Saturday, July 14, 2001<\/p>\n
Trails: Ethan Pond to Willey Range to Mt. Tom Spur; A-Z trail from Tom & Field Col to Zealand Trail, Twinway to Zealand Hut, Ethan Pond Trail back to car with detour to Ripley Falls.<\/p>\n
Conditions: Quite a bit of mud as for my third hike in the Whites since
\nwinter, it rained again.<\/p>\n
Special Required Equipment: Mud-proofed boots, rain gear for when it was not raining, vegetation was soaked. Poles helped on this 17.6 mile day.<\/p>\n
Comments: Spent some time at hut talking with scouts who were missing a father & son. Father deviated from rainy alternative & led his son over Willey Range (rest took A-Z & Avalon from C-Notch). I saw them between Willey & Field & attempted to talk novices (no prior experience) out of descending Willey but they failed to listen. Met them again at Ethan Pond & Shoal Pond Junction at 4:45, tired & a bit haggard by steep descent on wet ladders but unharmed.<\/p>\n
Started a little after 9:00 finished at 7:25. First visit to Ethan Pond – what a Jewel. No views from summits but Tom seems more open than even winter 99 & from what I saw through trees on lower section of Ethan Pond. Willey view of Notch & Webster Cliff must be great. I’ve been to Willey twice this time better, by 75 ft. Side trip to Ripley falls was well worth the extra .3 each way.<\/p>\n
Submitted by Mike Paggioli
\nColchester, CT
\nMon, 6 Aug 2001