Tom, Field, Willey, & Avalon from Crawford Notch, Sunday 12/14

Date: Sunday, December 14

Hike: Tom, Field, Willey, and Avalon loop from Crawford Notch

Distance/Elevation: 10.1 miles, 3650 feet

Book Time: ~7 hours


Sunday looks like a great day for the Willey Range. I’m interested in hiking the usual route to hit Tom, Field, and Willey and then back over Field for the exit via Avalon. The hike has a book time of ~7 hours but can and probably will go longer due to the conditions. Planning for a nine hour hike probably makes sense. There’s a great mid-hike bail-out at Mount Field. If there’s a reason to cut the hike short, Mount Willey can be skipped. Roughly 100 yards off the summit of Mount Field is the Avalon Trail back to Crawford Notch. I believe light traction and snowshoes may be needed for the hike.

Edit: Evidently crampons may be needed on the Avalon Trail, particularly the section between Mount Avalon and the A-Z Trail junction. Based on how well they did last weekend on the Beaver Brook Trail, MICROSpikes will probably do the job too.


I’d like to plan on a 7:30am start, which should have us back to the trailhead by 4:30pm. My usual hiking pace is moderate.

If you’re interested in the hike, please respond to this thread or PM.

Count me in! I am looking forward to it.

Darn, a week too early for me Earl.

I need Willey for winter anyways, and besides I have a backpack this weekend with Russ....oh well, you can't evade me ALL winter .

Brian

NewHampshire said:

Darn, a week too early for me Earl

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Does that mean you are going to the bird count? Or just doing Tom/Field/Willey anyway, which either way, we intend to do as well?

So in other words, stop following us around!

Earl!

You've been on quite a tear this year. Very humbling, but inspirational as well. What are your winter goals this year? Hopefully I'll be able to join in on one of your hikes. Carry-on.....Stu

NewHampshire said:

Darn, a week too early for me Earl.

I need Willey for winter anyways, and besides I have a backpack this weekend with Russ....oh well, you can't evade me ALL winter .

Brian

Click to expand...

Brian, You want a piece of me? I'm ready when you are. Let's step outside!

stu said:

Earl!

You've been on quite a tear this year. Very humbling, but inspirational as well. What are your winter goals this year? Hopefully I'll be able to join in on one of your hikes. Carry-on.....Stu

Click to expand...

Stu, thanks. Winter plans are still a work-in-progress. I'll probably just keep hiking the list. It turns out to be a handy way to avoid falling into a rut of only hiking in one area.

The Willey Range is a pretty big place. Come to Crawford Notch on Sunday and join the fun, there's room.

Tom Rankin said:

Does that mean you are going to the bird count? Or just doing Tom/Field/Willey anyway, which either way, we intend to do as well?

So in other words, stop following us around!

Click to expand...

I would be a horrible Bird Count participant. My knowledge of birds breaks down into two catagories: Birds that look like chicken, and birds that TASTE like chicken. But hey, maybe I AM stalking you....perhaps I could go down in infamy as the "Views and Brews stalker".

BIGEarl said:

Brian, You want a piece of me? I'm ready when you are. Let's step outside!

Click to expand...

Thats it Earl! Bring it. You. Me. Owl's Head. 21st?!

Brian

NewHampshire said:

I would be a horrible Bird Count participant. My knowledge of birds breaks down into two catagories: Birds that look like chicken, and birds that TASTE like chicken. But hey, maybe I AM stalking you....perhaps I could go down in infamy as the "Views and Brews stalker".

Thats it Earl! Bring it. You. Me. Owl's Head. 21st?!

Brian

Click to expand...

You're on!



Now, back to Tom, Field, Willey, & Avalon from Crawford Notch this Sunday - 12/14.

Anybody interested???

Tom Rankin said:

Does that mean you are going to the bird count? Or just doing Tom/Field/Willey anyway, which either way, we intend to do as well?

So in other words, stop following us around!

Click to expand...

TOm the Bird Count is the week after Dec 20....

Hey Earl let us know what you see.

Puck said:

TOm the Bird Count is the week after Dec 20....

Click to expand...

I assume there is a missing comma or dash in there, i.e. the bird count IS the 20th?

If not, I have some hotel reservations to cancel.

Believe it or not, this thread is not about counting birds.



Now, back to hike of Tom, Field, Willey, & Avalon from Crawford Notch this Sunday - 12/14.

Anybody interested???

Interested, but still sorting out my weekend plans at this late date. I will post again if it works for me to join you.

BIGEarl said:

Believe it or not, this thread is not about counting birds.



Now, back to hike of Tom, Field, Willey, & Avalon from Crawford Notch this Sunday - 12/14.

Anybody interested???

Click to expand...

Sorry about the hijack. I look forward to your trip report.

I'll be with an AMC trip this Sat and Sun hiking up Wiley and Field and camping at Ethan Pond. Maybe we'll bump into you.

Willey Traverse, Dec 14

Big Earl - Am interested - Sent you a PM, Steve

I just spoke with Earl. He will not be hiking Sunday due to the fact that he still does not have power yet. He said he was going to spend time playing lumberjack keeping the fire/heat and generator going as well as cleaning up the debris around his house

KevinMac - Thanks for the update.
Big Earl - Hope we get the chance to connect for a hike some other time.
Steve