Summits: Mount Tom (4,051'), Mount Field (4,340'), Mount Willey (4,285')
Trail route: Avalon Trail, A-Z Trail, Mount Tom Spur, Willey Range Trail, Ethan Pond Trail
Trail conditions: A variety of dry, wet, mud with new blowdowns between Field and Willey
Weather: Cool, windy and cloudy
Total miles: 8.5
Total time: 6:04
My last 4,000 foot hike was back in mid-August. In the past couple of weeks I have taken some conditioning hikes and today felt ready to tackle a 4,000 footer. But why do one 4,000 footer when you can do three! I met up with Marty to do a Tom, Field, Willey traverse. All three are 4,000 footers on the Willey Range.
Marty was already at the Ethan Pond Trail parking area when I arrived and we spotted a car. We then drove to the Crawford Depot where our hike would begin. We were getting a late start and there were hikers already on the trail. We set out under cloudy skies and cool, comfortable Fall conditions.
Water crossings were certainly not a problem today as we went up the Avalon and A-Z trails. I was getting warm on the ascent and removed a layer but when we arrived at the Mt Tom spur trail a cool wind was blowing and the fleece went back on. A note to myself...don't leave the gloves in the car this time of year. We met several hikers on our hike up and back down Mount Tom. It was a quick visit on the summit and we turned right around and came back down.
There were more hikers on the trail than I was expecting today and we met more on our way across the Willey Range Trail. We stopped on the summit of Mount Field for a brief break. It was then on to our third summit of the day. As we continued our traverse we were met by several new blowdowns. One in particular required removing our packs to crawl underneath while others were easy step overs.
We reached the summit of Mount Willey and had the outlook to ourselves. There were some good views but the Presidential summits were completely cloud covered. We then began our descent and it was all downhill from here. It is a steep drop down from this summit and there is a series of ladders that help with some of the steeper sections of the trail. We continued to meet more hikers along the way.
We got down to the Ethan Pond Trail and it was a nice finish to the hike. It was great to be back on the 4,000 footers again and nice to have Marty along for some good company on this hike. I'm looking forward to more great Fall hiking!
Enjoy the photos and video!
Northern Presidentials are cloud covered while the southern half is clear
Looking up at the Willey Range
Driving down through Crawford Notch
The hike starts here at the Crawford Depot
Very low water makes for an easy crossing
Another easy water crossing
On the A-Z Trail
And another easy water crossing
View from Mount Tom
Mount Tom summit cairn
On the Willey Range Trail
A look back from Mount Field
A view of Mount Tom from Mount Field
Gray jay waiting
Marty is gray jay friendly
Mount Field summit cairn
The mighty Mount Carrigain
Descending Mount Field
Passing through an area of blowdowns
One of many new blowdowns between Mount Field and Mount Willey
A view from the trail just below the summit of Mount Willey
Mount Willey summit cairn
View from the Mount Willey outlook
Looking down into Crawford Notch
Marty navigates some ledges
Marty navigating some more ledges
The first of many ladders
More ladders
Marty descending the ladders
Maple leaf
Hobblebush leaf
Clouds hung tight to the Presidential summits all day
Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!
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