Mt.Willey and Mt.Field Loop Backpacking

In mid-October in a cold day we went backpacking. This time we did a loop covering Mt.Willey and Mt.Field in New Hampshire. Total was about 15 miles with 4500 feet elevation change. 

Starting point was at the train station of Crawford. The hike starts by crossing the train track. As I went up high, the air got cold. Actually it was so cold. 

Two weeks ago when we went backpacking, we saw very pretty fall colors: yellow, orange, and red. Now all leaves are gone. There are still colorful leaves on the ground, but the view is brown. It was amazing how quickly seasons change in New England, especially summer to autumn, then winter. Now, long winter has began. 

Only a few miles from trailhead, the view was already winter wonderland. Trees were snow covered and trail were also covered with white. Wow. We didn't know it was already winter there and didn't bring microspikes. Winter seemed to come in such a hurry, and still red berries were on the ground with snow as if they were saying it was too quick transition.

Also my shoes got wet. Due to heavy rains on weekdays before our hike, the trail was extremely wet and muddy. Then trail went up about 1500 feet and we reached a junction to the Mt.Tom. To go to Mt.Tom it was 0.6 mile of 300 feet elevation gain. Because it was a spur trail, I didn't feel like going. Besides, a hiker who just came back from Mt.Tom said, "There is no view and the trail is muddy."

While Mr.N and I were thinking if we went or not,  the hiker said, "But you can go to 4000-footers."

Grrr.... to be honest I am a little annoyed by 4000-footer list. 

4000-footer is a list of mountains those are higher than 4000 feet in New Hampshire, or New England. There are separate lists for each. A lot of people do the list. So if the mountain is 4001 feet high, I see many hikers on the trail, even if there is no view at the top. If the mountain is 3999 feet high, there is barely no hikers even if the view is really great. I am not a list person, and I would rather enjoy nice view for hiking. I prefer to do 3999 feet with nice view. 

There is an official 4000-footer club managed by Appalachian Mountain Club, but you need to pay to join. Upon completion, you can buy patches. Still paying for completion?! I personally don't like it. Hiking should be always free! OK. It is okay to pay a little. For 2-week John Muir trail for $5 as I did. 

Well anyway, the U.S. is a free country. AMC can do whatever they want, but I can say my opinion freely as well! 

So we just skipped Mt.Tom and continued the hike for the next viewpoint. After passing Mt.Tom, there was hardly nobody, which was nice. This was the 4000-footer list effect. After a few miles later, we met two backpackers on the trail heading towards Mt.Tom. They said, "You guys are the first hikes we met today" You see how big the 4000-footer effect is. 

Soon after that we started to look for a place for lunch. We found a nice disperse campsite near the stream. The ground was dry and nice. I found a fire place. As a campfire junkie, I couldn't help starting fire during lunch break. There are many birch trees nearby, so I was able to find paper birch everywhere to start fire. Campfire at lunch break. SOOOOO much fun. 

Nice Pond

After lunch break, clouds were cleared up and blue sky came. The air got a little warmer. It was really nice. The trail was also nice along some ponds and ridge. 

We passed near the Zealand hut. We didn't pass exactly the hut, but turned the junction nearby. The junction has a hanging sign saying "hot food for sale at hut". Ha. Hot food sounded nice, but I knew that the hut foods were very American, so I didn't check it out. Also it was a detour. As a Japanese, I always like hot Japanese food in the outdoor setting: ramen, udon, soba, Japanese curry, Japanese pasta, etc....I am picky. 

On the ridge there was talus. It is quite unusual to see talus in New England. My memory of talus is always linked to pika. Pikas live in the talus. I always see whenever hike in the high county in the Sierra or Rockies I see many cute pikas. Sadly there are no pikas in New England, probably because it is not high elevation enough for them. I miss pikas. 

Soon near the talus region, we saw a hiker with big beard. He was a though Appalachian hiker! He did southern states, then did Maine, then came back to New Hampshire and going south. Mr.N said that this kind of thru hike is flip flop hike. The hiker was cool. He said, "I see a light in the tunnel" Good luck to the hiker.

 After 4 p.m, we started searching a campsite. The official campsite was along the Ethan pond. There are several developed site (still dispersed) at the Ethan pond. Usually those official site, 0.25 mile before and after the site was prohibited to camp. We were hoping that fire was allowed there, but we saw a sign it was prohibited. White Mountain National Forest allows fire below tree line, because it is National Forest. However, Appalachian Mountain Club that is maintaining the forest on behalf of National Forest makes their own strict rules and some portions, such as official campsites, are not allowed to have fire. 

Because campfire is always my highlight of backpacking, we decided to continue walking. However, it was only 0.6 miles to be flat. After that really steep climb starts, so it was unlikely to have flat camping spot. 

We searched a possible camping spot, however, all the ground near the trail was extremely wet. Actually trail has continuously small log bridge due to the wet. Along the trail was very mossy, meaning probably tent would be sunk if it was pitched. 

We searched 0.55 mile of 0.6 mile. I was optimistic: I thought that there would be something we can do always. I thought that we could avoid a steep hill and continue a different trail or worst case we could go back to Ethan pond. In contrast to me, Mr.N was upset. 

campsite

At the 0.59 mile, I found an established dispersed site!!! An establish site means a flat spot without trees and obviously it has been used for camping for many times by many hikers. Even nicer fact about the site we found was that the big fire place was there! (see the picture left)

We had a biiiiig fire at night and had a biiiiiig fun. 

Campfire

Next morning, we of course had another morning fire.

While we were having breakfast by the fire, a group of backpacker guys passed by. The site was a little off to the trail, a lot of people could miss it. 

 

 

 

The guys' conversation we heard:

A: It is stinky here. Did you fart?

B: No, it is from campfire there.

A: Oh campfire there. 

B: And I farted.

A: OK.

It was funny. Mr.N said that farting was not a big issue between guys. 

Ha! In-tere-sting.

Ladder

2nd day's climb was tough. 2000 feet in 0.8 mile. Grrr. It is like Mount Shasta. 

Some portion has 8 sets of ladder. 

As we climbed, the scenery got fall from winter. Above 3500 feet is covered with snow and ice. 

Winter

We didn't know that trails are already such icy and snowy, so we didn't bring microspikes. We will do need them for sure at next hike. 

From viewpoint Mount Washington was visible. It was snow covered. It was pretty. 

Snow Covered Mountain

Then we finished the hike. All is good.