Date: Aug 3rd, 2013
 |
| Viewpoint close to the top of Mt. Willey |
Elevation Gain: 3,400ft
Trail: Avalon, A-Z, Mt Tom Spur, Willey Range Trail, Kendron Flume
Trail
Total Distance: 10miles
Total Time: 5.5 hours
It’s always going to be a good hike when you pull together a bunch of
cheerful climbers with endless amounts of energy. We started the trek to our 4th, 5th
and 6th peaks later in the morning of a partly cloudy, brisk August
day. We had two cars, so we left one at
the Willey House and began on the Avalon Trail from Crawford Notch. Seeing everyone was in stellar condition, we
set a grueling pace that kept me out of breath and sweating in the cooler than
expected air. The ascent up the Avalon
Trail to A-Z was another quad killer, but everyone’s incessant optimism made
the time fly. We jumped on the Mt. Tom
spur trail to the tree-covered peak.
With the exception of a low hanging cloud layer, we had great views from
an overlook. While admiring the views,
we were visited by a bold bird that more than happy to eat peanuts out of our
hands… literally sat on our hands and ate. From the Peak of Mt. Tom, we hoped onto the
Willey Range Trail that took us on a casual 1 mile stroll to Mt. Field. Yet another tree covered peak, we didn’t
spend much time before heading onto Mt. Willey on the same path. Mt. Willey had wonderful views at overlooks
on either side. By then, the sun was
poking through the clouds and we stopped for a good rest and chat with a nice
couple at the view spot looking towards the Bond Ridge. Even better was the view on the East side of
the peak that gazed out over the Presidential Range. We descended from the peaks following the
Willey Range Trail to the Kedron Flume Trail.
Seeing the trail was pretty easy going, Perry, one of his friends and I
stretched out our legs with a little bit of trail running on the way down. We stopped for another great overlook at one
of the falls (maybe Ripley Falls?) and made it down the mountains just in time
for dinner.
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