| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Tom, West Field, Mt. Field, Mt. Willey, NH |
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 | Trails: |
A-Z Trail, Mt. Tom Spur, Willey Range Trail, Ethan Pond Trail, Kedron Flume Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, January 10, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
No issues at the Depot or Willey House (main lot is plowed, the Kedron Flume pulloff for hikers is not being plowed this year |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Wet/Sticky |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Crawford Brook was still pretty solidly bridged |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Lots of tree debris has come down in the last week, lots of little stuff. We did our part to flick them off trail |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
A FINE day in the forest was had. Today kicked my butt. I used to be somebody. I still am, but I used to be too. I am out of shape. I mean, round is a shape so maybe I am still. Anyways... snowshoes donned car to car. About twenty five out through the day, almost all of them had snowshoes... on their pack. Decorative I guess. WHY WAIT WHEN YOU CAN TELEVATE? woop woop. There is enough snow to avoid all gremlins down low. Looks like above 3800/3900 did NOT see the sun yesterday and this elevation and above, the trees largely have their winter coats still on. We looked to be the first ones up and over to Tom today, which we made lightning quick work out of. We dropped down the other side of AZ, which had been tracked out by one or two folks sometime in the last day or two. We did not go to the more traditional starting point for West Field, we stopped much higher and just figured we'd side hill over. Within about 200 feet, we were surprised, excited, and in disbelief that there was a visible trough that was largely discernible almost 95% of the way to the canister of West. Whoever this person(s) is, I want to give you a hug. It looks like perhaps someone in the last week did this. Canister frozen but Zachary just wails on the bolt like Mike Tyson and got it open. Snow is a mixed bag, depends on how much sun it got. Largely breakable crust. Some snow does have a good bit of water in it, so it may freeze up into concrete, or it may freeze into shin scrapers. Trails for W / T / F are all highways which with the freeze in the forecast should become absolute drag strips. Definite pucker factor downclimbing the ladders - they would benefit more snowfall. We cut all the switchbacks on Kedron Flume. On my way home I stopped at the seediest, creepiest, murder looking gas station I could and bought a lottery ticket because of all the frickin peaks, WEST FIELD was tracked out. If I win, there will be signs, like lots more trip reports. Thanks Zachary for putting up with my dead legs all day. I gotta get out more instead of being a goblin at home. Another NH 100 Winter in the books! Drip drip drip! |
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 | Name: |
The Teal Goat, zporterColdRiverCampCook |
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 | E-Mail: |
sea2thebiscuit@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-01-10 |
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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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