U
Unregistered
Guest
Mt Tom & Mt. Field, hiked on Sunday Oct. 24, 2010
Trail conditions: Upon pulling into the Crawford Depot the range looked lightly dusted in comparison to Mt. Washington across the way. As we made our way to the Avalon trailhead the ground was covered in wet leaves and there was plenty of mud with the occasional scattered ice patch and light dusting of snow. As we reached the junction of Avalon and the A-Z trail, the conditions were fully winter with complete snow coverage on the ground. We took A-Z to the top where we continued to the summit of Tom via the Tom Spur trail - full winter conditions present, with full snow coverage and large unavoidable patches of ice. The hike from Tom to Field via the Willey Range Tr. was the same; I highly recommend good traction. The original plan was to get Willey as well but the overcast sky and consistent spitting rainfall won out and we descended via Avalon Tr back to the Crawford Depot. Avalon Trail from Mt. Field was very icy and would have been unnavigable without traction.
Special Equipment Required: Gaitors, trekking poles, Microspikes (or other comparable traction device), winter layers.
Comments: Despite the ominous sky, it was a great day and there were many others hiking as well. The Gray Jays were exceptionally friendly and ganging up on you in packs. Great views of Washington and the Presidentials from Mt. Tom. Snow was fun!
Kelly Rogers
[email protected]
Trail conditions: Upon pulling into the Crawford Depot the range looked lightly dusted in comparison to Mt. Washington across the way. As we made our way to the Avalon trailhead the ground was covered in wet leaves and there was plenty of mud with the occasional scattered ice patch and light dusting of snow. As we reached the junction of Avalon and the A-Z trail, the conditions were fully winter with complete snow coverage on the ground. We took A-Z to the top where we continued to the summit of Tom via the Tom Spur trail - full winter conditions present, with full snow coverage and large unavoidable patches of ice. The hike from Tom to Field via the Willey Range Tr. was the same; I highly recommend good traction. The original plan was to get Willey as well but the overcast sky and consistent spitting rainfall won out and we descended via Avalon Tr back to the Crawford Depot. Avalon Trail from Mt. Field was very icy and would have been unnavigable without traction.
Special Equipment Required: Gaitors, trekking poles, Microspikes (or other comparable traction device), winter layers.
Comments: Despite the ominous sky, it was a great day and there were many others hiking as well. The Gray Jays were exceptionally friendly and ganging up on you in packs. Great views of Washington and the Presidentials from Mt. Tom. Snow was fun!
Kelly Rogers
[email protected]
