Periwinkle
Active member
The first issue of the day today was parking: I had mistaken the "Macomber Family Information Center" and "The Highland Center" from using two different books for reference (Steve Smith's 4000 Footers and the 27th Ed. of the White Mountain Guide). I had never noticed the "No Hiker" parking sign at the Highland Center and that is where I said I would be parking. I don't change the agenda I leave at home, so I took my chances and left the car there. It was fine. On the way out, I did notice a small parking area at what is actually the Macomber site, which is the Crawford Depot building. My bad....
The Avalon trail started out very well, just a little damp in places. A few of the bog bridges past the second stream crossing are useless -- rotted, tipped up at bad angles, loose, but fortunately things were dry enough that they weren't needed.
I headed up to Avalon first, continuing up the Avalon trail. The things were a little wetter, which made the leaf covered rock steps and roots unappealing. No problems though.
I turned at the sign for the Avalon side path, making it up the short steep sections without an issue -- they were nice and dry. The views from Avalon were fantastic. Shared them with two gentlemen, the only people I would meet all day.
From Avalon up, things were a little more interesting. I saw the first dusting of snow just below 4000'. There were a few places where a thin coating of ice covered rocks and slabs. Nothing too bad, and it was an uneventful climb to the Willey Ridge Trail and Mt. Field. I appreciated the enormous cairn on Field after spending so much time a few weeks ago trying to find the summit of Whiteface! Field was a short stop, just taking a quick break to check out the two small viewpoints.
The Willey Ridge Trail was a pleasant surprise. All that "meandering" was quite enjoyable, particularly where the trail was graced by more sunshine, ending the icy patches. Most of the small muddy patches were still frosted over, creating decent footing. Along the way, I had an interesting encounter with two Canadian Jays. One captured my attention, flitting about, just about calling out to have his picture taken. I couldn't resist and dropped my pack to take his picture. While he was preening for his photo-op, I caught his partner scoping out the bag of gorp at the top of my pack. These two have quite the racket going on! I nickname the big strutter "Bossy", calling his accomplice "Sassy".
I continued on past the first southern overlook and true summit of Willey (mid-sized cairn on the left) to the east overlook. This little spur does have a sign, but it faced down the trail.
Bossy and Sassy apparently decided I was an easy mark and followed me to the outlook. They watched every mouthful of gorp that went from my hand to my mouth. In between, they posed for a number of pictures, but I assume finally gave up in disgust that I wasn't a sloppy eater or going to give them a handout!
On the return trip, I swear they had a third accomplice who keep flying up out of the brush. I started thinking this sucker's tactic was to give me a heart attack, thereby making it an easy task to swipe the feed bag out of the pocket in my pack!
It was an easy and uneventful trip to the A-Z junction and up to the Mt. Tom Spur (signed as well). Mt. Tom did have a few good overlooks. It seems the overlook path is more well trodden than the path to the true summit. The continuation left at this point looks like two herd paths, but they quickly join for the short distance to the small cairn at the summit.
As I started down the A-Z back to my car, three jays appeared. I had a good laugh. I could swear it was Bossy, Sassy & the thrashing accomplice escorting me out. Better luck next time to that crew!
The A-Z back to the Avalon wasn't a problem. It was a bit wet, but had good steps through the steep section. I was a little bummed out to discover that there are actually two gullies. I thought I was much further along than I actually was.
At the Avalon junction, I pulled out my trusty headlamp for another descent in the dark. Too much time spent at Avalon and Willey and photographing the pushy jays. I guess the laugh was on me!
All in all, it was a great day out. An easy route to follow with plenty of signs and cairns and pretty decent footing overall for a somewhat damp trail with sneaky little icy sections on the way up.
Five to go before I go....
Let's see if I can get a picture of my little friends attached....
The Avalon trail started out very well, just a little damp in places. A few of the bog bridges past the second stream crossing are useless -- rotted, tipped up at bad angles, loose, but fortunately things were dry enough that they weren't needed.
I headed up to Avalon first, continuing up the Avalon trail. The things were a little wetter, which made the leaf covered rock steps and roots unappealing. No problems though.
I turned at the sign for the Avalon side path, making it up the short steep sections without an issue -- they were nice and dry. The views from Avalon were fantastic. Shared them with two gentlemen, the only people I would meet all day.
From Avalon up, things were a little more interesting. I saw the first dusting of snow just below 4000'. There were a few places where a thin coating of ice covered rocks and slabs. Nothing too bad, and it was an uneventful climb to the Willey Ridge Trail and Mt. Field. I appreciated the enormous cairn on Field after spending so much time a few weeks ago trying to find the summit of Whiteface! Field was a short stop, just taking a quick break to check out the two small viewpoints.
The Willey Ridge Trail was a pleasant surprise. All that "meandering" was quite enjoyable, particularly where the trail was graced by more sunshine, ending the icy patches. Most of the small muddy patches were still frosted over, creating decent footing. Along the way, I had an interesting encounter with two Canadian Jays. One captured my attention, flitting about, just about calling out to have his picture taken. I couldn't resist and dropped my pack to take his picture. While he was preening for his photo-op, I caught his partner scoping out the bag of gorp at the top of my pack. These two have quite the racket going on! I nickname the big strutter "Bossy", calling his accomplice "Sassy".
I continued on past the first southern overlook and true summit of Willey (mid-sized cairn on the left) to the east overlook. This little spur does have a sign, but it faced down the trail.
Bossy and Sassy apparently decided I was an easy mark and followed me to the outlook. They watched every mouthful of gorp that went from my hand to my mouth. In between, they posed for a number of pictures, but I assume finally gave up in disgust that I wasn't a sloppy eater or going to give them a handout!
On the return trip, I swear they had a third accomplice who keep flying up out of the brush. I started thinking this sucker's tactic was to give me a heart attack, thereby making it an easy task to swipe the feed bag out of the pocket in my pack!
It was an easy and uneventful trip to the A-Z junction and up to the Mt. Tom Spur (signed as well). Mt. Tom did have a few good overlooks. It seems the overlook path is more well trodden than the path to the true summit. The continuation left at this point looks like two herd paths, but they quickly join for the short distance to the small cairn at the summit.
As I started down the A-Z back to my car, three jays appeared. I had a good laugh. I could swear it was Bossy, Sassy & the thrashing accomplice escorting me out. Better luck next time to that crew!
The A-Z back to the Avalon wasn't a problem. It was a bit wet, but had good steps through the steep section. I was a little bummed out to discover that there are actually two gullies. I thought I was much further along than I actually was.
At the Avalon junction, I pulled out my trusty headlamp for another descent in the dark. Too much time spent at Avalon and Willey and photographing the pushy jays. I guess the laugh was on me!
All in all, it was a great day out. An easy route to follow with plenty of signs and cairns and pretty decent footing overall for a somewhat damp trail with sneaky little icy sections on the way up.
Five to go before I go....
Let's see if I can get a picture of my little friends attached....
Tecumseh must be calling your name. 
