Mt. Willey (4255')

Overview
Amy, Leela, Mary, and I climbed Mount Willey via the Ethan Pond Trail and Willey Range Trail. NOTE: The trailhead for the Ethan Pond Trail is off of the Willey House Station Rd. which is also the road with the sign for Ripley Falls off of 302.

• TIME: 6 hours (including breaks)
• DISTANCE: 5.4 miles
• ELEVATION GAIN: 2,850
• DATE: 10/23/2011

Note that I no longer create Google Maps for my hikes.  If you need trailmaps, get the AMC Guide to the White Mountains, which is what we use now (or another similar resource), or see if you can locate the trails on the old (possibly outdated) maps on the topographical views at msrmaps.com.


Trail Conditions
Lots of autumn leaves on the ground now, causing occasional slips on unseen damp rocks.  Worth it for the beauty.  Overall both trails were wet from recent rain and the Garfield Ridge Trail section we used was occasionally very eroded, but never too difficult.  The ladders/stairs were in fine condition, though slick from the wet conditions.  It's a steep hike, but nothing too out of the ordinary awaits.  There was one big tree with big branches laying on the Ethan Pond Trail, but it was easily maneuvered.  Should've brought a saw!


Comments and Photos
I found this hike to be more strenuous than I expected.  Short 4k hikes can do that sometimes.  I loved the ladders, though Leela (dog) was a bit freaked out by them and needed to be lead with a short leash to prevent her from trying to find an alternate, more dangerous and difficult route.  It was a bit cold, but the sun was out for us at the summit, and overall it was a rewarding, somewhat quick hike.  I'd say if you're looking for an easier route to Willey, combine it with Field (and Tom if you're up for it), though I haven't done this so I cannot reliably attest to the difficulty or lack thereof of that route.

Leeeeeeeaves on the generally easy though occasionally steep Ethan Pond Trail

View from East outlook on Willey.  The path to the outlook is marked by a strange sign.

Chocorua from Willey.  Carrigain to the left?

At the "summit" of Willey (still East outlook)

On top of Willey!

The true summit of Mount Willey was marked by this cairn

Here's a photo from the Willey Range Trail.  Steep!

Another photo from the Willey Range Trail.  Very eroded sometimes

Willey Range Trail also has a long stretch of "ladders", which for the most part resembled narrow stairs.

Ladders/stairs on the Willey Range Trail

View of Mount Willey from the parking area at the Ethan Pond Trail trailhead at the end of Willey House Station Road

Final Thoughts
I originally wanted to do the Willey Range 4ks (Willey, Tom, & Field) in one hike, but I like that we have to revisit for Field & Tom. Crawford Notch is a beautiful spot adjacent to the Presidentials.  Plus, we're not in a rush to finish all the 4000 footers.  It's nice to be more casual about it and savor each hike a bit.