Avalon and Field (May 18, 2013) - 6 hours

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First snow was at 3,000'.    Crawford Notch.

I started off this hiking season with a medium hike to Mt. Avalon (3,400') and on to Field (4,200'). The Weber family joined me to Avalon and from there I continued solo. There were quite a few people around on this beautiful Saturday. The first snow was at 3,000' (left). The top of Avalon has beautiful views for moderate effort, including of the classic U-shaped valley below Crawford Notch (right).

Steady snowpack on the trail, and above 4,000'.    Bretton Woods.

From there the climb to Mt. Field continues at fairly easy grades. Above 3,700' there was a steady snowpack on the trail, and above 4,000' I was in winter again (left). The top of Field has a natural view towards the Zealand valley and the Bonds to the west, but also a man-made view to the northwest where trees have been cut, giving a magnificent perspective on Bretton Woods (right).

Avalon Stream.    Janice and snowman at Bretton Woods.

I had considered doing a round-trip to Mt. Willey along the ridge, but there was too much snow so I gave up on the idea and went down to the Field-Tom col and from there back by the A-to-Z Trail. Just after the trail rejoins the Avalon Trail there is a crossing of Avalon Stream. There was a lot of water and I bushwhacked my way back to the trailhead along the stream. That was a lot of fun (left) , taking me through a succession of pools and cascades. I thought we were done with snow for the season but a week later we had four inches of new snow down in Bretton Woods (Janice with friend at right).

See also: 2013 Hikes