Afternoon Delight : Avalon, Field, Willey, Tom

Date of Hike: 4/3/15

Avalon Trail: 2.8 miles  /  Willey Range Trail: 3.7 miles  /  Mount Tom Spur: 1.0 miles  /  A-Z Trail: 2.0 miles
Total Miles 9.5 miles (3,575 feet elevation gained)

Trip Report:
- Friday's weather was absolutely beautiful, fifty plus degrees up above 4,000 feet.  I decided to do a quick hike/run of the Willey Range with a goal of a sub three hour time.
- I was able to wear my La Sportiva Crossover 2.0 GTX trail runners and my three season hiking pants while strapped into my snowshoes from start to finish.  I need to invest in some trail running snowshoes and some running pants to make things a little easier running in the snow.  The Tubbs Flex Alps are not built for running and they're slowly falling apart!
- There were great views from the summit outlooks of the Presidential Range, Crawford Notch, Zealand Valley/Notch all the way to the Bond/Guyot/Twin Range.
- The Willey range is slowly growing on me during the winter and early spring months as the high snow pack make for some interesting views that can't be seen during the summer and fall.
- Was able to finish the hike/run in 2:53, seven minutes under my goal, a perfect work break between morning and late afternoon work projects!

 Route for the day, click here for details

 Heading up to Mount Avalon

 Sacco Lake below with the Presidential Range rising high above

 Mount Tom from Avalon

 Crawford Notch

 Mount Willey sitting above Crawford Notch

 Mount Willey and Field

 Looking back at Mount Avalon

 View of the Mount Washington Hotel and Mount Tom from Mount Field's outlook

 Mount Tom and Mount Washington Valley

 Presidential Range

 Heading along the Willey Range Trail to Mount Willey

 Views from the Mount Willey outlook

 Crawford Notch

 Webster Cliff and the Presidential Range

 Mount Nancy, Anderson, Lowell, and Carrigain (top).  Bond, Guyot, Twins (bottom).

 Willey Range Trail to Mount Tom

 Mount Tom's summit area

 View over to Zealand Notch from Mount Tom

 Zealand Falls and the hut.  Picture taken by Whitney who was hiking the Willey Range the day before

 The summits of Field, Willey, and Tom

 Crawford Notch Scenic Railway

 Late afternoon sun shining through the clouds over Mount Tom and Field

 Top of Crawford Notch from the Highland Center

 The railroad tracks, the sign at the Webster-Jackson trailhead, and a compass bearing at the Highland Center

 Signs spotted along the way!

 Snowshoes have seen better days!

Nerdy hiking data :)

Mount Tom, Mount Field, and Getting Lost on Mount Willey (#7,#8,#9)

Date of Hike: 1/15/10

Avalon Trail: 1.3 miles
A-Z Trail: 1.0 miles
Mt. Tom Spur: 1.2 miles
Willey Range Trail: around 3.7 miles
Ethan Pond Trail: .3 miles
Kendron Flume Trail: 1.2 miles
Route 302: 1 mile
Total Miles: 9.8 miles (elevation gain 3,500)

 Trip Report:
- Left RI at 5:15, on trail at 8:45am, finished at 2pm
- Temps in high 20's, low 30's, cloud cover above 3,000 feet, no views until coming down Willey Range Trail. I'm now 0 for 3 with views hiking these mountains
- Snowshoes the whole day, saw 6 people on the hike up to Mount Tom and then nobody the rest of the day
- Original plan was to turn around on Willey summit backtrack to Avalon trail and hike down and hope to catch some good views of Crawford Notch from Mount Avalon summit
- Trail was well broken out until a half mile to Mount Field, then snow drifts up to two feet covered the trail but it was still easy to follow

