| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Willey, Mt. Field, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Ethan Pond Trail, Willey Range Trail, Arethusa-Ripley Falls Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, May 19, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Access road to Willey Station nicely paved. Fee lot ($5). |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Water crossings are insignificant |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Large hardwood across Ethan Pond Trail (12"+ diameter). Walk around, slip under, or flip over.
Tree falls on Willey Range Trail were easy to step over.
Willey Range Trail has many stretches of badly eroded path. Trail corridor has expanded to avoid the eroded path. The worst damage is on the south slope of Mt Willey. Some erosion on the south side of Mt Field.
The ladders on the Willey Range Trail has one stair broken and another damaged. Many steps are worn. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Dog must be comfortable walking up log staircases. Saw a nice Dalmatian who had come from Crawford Depot approach. |
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 | Bugs: |
Only a few black flies. Not bothersome. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Ascent of south slope of Mt Willey is steep. As noted above, this stretch of the trail could use trail reconstruction or relocation. Water running on only a couple of short section of trail.
Almost no snow from Willey Station up to Mt Willey so no need for traction. Between Mt Willey to Mt Field there was snow on about 50% of the trail. Most of the snow was less than a foot deep although there are some spots with 2 or 3 foot depth of snow. There was a combination of solid monorail and decaying monorail. Not many places with running water beneath the snow. The snowy sections can be traversed with bare boots or microspikes.
Good views from both summits and in places on the intervening ridge. Saw some paited trillium, red trillium, and hobblebush down low.
Hiked to Ripley Falls to wrap up the day.
Met an AT northbound thru hiker from Montana. Met Mike Bromberg who had bushwhacked the peaks near Shoal Pond. The only hiker I saw between the two peaks was a travelling nurse from South Carolina. Met two couples from MA on Mt Willey and three hikers coming from or going to Ethan Pond. |
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 | Name: |
WAUMBEK |
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 | E-Mail: |
waumbek@roadrunner.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-05-19 |
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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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