start with temperatures in the 30s and a slight ground frost in places up high. Beautiful fall weather. More folks than I would have guessed on the trails early this morning. Later, there was a steady stream of late-starting masked hikers ascending Mt. Tom; quite crowded up top.

Franconia Notch was very crowded around noontime, with out-of-state plates parking along the interstate just north of the stringed no-parking barriers, walking along the highway to the trailhead (even though there's a paved recreation path a stone's throw away). I suspect I wouldn't fare as well if I attempted to park along I-495 in Massachusetts to go for a walk.  
Name
Name: rocket21 
E-Mail
E-Mail: rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2020-09-19 
Link
Link: https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos 
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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