4,285 ft | Willey | 1 route
Feels like -21°F
Below freezing at all elevations
~1.6°F drop per 1,000ft
Best Hiking Window
Wait until Wednesday, March 4 or later when temperatures are expected to rebound above zero and the Wind Chill Warning has expired. Monday remains dangerously cold with temperatures staying below zero and winds only partially subsiding. Tuesday brings slightly warmer return flow overnight but also increasing clouds and light snow late in the day. The safest and most enjoyable conditions in the near term are expected mid-week as the arctic airmass fully retreats.
Trail: Avalon Trail, Willey Range Trail, A-Z Trail, Mt. Tom Spur
Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts
“Awesome day in the big snow on Field, Willey and Tom, in that order. We floundered up Field in the powder because I really like those trees. A crew had broken out to Willey from last night’s storm. It wasn’t perfect but we did a lot of good work with the snowshoes. Snow is still unconsolidated on top & bare booters were struggling a lot today. Saw so so many friends & hieroglyphics. So many nice surprises and coincidences - you never know who you’re going to run into out there! Snowshoes door to door but then we ran the last 2.3 out in spikes. A regular white mountain sidewalk! I don’t think I’ve worn spikes all winter so they felt strange. Lots of squeezing spots over to Willey - the trail was broken but tight. Probably a little easier for you fun sized h@3$! Loved staying at the Top Notch as always, where I have been coming for years and where everybody knows your name (& what you did)! Good spot to shower off from one activity while you’re waiting for the next. Very grateful to know the owner here & have her on speed dial. Big hiker hotel and a place to see & be seen by all 👀 Reminds me of another place I love in the Belknaps.”
Trail: Avalon Trail, Willey Range Trail, A-Z Trail, Mt. Tom Spur
Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts
“Two of us wore snowshoes the whole way. While it’s packed down on the lower section of Avalon Trail, the trail gets softer and a lot steeper where snowshoes would be best, especially with heel lifts. Evidence of butt-sliding down Avalon trail from Avalon summit present. Avalon Trail to Mt. Field summit has a well-defined trench with areas of unconsolidated snow. Great views from both Mts Avalon and Field. Willey Range Trail has a trench with occasional chunks of fallen snow from trees dotting the trail. We had to avoid some postholes while trying to navigate around spruce branches sticking out into the trail. At Mt. Willey summit we noticed that Willey Range Trail beyond the summit was broken out. We retraced our tracks back down Willey Range Trail to the A-Z trail junction and took Mt. Tom Spur Trail to Mt. Tom summit. The trail was packed down. The descent down A-Z trail and Avalon Trail was good on packed down trails. We noticed divots on the trail from bareboots/microspikes. Great day on the trails with lots of sun and excellent visibility.”
Trail: Avalon Trail, Willey Range Trail, A-Z Trail, Mt. Tom Spur
Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts
“Two of us wore snowshoes the whole way. While it’s packed down on the lower section of Avalon Trail, the trail gets softer and a lot steeper where snowshoes would be best, especially with heel lifts. Evidence of butt-sliding down Avalon trail from Avalon summit present. Avalon Trail to Mt. Field summit has a well-defined trench with areas of unconsolidated snow. Great views from both Mts Avalon and Field. Willey Range Trail has a trench with occasional chunks of fallen snow from trees dotting the trail. We had to avoid some postholes while trying to navigate around spruce branches sticking out into the trail. At Mt. Willey summit we noticed that Willey Range Trail beyond the summit was broken out. We retraced our tracks back down Willey Range Trail to the A-Z trail junction and took Mt. Tom Spur Trail to Mt. Tom summit. The trail was packed down. The descent down A-Z trail and Avalon Trail was good on packed down trails. We noticed divots on the trail from bareboots/microspikes. Great day on the trails with lots of sun and excellent visibility.”
Named for the Willey family tragedy of 1826. Part of the Willey Range with Field and Tom.
Elevation
4,285 ft
Range
Willey
Rank
#29 of 48
Difficulty
Easy
Coordinates
44.1836, -71.4208
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