NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
NewEnglandTrailConditions.com:
MA
|
ME
|
NH
|
RI/CT
|
VT
|
Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Hale, Zealand Mountain, Mt. Guyot, West Bond, Mt. Bond, Bondcliff, NH
Trails
Trails: Zealand Road, Hale Brook Trail, Lend-A-Hand Trail, Twinway, West Bond Spur, Bondcliff Trail, Lincoln Woods Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, December 1, 2018
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parked at the Zealand winter lot on 302 and walked the road. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Not an issue 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: A couple of blowdowns here and there, but I can't recall where at this point. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Piper came along and had no problems. 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Group of five: Chris, Todd, Jason, Lean, and myself, along with my dog Piper. Zealand Road and Hale Brook were nicely broken out. Broke trail from summit of Hale to a couple of miles below the summit of Bondcliff. This stretch has now seen five pairs of snowshoe clad feet, but it needs more work before I'd consider it "well traveled." Several feet of snow that likely hadn't seen foot traffic for several weeks (prior to a handful of snowstorms that delivered the aforementioned feet of snow), so the going was not easy. We were slowed down significantly by all of the trees that were so heavy with snow that they were bent over across the trail. We spent a lot of time knocking ice and snow off of trees, but most of them are still in the way. We didn't see anybody else for the entire day, but the trail was well packed from the first (or last if you're ascending) water crossing on Bondcliff trail.

As of right now, there's really no way this stretch of trail should be considered without snowshoes--bring 'em and wear 'em..or don't and spend the day sinking up to your chest. Hopefully a few more groups our size head out there in the coming week or two and really pack this route out.  
Name
Name: Nate Weeks 
E-Mail
E-Mail: npweeks@Gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2018-12-03 
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.

Copyright 2009-2024, All Rights Reserved