| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Field, Mt. Tom, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Avalon Trail, Willey Range Trail, A-Z Trail, Mt. Tom spur trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, November 25, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking at Crawford Depot, off of Route 302. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None were an issue. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails are in fine shape -- EXCEPT for the 6-7 significant blowdowns on the A-Z Trail, all but one within 0.1 miles east of the crossing of Crawford Brook; the other is about 0.2 miles east of the brook. One, possibly two, require a chainsaw, while the rest can be taken out with a Silky Saw. (All other trails are obstacle-free.) |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Nice, if blustery, day out. Peaks were mostly in freezing clouds/mist, but occasionally, there was blue skies and a view.
We wanted to get a bit of winter while we could, after the high winds from the weekend declined a bit and next round of precip rolls in on Tuesday. We were not disappointed -- anything above 3000 feet is a winter wonderland, with a few inches of packed powder and some ice. Up to that point, though, is pu pu platter, with dry trail, blue ice, ice, packed powder, running water, etc.
We went up the Avalon Trail -- needs much more snow to cover the blue ice, fill in the rocks, etc. on the steeps -- and then down Willey Range to the Mt. Tom spur, and down A-Z/Avalon to the car. With more snow, we would have done that in reverse.
We thought about heading on to Mt. Willey, but really didn't have enough time. (We'll wait for more snow, when conditions are a bit faster.)
Within a half-mile of Mt. Field, the snow depth is roughly 12 inches, and in some places a bit more -- snowshoes were pretty helpful here, and fast-moving (while people in bareboots/spikes labored a tad with footrolling, etc.) but went back on the pack near Mt. Tom. We saw another person wearing them, and they were moving with ease.
So, rock spikes are recommended for most of the route, and up high, snowshoes are very helpful for a mile or so.
We saw 10-12 very nice (sometimes chatty!) people, two shouty, mouthy red squirrels, a cackling nuthatch, and a couple of Canada/gray jays, looking for fud. |
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 | Name: |
Pancks and Tesco Heaney |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-11-25 |
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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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