After several days of mostly bare ground hiking in New York's Catskill Mountains, I was not in a snowshoeing frame of mind. But after a 20-inch snowstorm, there is no choice. Monday was the pick of the week - sunny, comfortable temperatures, light wind and long-range visibility. Had to get a view. Being somewhat under the weather with a chest cold, I wasn't up for heavy trail-breaking. So I headed over to the top of Crawford Notch, where I figured either Mount Pierce or peaks on the Willey Range would likely have been broken out on Sunday. At 11:30 am the Crawford Path parking had not yet been plowed out, so I parked on the shoulder of Rt. 302 by the Crawford Depot and noted several sets of snowshoe tracks heading in to the Avalon Trail. Either Mount Field or Mount Tom it would be, conditions permitting.
I was surprised to find a solid snow bridge over Crawford Brook, given all the recent warm weather.
The lower 1.3 miles of Avalon Trail had a beautiful packed powder snowshoe track, some of the best conditions of the season. (But still too soft for barebooting.) A big thanks to those who broke this trail out, and those who followed wearing snowshoes to maintain the integrity of the track.
A favorite stretch of the Avalon Trail.
I was hoping the A-Z Trail was broken out, as I don't like the steep section of Avalon Trail leading up to Mount Avalon. A-Z was indeed broken out, but to a lesser extent than Avalon. The track was soft, loose and uneven, making for a decent workout going both up and down. But still much easier than breaking trail in up to two feet of powder! Again, thanks to the trail-breakers.
A peek up at Mount Tom's NE ridge.
As it ascends up the south side of the Crawford Brook ravine, the A-Z Trail passes through a beautiful open forest with many gnarled old yellow birches.
Slowly making my way up the valley. Quite the trench!
Steep sidehill approaching the crevasse-like upper brook crossing.
Headwater of Crawford Brook.
An angling climb across the valley headwall.
Last push to the Tom-Field col.
There's some snow up here!
I opted for climbing Mount Tom rather than Mount Field, as the 0.6 mile Mount Tom Spur had seen two-way snowshoe traffic, making it easier going than another 0.9 mile of soft, loose going on the Willey Range Trail.
Narrow and winding.
Return of winter magic.
Window on Mount Field.
A weekend snowshoer had made tracks out to Tom's SE viewpoint.
Welcoming committee.
Due to scrub growth, Tom's views in summer are almost nonexistent. It was great to see that with deep snowpack, Tom still delivers a sweeping view across the Pemigewasset Wilderness. Mounts Carrigain and Hancock dominate beyond the wild, trailless western spurs of Mount Field. With bright sun and no wind, I spent a comfortable hour taking in the views.
Peering through Carrigain Notch to Mounts Passaconaway and Whiteface.
The sprawling mass of Hancock.
Big slides in Crystal Ravine.
Mounts Bond & Guyot and the ridge leading towards South Twin.
Afternoon sun lighting up the Presys.
Big George.
Sentinel and Mount Field.
The snow depth in the summit area was off the charts.
I did a tiny bit of trail-breaking out to the western viewpoint.
Even with deep snowpack, the view of the Bond-Twin Range is becoming restricted.
South and North Twin.
Meandering tracks - pine marten?
My miniscule trail-breaking effort.
Descending the valley headwall.
Trees with character.
Evening at Bretton Woods.
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