Now I was on my way to Mount Willey. There are 1.4 miles between Field and Willey, it was smooth sailing until I noticed that whoever broke the trail a few days beforehand really had no idea what they were doing and unfortunately for me I thought they did. First they went off the trail to the north (left towards route 302) for a good 5 minutes until rejoining the trail. I thought I was in good shape until I noticed that it seemed like I was bypassing the summit to the north of it. Finally the trail I was following seemed to head south (to the right) towards Willey's summit, however then I really realized the trail was a lost cause because it would go about 100 feet one way then 100 feet another, until it was a dead end and then everything became a maze, the original bushwhack I was following was going in circles to nowhere. Next I decided to head up until I came across the Willey Range trail, stumble the summit, or give up and head back int he direction of Mount Field until I found the original bushwhack before it went coo-coo bananas. Luckily heading up brought me to the summit. I thought I had reached the summit from the north, however in fact I had gone past the summit and "backdoored" it from the south east, meaning the whole time I was turned around and lost my bearings following the bushwhack. If I had bailed out I would have went the wrong direction and ended up in Zealand Notch via Whitewall to Ethan Pond which would have been awful and not Crawford Notch and 302. At the summit the trail was unbroken in each direction and visibility was at about 25 feet, once again not knowing at the time that I was heading in the wrong direction I headed east instead of west back to Mount Field a few seconds later I saw an AMC sign with an arrow that said outlook, now I was totally confused. My choices were head in the direction of the outlook or head down. I decided to head down thinking I'd cross the bushwhack I was on. Heading down was the wrong choice, it was very steep, unbroken, waist deep snow, after 100 yards of sliding down I realized the outlook was the outlook just past the Willey Summit. I turned around thinking no problem I know where I am now time to head home. Not the case, I would go about 25 feet and slide back down, the snow was so deep I couldn't get any uphill traction. Took my Ice Axe, swung, hoping it would bite into packed snow deep beneath but it was useless I just kept sliding down. Knowing that I had no choice it was time to descend the steep part of the unbroken Willey Range trail to Ethan Pond which I know would be broken.

My thoughts know turned to the trail ahead and if it would be easy to follow since it was unbroken. Luckily it was except for a few massive blowdowns. The first half mile until past the ladder steps is very steep. I would butt slide down causing a interesting mini avalanche all around me, after about 50 feet of mostly controlled sliding I would sink down into the snow and have to pick myself up and repeat. Past the ladder steps when i was able to walk again I realized the crampons on my snowshoes had cut a whole in my snow pants and snow was now in the lining of my pants and had become hard-packed, this was annoying but I continued on.

Finally I reached Ethan Pond trail which was broken out, but I only would be on this trail for .3 mile until the Kendron Flume trail which hadn't been broken out for about a week. The trail was easy to follow but there were numerous blowdowns where I had to crawl under, in-between, over...and through! Upon reaching the Flume I finally took a break to eat some food on the completely snow-bridged frozen over Kendron Flume. After about 10 to 15 minutes I continued on, I hit the train tracks and decided that the best way back to my car was to try and hoof it since the tracks were unbroken. Next my snowshoe came off from all the pounding and sliding and went about 25 feet downhill so I followed it down the hill, put it back on and just bushwhacked the last .2 miles to the Willey House on Rout 302.

I changed into dry clothing for the walk up 302, it was very windy in the notch and I tried hitchhiking...no dice, people just zoomed on by me, I don't understand why no one would want to pick up a complete stranger with and Ice Axe attached to his backpack??? I walked about a mile saw some great views of crazy ice climbers on the near vertical ice sheet of the Frankenstein Cliff. Suddenly the breakdown lanes disappeared from the road and I wasn't to thrilled about this, luckily a car started beeping and another hiker who was blown off Mount Carrigain picked me up!

Back at my car I took off my boots and imagined how awful it would be to go through that in the Presidential Range above treeline!

