It was -4 at the trailhead of Avalon right behind Crawford Depot about 200 yards south of the Highland Center. This was another published Views from the top hike. Hiking clubs are great because they help guys like me find other like-minded people to hike with.
Since last January (04) when I hiked Passaconaway in pretty cold temps alone and arrived home later than expected, my wife has one rule......"no hiking alone in winter."
Our group would consist of Sherpa John and Sarah (Sherpette) who were planning on showing their 48 film documentary that night at the Highland Center. Also Bob and Geri Hayes, Dinette with her dog Dugan, Mcrat and his friend Dennis and myself. We headed off into the woods at 8amI've been on the Avalon trail several times, it's a nice gradual climb with some switchbacks. Sarah took the lead and set a brisk pace. I'm used to a slower start but was able to keep up pretty well. Others in the group fell back. Dennis was having stomach troubles and so his friend Mcrat kept falling back to check up on him. Dugan and Dinette had no troubles, the trail was well packed.
We took a couple of short rest breaks, Dennis always caught up then we were off again. Sherpa John led the way for awhile, he's a fast hiker. We stayed in line with Sherpette. Bob and Gerri for most of these first parts. We reached the junction where Avalon trail goes left to Mt Avalon and Mt Field, we went straight onto A-Z trail
It took us no time to reach Tom Col it seemed and we saw the right turn which I remembered so well up Tom spur. Really a nice pleasant gradual climb through cottony woods set against an azure blue sky. The summit At one point Bob's Tubbs snowshoe fell off his left foot, he kept moving on the the summit postholing with one foot. It was pretty open with the blowdowns up there in the past few years. We saw Zealand hut, the Zeacliffs, Massive Mt Carrigan and others. What a beautiful day to be out, the sunshine felt great but we knew it was below zero up here.
We waited at the summit for Dennis and McRat for quite awhile but he didn't show so we headed back down towards the col. Within minutes we met up with McRat. I thought he should go the little ways to the summit but didn't say it, he headed down with us.
I was feeling great, we stormed down the mountain and back up A-Z just a little ways to the left turn onto Willey ridge trail. We quickly noticed this trail wasn't as well broken out. Sarah led the way for a little while but then Gerri relieved her. We took turns, I took mine and led for 15 minutes or so before stopping to let SherpaJ take over.
It was nice to be back at the end of the pack enjoying the fruits of others efforts (ok, I'll admit it.) Before it became my turn to take over the lead again we reached Mt Field. Field has very limited views but we enjoyed the sunshine and the company of two hungry Gray Jays. McRat decided to head down to find Dennis instead of going over to Willey.
Down we went, along a nice ridge which I love in the summer, pretty soon we could see Mt Willey in the distance. We went over a sag and down into Field col, now it was just uphill from here. But it went well, the trail was packed much better. We enjoyed the songs of chickadees and the filtered sunshine through the trees.
Sherpa John, Sherpette, Bob, Gerri, Dugan with Dinette in tow and myself popped out on the summit. We headed over to the ledgy outlook for breathless views of Crawford notch and some of the best views of the Southern Presidential range. An old voice came to my head......."never stand when you can sit and never sit when you can lay down." So I lounged while eating a cookie just took it all in. Dugan did too, it was hard to get him going again......Dinette seemed tired.
All too soon it was time to head down. I'd been up the Willey ridge trail from Ethan pond trail so I knew it was STEEEEP! The first parts were already very steep so I sat on my butt with the snowshoes to snowplow ahead and down I went........and down and down and down. Others walked, I butt-slid (called Glissading.)
Bob had gone on ahead to grab some photos of Sherpa J and Sherpette glide down, they were just ahead of me. When we came to a ladder that was partially buried Sarah went over first after John assured her it was OK. It wasn't, she went painfully over the wooden rungs, thump, thump thump, did a half gaiter and ended up with her head pointing downhill. Sherpa J followed and did no better. I took one look at that and decided to take the snowshoes off and just climb down the stairs like a civilized person
From Willey
As I descended I cleared some of the steps for Gerri and Dinette, Dugan bounded down like an old pro even though this was his first winter hike. We regrouped at the bottom then just had a nice easy march from there with maybe one or two more glissades. Back in the notch a couple of hours later Bob graciously gave us a ride back to the Highland Center where we were all parked
These are arguably the easiest three peaks to bag in one day in winter and the route we took from the height of the notch meant the loop was 8.5 miles with just over 3,100 feet of elevation gain.
Mt Willey was my 19th winter summit in about 4 years of hiking. I know I've done the easier peaks like Tecumseh, Jackson, Waumbek but I've also tackled Washington, Adams, Madison and Monroe. Ahead of me lies Owls Head, Isolation, the Bonds, the Twins.......I was resolved to go after them in 2005-06.
