“Feeling very clever, I devised a plan to turn around on the fifth step. I’d make him think all was normal and then WHAMO! Caught in the snide! Cue the evil laugh. Heh, heh, heh.”
— from 4000s by 40
This page shares photos from Chapter 17 of 4000s by 40. If you’re climbing the 4000-footers and want to know more about what it’s like to take them on, you can get the book [here]. And to go along with the photos below, I’ve added a quick retelling of events, along with quotes, to give a small sense of what you’ll find in the book. Happy hiking (and reading)!
The parking lot presented a foreboding sign, but it turned out that it wasn’t a bear that would be hunting me. Soon I’d make the company of a winged predator that I couldn’t shake.
Heading out on the Ethan Pond Trail
Because I had already climbed Mount Tom, on this return to Crawford Notch I planned to only climb Willey and Field. This would be an out-and-back trip over the Ethan Pond and Willey Range trails, tagging Willey first, before summiting Field. And before I got out of the car that morning, I had an inkling that if there was ever a day where I was likely to run into some gray jays, this would be the one.
Sure enough, during my hike up Willey, I was followed for miles by a curious gray jay—or maybe more than one. After a certain number of steps, I’d hear the beating of wings, which would promptly stop whenever I turned around to see who it was. I’ve never had a bird stay that close for that long. At first, I didn’t know what was hunting me, but I came up with a strategy to make him reveal himself. He was very clever, hiding until I hit a precise count of steps, so I stopped short once—and there he was!
Food was his game, of course, and when we arrived at the summit, I gave in and shared a bit. How could I resist?
Hiking Up Mount Willey
The way up Willey is fairly steep but full of visual interest. Train tracks, ladders, and rail-tie stairs are just a few of the perks. Anytime I come across one of these on a hike, it awakens the explorer in me—but to find all three on the same trail? How lucky can a hiker get?
As I approached the summit of Mount Willey, a view opened up of Crawford Notch below and I was smitten. I loved the way the road cut through the valley, and I’ve always been fond of the image I captured below. There was a haze that day, and even though my phone wasn’t set to take high-quality pictures, sometimes the haze is what you want—it turns the landscape into part of a dream.
View of Crawford Notch From Willey
Feeding Gray Jays on Mount Willey
I don’t believe in feeding wildlife. Truly, I don’t. I’m a strict believer in the carry-in, carry-out policies of being in the woods, and I fully understand that wildlife growing accustomed to human charity will make it harder for them to survive on their own. But I’ve been to the Willey Range several times, and the gray jays there are different. They are very forward and will sometimes land on you when you’re not even eating any food. Given the generations of birds that have thrived there, it seems to me that the gray jays have so fully adapted to that environment, there’s not much you can do to change them.
I know it might irk some to hear of people feeding the gray jays, but there are some things that are just too fun to pass up. After being descended upon by four of them, hopping about my legs and staring at me, I gave in. I was an easy target.
“How could something so simple, so easy, feel so magical? Thank you, Mr. Willey, thank you.”
Getting Out There: 4000s by 40
If you like reading about mountains, the 4000-footers, or the ups and downs of getting “out there,” you can find more stories in 4000s by 40.
Looking for photos of more 4000-footers? Head back to the 4000s by 40 Visual Companion to explore the other peaks. For More Pictures of Willey and Field, you can also see them on my Instagram account here.
🥾 Ascent Details of Mount Willey and Field
- Trailhead: Ethan Pond Trailhead (Route 302, Crawford Notch)
- Route: Ethan Pond Trail → Willey Range Trail (out and back)
- Peaks: Mount Willey (4,285′), Mount Field (4,340′)
- Distance: ~8.2 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: ~2,900 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
- Notable Features: Wooden ladders on the ascent to Willey, ridge walk between peaks, chance encounters with gray jays