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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Willey, Mt. Field, Mt. Tom, NH
Trails
Trails: Ethan Pond Trail, Willey Range Trail, Mt. Tom Spur, A-Z Trail, Zealand Trail, Ethan Pond Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Friday, June 1, 2012
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parked at Ethan Pond trailhead on Willey Station Road, 3 cars there when I left at 9, mine was the only one upon returning just after 6. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: All "crossings" easily rock-hoppable. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: No blowdowns along the entire loop. Some significant erosion on Willey Range Trail just below the ladders. New bog bridging staged at two points on A-Z trail. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Saw none out today. 
Bugs
Bugs: Bugs out in force down low on Ethan Pond and Willey Range in the early part of the hike, otherwise, they were only really a problem on the summits. They were quite ferocious on Tom in particular, probably because I was the only one there. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Decided to tackle the Willey Range and some redlining while I was at it.


Started up Ethan Pond in bright sunshine and few clouds, which would be the case until I descended to Zealand Trail. The portion of Willey Range from Ethan Pond Trail to Willey summit was new to me, and was the high point of the day. The outlooks through the trees and the ladders were spectacular. Ran into two gentlemen on Willey, both on their second day after an overnight, and chatted with them for some time.


Left them at the Pemi viewpoint off Willey and booked it over to Field. Ran into a couple at the viewpoint and chatted with them for a while, then the summit started to fill up as more groups arrived. I made my way down to A-Z only seeing one group of two, and then made my way up Tom, finally getting views from the outlooks. Then it was time for new sections of trail.


Descending A-Z to Zealand Trail was a joy, as the trail travels through really pretty woods. Ran into one of the guys from Willey (Keith or Kevin, I'm sorry I don't remember your name, it was a long day) who was making his way out to Hale Brook trailhead. Chatted with him as he kept up with me, and we went our seperate ways at Zealand Trail. I then started my long slog out on Ethan Pond Trail. Things had clouded up by this point, so I just put my head down and made time. I wanted to make side trips to Thoreau Falls and Ethan Pond Campsite, but due to my fatigue and the time, I skipped it, there's always next time. All in all a great day to be out! 17 miles, ~4200 ft gain, 9 hours 10 minutes.  
Name
Name: Bill Robichaud 
E-Mail
E-Mail: bill.robichaud@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2012-06-02 
Link
Link: https:// 
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