Mt. Tom (4,051), Mt. Field (4,340), & Mt. Willey (4,285 ft) 9-27-14

Distance: 19.0 mi.
Elevation: 2,260 ft (overall) 3,667 ft (total)
Time: 3:25 (Mt. Tom) 4:21 (Mt. Field) 5:17 (Mt. Willey) 6:53 (Ethan Pond) 10:20 (Total)
Trails: Zealand Trail, A-Z Trail, Mt. Tom Spur, Willey Range Trail, Ethan Pond Trail

I've been thinking about doing this hike since just after I first hiked these peaks just over 3 years ago. For some reason I had the idea of this loop and immediately wanted to do it. With a plan of hiking all the New England Four Thousand Footers in one year, it seemed like the perfect time to do this loop rather than a shorter route from the other side. This would also get me onto even more trails this year that I haven't been on yet.

Knowing this was going be a longer hike, I made sure to get an early start. The parking lot can also fill up quick on a nice day such as this. Starting up the Zealand Trail is pretty easy. There are no major ups or downs as it gradually gains elevation. All brooks also have nice bridges over them. It is a bit rocky and has a number of roots in places due to the heavy traffic to and from the hut.

Before Long I was turning off onto the A-Z Trail and away from other hikers for a while. I suspect this trail doesn't get heavy usage from this side, but it was in good shape and easy to follow. There was one minor brook crossing and a few damp spots with bog bridges. The trail is gradual to begin with, but steeper than the Zealand Trail. After a while, the trail almost completely levels out for a while making it a nice quick section. It then does the main climb up onto the ridge getting steeper and more rocky. Before too long though, you are up on the ridge and at the Mt. Tom Spur. This trail was a nice alternative being quiet and feeling a bit more remote.

A-Z Trail

The hike up to Mt. Tom went quick as the spur trail is relatively short and isn't very hard. There are some muddy sections, some roots, and a couple small rock scrambles, but nothing too difficult. As you get near the summit, the trail appears to split, but there is no sign. To the left is the actual summit with limited views into the Zealand Valley and to the right is a small open area with views of the Presidential Range and Crawford Notch.

View from Mt. Tom

After a quick hike back down the spur trail, it was time to climb up Mt. Field. The trail hear has some small rocks scattered along it, but it stays pretty good. After going through and area with lots of low lying plants to help make the forest even more green, there is a final steep push just before the summit. There is a small open area at the actual summit with another small viewpoint a few feet away that looks back towards the eastern side of Mt. Tom.

View from Mt. Field

After a nice break, some views, and a change of socks, it was time to head off towards Mt. Willey. There are a couple short steep descents, but only one might be tricky for other hikers. The trail does have more small rocks on it though which will make your feet a bit more sore at the end of the day. After the trail levels off a bit before heading up Mt. Willey, you'll come through a patch of trees that saw heavy damage during Tropical Storm Irene. They have been cleaned up nicely, but it's an impressive and localized spot of damage. It might have been due to some of the trees being down, but I felt more wind here than any other spot along the ridge. This could also be part of way so many trees fell over during that storm. The trail works its way around Mt. Willey a bit before coming to the summit. There is a nice view point just before the summit, but an even better one just after the summit.

The view after the summit provides a vantage point to look across Crawford Notch at Webster Cliff, Mt. Webster, and the rest of the Presidential Range. This is one of my favorite views in the Whites so far.

View from Mt. Willey

View from Mt. Willey

Having been here before, I knew the trail heading south off of Mt. Willey would be steep. You quickly loose elevation and soon come to the ladder section. I think I counted 98 steps on the ladders while climbing down them. After the ladders it's still steep for a while with more loose rock. The trail levels out some before reaching the Ethan Pond Trail.

The Ethan Pond Trail goes uphill a bit before leveling off and then gradually heading downhill. Much of this trail was an old railroad track so there won't be anything too steep or sharp along it. After passing though some nice woods and over many bog bridges, I reached the spur trail to the Ethan Pond Shelter. I walked in to check it out. The pond is small but nice. There is a shelter which filled up while I was resting and tent sites that were already packed when I got there. This is a popular place on weekends when the weather is nice (don't forget foliage is starting to change too).

Ethan Pond

Leaving the pond, more hikers were still coming in hoping to find a spot, but they would soon be turned away. The trail stays nice and gentle for quite a while through here. No real surprises, just a long walk through a remote area. After crossing the North Fork of the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River on a nice bridge, the trail starts to curve back in the direction of the parking lot following around the edge of Whitewall Mtn.

After a stretch in the trees, the trail comes out into the open at the base of a rocky side of the mountain. The old rail bed is very clear here and there are nice views through the valley and up the mountain. After heading back into the trees, the trail starts to have a bunch of short ups and downs over some rocky areas. By this time, my feet where starting to get a bit sore and these rocks weren't helping. Eventually the trail smooths back out again. It stays this way all the way to the Twinway Trail near the hut. After a short section and a small crossing of a beaver pond, you get back onto the section of trail hiked at the beginning of the day.

