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Mts Willey, Field, and Tom - page 4 of 5

The climb up to Mt Field from the col was not difficult, especially after the steep ascent to Mt Willey. We stopped at the summit cairn for a photo  and for a look at the limited views. To the north, the broad rounded top of Mt Tom was visible through the trees.

What a difference from the last time I was here, back in January of 2000. It had been 20 below and everything was coated with a thick layer of snow and ice. It was all I could do to make it to Mt Field and back, let alone attempt Tom or Willey on the unbroken Willey Range Trail.

The trek down to the Field-Tom col went quickly, and we soon reached the A-Z Trail, turned right, and in a few steps, arrived at the Mt Tom Spur junction. The last time I stood in this spot, I had just spent a long exhausting time route-finding through a decaying spring snow. Blazes are far and few between on the A-Z Trail, at least in the section coming from the Avalon Trail toward Crawford Notch. I lost the trail so many times that day that I almost gave up and turned around. I was overjoyed when I finally found the trail sign.

Most of the way up the Mt Tom Spur Trail, there's a view spot east to the Southern Presidentials. We stopped for a quick look, but I didn't take any pictures. 

On top, we first visited the south end of the summit cone, where there are some good views back toward Mt Field. A short distance to the north, at the actual summit, there is a medium-sized cairn, a bench, and limited views to the west. Wild strawberries were growing abundantly along the trail on the open summit.

Willey-Field Col. The trail runs through this relatively flat col before beginning the climb up to Mt Field.

willey range trail 3.jpg (152771 bytes)

Muffin at the Mt Field summit cairn. This spot looked a lot different from the last time I was here, back in January of 2000.

muffin on field.jpg (164841 bytes)

Mt Tom from a limited viewpoint on the north side of Mt Field. 

tom from field.jpg (116231 bytes)

Mt Tom Spur junction. The last time I was here, I had just spent a long trek route-finding in the snow.

mt tom spur.jpg (106333 bytes)

Me on the south side of the Mt Tom summit cone. Mt Field is directly behind me.

me on tom.jpg (80299 bytes)

Muffin on the summit of Mt Tom. This was Muffin's 28th 4000-footer.

muffin on tom.jpg (167237 bytes)

Wild strawberries. These were growing abundantly along the trail on the summit cone.

strawberries.jpg (139676 bytes)

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