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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Zealand Pond, Zealand Falls, Thoreau Falls, Shoal Pond, Ethan Pond, NH
Trails
Trails: A-Z Trail, Zealand Trail, Zealand Falls spur, Ethan Pond Trail, Thoreau Falls Trail, Shoal Pond Trail, Ethan Pond Campsite spur
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, May 29, 2016
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: The upper lot at the end of Willey Station House Road was full mid-afternoon with lots of vehicles on the side of the road. Plenty of parking lower on the side. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: No issues. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: There are three limbs covering this short section of the Shoal Pond Trail - each are easy step-overs. Evidence of recent trail maintenance at a few spots along the way - thank you. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Didn't see any. 
Bugs
Bugs: Not bad at all today. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Other than finding - and packing out - a few bits of trash, nothing. 
 
Comments
Comments: After spending the night at a nice LNT spot along the A-Z trail I completed a loop of sorts by visiting some of wonderful features along and near the Ethan Pond Trail. Overall I had most of these trails to myself, only encountering an AMC group at the Zeacliff junction and again at Thoreau Falls, a group of two adults and four kids who spent the night at Shoal Pond and a couple as I was approaching the Willey Range Trail junction. I sat along the shore of Shoal Pond for quite a while enjoying the sounds of silence and did the same at Ethan Pond. If for some reason I can't sleep tonight I'll forego the sheep and count bog bridges :)

One note: there appears to a spruce grouse nesting on the vertical root system of a felled tree maybe a half mile into the Shoal Pond Trail from the Ethan Pond Trail. On my way out another I had a stand off with another grouse on the trail. Neither were in attack mode but they weren't pleased with my presence either.  
Name
Name: HMJ 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2016-05-29 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense.

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