Ethan Pond Trail

On the old rail bed at the base of Whitewall Mtn

Looking up Whitewall Mtn

Nearing sunset now, I was happy to make my way out without needing a headlamp. At the beaver ponds I was able to see a bit of the sunset and the colors it cast onto the trees that are already changing for fall. This was an enjoyable loop and hike, but I wish there was a bit more breeze today to go along with the sun. It felt pretty warm today while hiking with a temp on the summits of 66 degrees. It's hard to believe that just two weeks ago I was on Mt. Moriah where it was 38 degrees, windy, and I was wearing a hat and gloves.

Nearing sunset while hiking the Zealand Trail

For all the pictures from the hike, just go HERE

Mt. Willey (4,285 ft), Mt. Field (4,340 ft), & Mt. Tom (4,051 ft) 7-7-14

Distance: 7.34 mi. (on mtn) 10.5 mi. (total)
Elevation: 3,047 ft. (overall) 3,574 ft. (total)
Time: 7:26 (on mtn) 1:22 (walk back to truck)
Trails: Kedron Flume Trail, Ethan Pond Trail, Willey Range Trail, Mt. Tom Spur, A-Z Trail, Avalon Trail, RR Tracks

Leaving from the Willey House Site it was still a little cloudy, but this was predicted to go away. The trail heads into the trees behind a picnic area and is pretty easy walking. It works its way to the left before switching back to the right and going up the side of the hill until you reach where it crosses the railroad tracks. The trail heads straight across the tracks and up into the woods before following the side hill more. It continues pretty easy until the brook crossing at Kedron Flume. There wasn't much water here so it was a problem, but it looks like if there were it could be a bit slick. You can take in the small view from here before heading further up the trail. After Kedron Flume, the trail gets rockier, steeper, and today more muddy (there was a thunderstorm the night before). Some of the sections of trail now can bit a bit difficult with poor footing and being steep. This doesn't really go away until the Ethan Pond Trail.

Shortly before Kedron Flume

The Ethan Pond Trail can have some big rocks in it, but only gently gains elevation so it is a nice break from what you just did. You aren't on this trail long before it diverges to the right and you start out on the Willey Range Trail. Once on the Willey Range Trail it starts to head back uphill steeper again. It isn't too bad to start, but soon gets to some much steeper and washed out sections as well as coming to a series of wooden steps built into the trail made of old trees. Shortly after this you come to a series of 10 wooden ladders built going up the trail. From the base you can only make out about 6 of these before you see the trail turn to the left. One wouldn't think stairs/ladders would be hard, but with gaining almost 100 ft of elevation in a very short distance isn't easy any way you do it.

About the first half of the ladder section

After the ladders, the trail continues to stay quite steep and a bit rocky. After leaving the ladders around 3500 ft of elevation, this section of trail seems to just keep going on with no real breaks. But all of a sudden you will come to a path at a small unreadable sign that leads to the right and to a very rewarding view. This makes the hard climb all worth it.Just up the trail from this is the summit and just on the other side of the summit is another smaller view to the west.

A great view to the East across the notch

Heading down from Mt. Willey the trail is pretty easy and gentle with no real hard spots. Once it reaches the low point of the saddle and starts heading back up, it does get rockier and a little steeper. Shortly before the summit you will also come to one steep rock scramble and climb. When you reach the summit there is a small path leading to an opening on your right with views to the north and the presidential range. There is also a more limited view through a couple trees to the west a few feet past the summit on the trail.

View to the North from the small opening on Mt. Field

The trail going down Mt. Field again is quite easy not being very steep and only have a few rocky sections. You gradually work your way down in and out of some thick trees until you come to the A-Z Trail and turn right for a couple hundred feet. The Mt. Tom Spur leaves to your right and is marked by a small sign on the other side of the trees you are facing. The Mt. Tom Spur is pretty easy as well with only one steep rocky section. Today it was a bit muddy for the length of it, but not too bad. Near the summit I first took the trail to the left to get to the actual summit before going on the trail to the right to the view point.

The only harder section on the Mt. Tom Spur

Almost as soon as I had my bag down on the ground at the summit, I heard something. When I looked, it was the first of what was going to be 3 Gray Jays checking me out. Having plenty of experience with these guys from snowmobiling, I knew they wanted a snack. So I got out some of my cookies and started making friends. After going through some cookies and taking some pictures, I headed over to the view point on the Eastern side of the summit.

The Gray Jays like cookies as much as I do

The view over here is another one of the great views of whites in my mind. Where you are standing you can't make out any roads and the only civilization you can see is the observatory on Mt. Washington. It is hard not to enjoy a site like that.

Great view from Mt. Tom

After having something to eat, taking in the view, and chatting with three hikers that are studying to be catholic priests (there was a group of them scattered all around hiking) I headed back down. Starting back down the A-Z Trail, it was a little steep and rocky with many stone arranged as steps in the trail. None of them were overly big so it wasn't too hard going though. After getting onto the Avalon Trail the hiking got even easier and continues to do so the closer to the end you get. After coming out at the Crawford Depot, now I had to do was walk the about 3 miles back to my truck.

The summit of Mt. Washington finally came out of the clouds by the time I got to Mt. Tom

Looking down into the notch at Mt. Webster

Mt. Willard Section House foundation

Willey Brook Bridge overlooking the notch

For all the pictures from the hike, just go HERE