Saturday, July 14, 2001

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.

Conditions: Quite a bit of mud as for my third hike in the Whites since
winter, it rained again.

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.

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.

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.

Submitted by Mike Paggioli
Colchester, CT
Mon, 6 Aug 2001