 Pictures: Click here for all pictures

Mount Tom Summit

Willey Range Trail

Ice Climber on Frankentsein Cliff

Mount Willard

Mount Avalon, Field, Tom, & Willey

Date of Hike: 11/21/09

Avalon Trail: 2.8 miles
Willey Range Trail: 2.5 miles
Ethan Pond Trail: 5.6 miles
A-Z Trail: 3.0 miles
Mount Tom Spur: 1.2 miles
A-Z Trail: 1.0 miles
Avalon Trail: 1.3 miles
Total Miles: 17.1 (4850 Elevation gain)

Trip Report:
- Left RI at 4am, on trail at 7:15am, finished at 3:30 pm
- Temps in the lows 30's to mid 40's, cloudy day, windy above 4,000 feet.  All trails were a wet mess from the previous days rain
- Avalon trail becomes very steep and rocky after A-Z trail junction.  Mount Avalon summit probably has some excellent views into Crawford Notch but visibility was at about 100 feet on this day
- Ethan Pond trail (AT) is in very good shape and between the Willey Range trail and Thoureau Pond trail is lined with bog bridges everywhere, probably over 200 of them!
- Ethan Pond is pretty big and the campsite is pretty cool, the shelter however is very old and crappy, the floor boards are at an angle. 
- Lots of cub-scouts heading up to Zealand Falls Hut, they were all soaked and jumped in every puddle they could find!
- A-Z trail between Zealand and Mount Tom is very boring and the ferns need to be trimmed back off the trail
- Added to summit cairns on Willey and Tom
- Everyone I run into pronounces Willey differently, some pronounce it as Why-lee others pronounce it Will-E like the penguin "Chilly Willy"...I looked it up and it's pronounced like the penguin!

Pictures: Click here for all pictures

Mount Willey Summit

Ethan Pond Trail

Ethan Pond Shelter

Zealand Pond

Mount Tom (4,051 feet)

Mount Tom from the Crawford Path (A.T.)

Mount Tom is located in Crawford Notch and is a mainly wooded summit with some decent views.  The hike is a nice trip for beginners as grades up the Avalon, A-Z, and Mount Tom Spur Trails are moderate and in the woods out of the elements. 2.9 miles, elevation gain of 2,150 feet.

Trip Reports:

May 7th, 2016: Up Avalon, A-Z, Mount Tom Spur, across Willey Range Trail, down Avalon Trail

July 17th, 2015: Up Avalon Trail, across Willey Range Trail, up and down Mount Tom Spur, down A-Z and Avalon Trail

April 3rd, 2015: Up Avalon Trail, across Willey Range Trail, up and down Mount Tom Spur, down A-Z and Avalon Trail

February 14th, 2015: Up Avalon Trail, across Willey Range Trail, up and down Mount Tom Spur, down A-Z and Avalon Trail

October 10th, 2014: Up and down Avalon, A-Z, and Mount Tom Spur Trail (RUN NH48)

January 4th, 2014: Up Avalon Trail, down Willey Range Trail, up and down Mount Tom Spur, down A-Z and Avalon Trail

August 3rd, 2013: Up Avalon, A-Z Trail, Mount Tom Spur Trail to Mount Tom, across Willey Range Trail to Mount Field, down Avalon Trail

June 23rd, 2013: Up Avalon, A-Z Trail, Mount Tom Spur Trail to Mount Tom, across-up-down Willey Range Trail to Ethan Pond and Kendron Flume Trail

January 26th, 2013: Up Avalon, A-Z Trail, Mount Tom Spur Trail to Mount Tom, across Willey Range Trail to Mount Field, down Avalon Trail

March 5th, 2012: Up Avalon, A-Z Trail, Mount Tom Spur Trail to Mount Tom, across Willey Range Trail to Mount Field, down Avalon Trail

December 18th, 2011: Up Avalon, A-Z Trail, Mount Tom Spur Trail to Mount Tom, across Willey Range Trail over Mount Field to Mount Willey, back to Mount Field and down Avalon Trail

January 15th, 2010: Up Avalon, A-Z Trail, Mount Tom Spur Trail to Mount Tom, across-up-down Willey Range Trail to Ethan Pond and Kendron Flume Trail

November 21st, 2009: Up Avaoln trail, Willey Range Trail, down to Ethan Pond through Zealand Notch, up and down A-Z Trail

August 16th, 2008: Up Avalon, A-Z Trail, Mount Tom Spur Trail to Mount Tom, across-up-down Willey Range Trail to Ethan Pond and Kendron Flume Trail

Mount Willey (4,285 feet)

Mount Willey from Webster Cliff Trail (A.T.)

