Clockwise Or Counter?

Clockwise Or Counter? Tom, Avalon, Field combo Rate Topic:

#1 EngineCo.2

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Posted 17 Jul 2007 - 10:44 PM

Any suggestions on which direction? We're on vaca next week, so you know it'll probably be raining when we do these. I had heard one way was more steep than the other. We'll be coming in from the AMC Center. Y'all haven't let me down yet, so "THANKS" in advance! :lol:

#2 Stickball13

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Posted 18 Jul 2007 - 07:41 AM

My wife and I did them Avalon, Field, then Tom.
This was not a difficult hike at all.
7.2 miles round trip.
Not much of a view anywhere on this hike.

The Avalon trailhead is located about 1/2 mile south of the AMC parking lot. Follow the trail over railroad track before you accent up the trail. At 1.3 miles you will come to the A-Z/Avalon trail junction. We went left over Mt Avalon to My Field.

From Mt Field, keep going clockwise follow the Willey Range Trail to the A-Z trail and the Mt Tom Spur. Then back down following the A-Z trail to the Avalon trail.

One of these days I will put all my trail descriptions from my journal in this website.

#3 silentcal

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Posted 18 Jul 2007 - 03:44 PM

I think the trail is a little steeper going to Avalon first, but not by very much. If I had to choose which way to go, I would hit Avalon first since it's a nice spot to take a break while you are ascending Field. Keep an eye out for the sign for Avalon. Some people find it easy to miss. I find the section between Field and Tom to be some really nice woods walking as you lose elevation quite gradually. Tom is really a nice spot too. I hope the bench is still there. It's such a sweet spot to gaze at the Pemi from.

#4 EngineCo.2

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Posted 18 Jul 2007 - 07:15 PM

Thanks for the input. We will indeed hit Avalon first. As I said before, you haven't led me astray yet!

#5 murph1134

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Posted 14 Jun 2010 - 05:22 PM

I know this is an old post but figured I'd weigh in for anyone wanting to do this in the future...

Have done parts of this trail on two occasions.

First time - went up Avalon trail to the summit of Avalon, back down, then up the A-Z trail/Tom Spur to Mount Tom. Returned via A-Z trail.

Second time - Avalon trail, to A-Z trail, to Willey Range trail. Took the Willey Range trail over Mount Field, to Willey, and back down the Avalon trail. I thought the down stretch from Field's summit to the junction of Avalon/A-Z was fairly treacherous as a final descent.

If I were to do this again, I'd definitely do Avalon, Field, then Tom. Come back via the A-Z trail. You'll still have a steep descent but I think a bit less than going the other way.