btausend
New member
Date of Hike: March 8, 2014
Trails: Ethan Pond Trail, Willey Range Trail, A-Z trail, Mt Tom Spur & Avalon Trail
Trail Conditions: All the trails had good snow cover and were well packed. We used light traction the whole day. If you walked in the center of the trail you were fine. If you stepped too close to the edge of the trail you could easily posthole. There are some old postholes in the trail. A-Z and Avalon trails are rock solid.
There are frequent reports for these peaks, but there are not many reports that include the approach from the Ethan Pond trail. I was surpised how well packed out the Willey Range trail was south of Mt Willey. The approach to Willey is very steep. There are a couple sets of ladders. The first one was mostly covered in snow. The second one was visible, but most people seem to go around it to the left. There is some ice build up around the ladders.
Special Equipment Used: This was a group hike. We either wore microspikes or trail crampons the whole day. Trekking poles were extremely helpful climbing up to Willey.
Comments: The views were great on all three peaks. The sun was beating down on us as we climbed Willey and the snow was balling up on our microspikes and trail crampons. Beyond Field the cloud cover moved in and the snow was less sticky. We only saw one Jay all day. It was a beautiful day for a hike.
Brian Tausendfreund
Trails: Ethan Pond Trail, Willey Range Trail, A-Z trail, Mt Tom Spur & Avalon Trail
Trail Conditions: All the trails had good snow cover and were well packed. We used light traction the whole day. If you walked in the center of the trail you were fine. If you stepped too close to the edge of the trail you could easily posthole. There are some old postholes in the trail. A-Z and Avalon trails are rock solid.
There are frequent reports for these peaks, but there are not many reports that include the approach from the Ethan Pond trail. I was surpised how well packed out the Willey Range trail was south of Mt Willey. The approach to Willey is very steep. There are a couple sets of ladders. The first one was mostly covered in snow. The second one was visible, but most people seem to go around it to the left. There is some ice build up around the ladders.
Special Equipment Used: This was a group hike. We either wore microspikes or trail crampons the whole day. Trekking poles were extremely helpful climbing up to Willey.
Comments: The views were great on all three peaks. The sun was beating down on us as we climbed Willey and the snow was balling up on our microspikes and trail crampons. Beyond Field the cloud cover moved in and the snow was less sticky. We only saw one Jay all day. It was a beautiful day for a hike.
Brian Tausendfreund