Mount Willey along with Mount Tom and Field are located int he heart of Crawford Notch.  Mount Willey is a wooded and viewless summit but there is a very good outlook just past the summit.

Trails I've hiked

-Kendron Flume, Ethan Pond, Willey Range: 2.4 miles, elevation gain of 2,750 feet.  The trails have moderate grades until hooking onto the Willey Range Trail.  From here the trail becomes rougher and very steep as it makes its way up through ladder steps.

-Avalon Trail, Willey Range Trail: 4.2 miles, elevation gain of 2,700 feet with easy to moderate grades with ok to rough footing with one steep section just past the A-Z trail junction beneath the summit spur of Mount Avalon.

Trip Reports:

May 7th, 2016: Up Avalon, A-Z, Mount Tom Spur, across Willey Range Trail, down Avalon Trail

March 19th, 2016: Up Avalon Trail, across and down Willey Range Trail, Ethan Pond Trail, Kedron Flume Trail, and across the Crawford Notch Scenic Railroad

October 3rd, 2015: Up Kendron Flume and Willey Range Trail, down Avalon Trail, across Crawford Scenic Railroad, down Kendron Flume Trail

July 17th, 2015: Up Avalon Trail, across Willey Range Trail, up and down Mount Tom Spur, down A-Z and Avalon Trail

April 3rd, 2015: Up Avalon Trail, across Willey Range Trail, up and down Mount Tom Spur, down A-Z and Avalon Trail

February 14th, 2015: Up Avalon Trail, across Willey Range Trail, up and down Mount Tom Spur, down A-Z and Avalon Trail

August 3rd, 2013: Up Avalon, A-Z Trail, Mount Tom Spur Trail to Mount Tom, across Willey Range Trail to Mount Field, down Avalon Trail

June 23rd, 2013: Up Avalon, A-Z Trail, Mount Tom Spur Trail to Mount Tom, across-up-down Willey Range Trail to Ethan Pond and Kendron Flume Trail

January 26th, 2013: Up Avalon, A-Z Trail, Mount Tom Spur Trail to Mount Tom, across Willey Range Trail to Mount Field, down Avalon Trail

August 4th, 2012: Up and Down Kendron Flume and Willey Range

December 18th, 2011: Up Avalon, A-Z Trail, Mount Tom Spur Trail to Mount Tom, across Willey Range Trail over Mount Field to Mount Willey, back to Mount Field and down Avalon Trail

January 15th, 2010: Up Avalon, A-Z Trail, Mount Tom Spur Trail to Mount Tom, across-up-down Willey Range Trail to Ethan Pond and Kendron Flume Trail

November 21st, 2009: Up Avaoln trail, Willey Range Trail, down to Ethan Pond through Zealand Notch, up and down A-Z Trail

August 16th, 2008: Up Avalon, A-Z Trail, Mount Tom Spur Trail to Mount Tom, across-up-down Willey Range Trail to Ethan Pond and Kendron Flume Trail

Mount Field (4,340 feet)

Mount Field from the Crawford Path (A.T.)

Mount Field is located on the Willey Range Trail in Crawford Notch. Although there is a nice little downlook just below the summit, the summit itself is a wooded and viewless.  Mount Field is often climbed by way of the Avalon Trail, or, along with Mount Tom and Willey via the Willey Range Trail.  Mount Field along with Mount Avalon is a great little hike for beginners with cool views from the tiny open summit of Mount Avalon.

Trails I've Hiked:

-Avalon Trail: 2.8 miles, 2,400 elevation gain.  The Avalon trail has easy to moderate grades with good footing most of the way except for a super steep rocky section below the summit of Mount Avalon, the footing through here is eroded.  The Avalon Trail ends at the Willey Range Trail about 100 yards north of Mount Field's summit, Turn left to reach the summit which is a pile of rocks.

Avalon, A-Z, Willey Range Trail: 3.3 miles, 2,150 feet.  Avalon and A-Z Trails have easy to moderate grades with generally good footing.  The Willey Range Trail has good footing with a very easy grade up to Mount Field's summit.

Kendron Flume, Ethan Pond, Willey Range Trail: 4.1 miles, 3,100 elevation gain.  The Kendron Flume Trail (1.3 miles) has good footing and easy to moderate grades up to the Kendron Flume  The trail then gets steeper with rough and rugged footing until reaching the Ethan Pond Trail junction.  The Ethan Pond Trail (.3 miles) has excellent footing on relatively easy grade until the Willey Range Trail junction.  The Willey Range Trail (2.5 miles) has rough footing and and becomes increasingly steep on the approach to Mount Willey's summit.  There are several ladder steps up the steepest sections for safe passage that helps prevent eroding.  There is an outlook just below the summit where Gray Jay often beg hikers for hand outs.  From Willey to Field the trail has much better footing with easy grades as it descends and runs along the ridge with limited views into the Pemigewasset Wilderness as it heads up Mount Field's summit cone.

Trip Reports:

May 17th, 2016: Up Avalon and A-Z Trail, across Willey Range Trail, down Avalon Trail

March 19th, 2016: Up Avalon Trail, across and down Willey Range Trail, Ethan Pond Trail, Kedron Flume Trail, and across the Crawford Notch Scenic Railroad

October 3rd, 2015: Up Kendron Flume and Willey Range Trail, down Avalon Trail, across Crawford Scenic Railroad, down Kendron Flume Trail

August 28th, 2015: Up and down Avalon and Willey Range trails (RUN NH 48)

July 17th, 2015: Up Avalon Trail, across Willey Range Trail, up and down Mount Tom Spur, down A-Z and Avalon Trail

April 3rd, 2015: Up Avalon Trail, across Willey Range Trail, up and down Mount Tom Spur, down A-Z and Avalon Trail

February 14th, 2015: Up Avalon Trail, across Willey Range Trail, up and down Mount Tom Spur, down A-Z and Avalon Trail

January 4th, 2014: Up Avalon Trail, down Willey Range Trail, up and down Mount Tom Spur, down A-Z and Avalon Trail

August 3rd, 2013: Up Avalon, A-Z Trail, Mount Tom Spur Trail to Mount Tom, across Willey Range Trail to Mount Field, down Avalon Trail

June 23rd, 2013: Up Avalon, A-Z Trail, Mount Tom Spur Trail to Mount Tom, across-up-down Willey Range Trail to Ethan Pond and Kendron Flume Trail, Railroad tracks back to car
January 26th, 2013: Up Avalon, A-Z Trail, Mount Tom Spur Trail to Mount Tom, across Willey Range Trail to Mount Field, down Avalon Trail

March 5th, 2012: Up Avalon, A-Z Trail, Mount Tom Spur Trail to Mount Tom, across Willey Range Trail to Mount Field, down Avalon Trail

December 18th, 2011: Up Avalon, A-Z Trail, Mount Tom Spur Trail to Mount Tom, across Willey Range Trail over Mount Field to Mount Willey, back to Mount Field and down Avalon Trail

January 15th, 2010: Up Avalon, A-Z Trail, Mount Tom Spur Trail to Mount Tom, across-up-down Willey Range Trail to Ethan Pond and Kendron Flume Trail

November 21st, 2009: Up Avaoln trail, Willey Range Trail, down to Ethan Pond through Zealand Notch, up and down A-Z Trail

August 16th, 2008: Up Avalon, A-Z Trail, Mount Tom Spur Trail to Mount Tom, across-up-down Willey Range Trail to Ethan Pond and Kendron Flume Trail