| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Zealand Mountain (attempt) , NH |
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 | Trails: |
Zealand Road, Zealand Trail, Twinway |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, February 6, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking area across 302 is well cleared. Be mindful if you walk along the snow machine path that there are rapidly moving snow machines that will rapidly appear in your close proximity. I think you're safer than hiking on the highway, but keep your head on a swivel, and consider raising your hat above your ears so you can hear.
The 3 3/4 mile long road walk is mainly trampled down, but it could use some more lovin' to make it epic. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Skis |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Bridges are intact, unremarkable. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
On the Twinway, I encountered one easily managed blow-down at around 2,800 feet or so. If there's more snow, this might change, but it would require about three more unpacked feet. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Two lovely pups, having the time of their lives. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
There were hikers coming down from an overnight at the hut while I was on my way up. All but four never went above the hut, and those four only went as high as Lend-A-Hand, which they packed down yesterday. I didn't get much of a look past the junction with Twinway, but those dozen or so yards heading out to Hale did indeed seem in quite passable shape. Both Zealand Road and Trail were packed down quite decently by both snowshoe and ski, and reasonably swift time was made with modest effort. I can't say thanks enough to those who hiked into the hut -- today would have been incredibly difficult otherwise, and I doubt I'd have made it any distance beyond the hut.
Above the junction... I did indeed see a fair bit of that brand-new, unblemished, dry, powdery snow. I made it to somewhere north of 3,000 feet, before throwing in the towel. Someone (or maybe a party of a few, so time on the sharp end can be shared -- many hands make light work!) could finish what I started, perhaps? I dealt with a lot of knee-deep snow drifts, but I can imagine above Zeacliff, things are a lot easier going.
There was a couple in bare boots on their way down from the hut, and in a few spots, I saw where they slipped, sliced, and post holed to probably their knees. The irony is they each had a fine pair of snowshoes tied to their packs. Why do people insist on butchering the trail in a way that's not just unnecessary, but also makes it harder to make headway for themselves and everyone else?
Photos and a more detailed report is on my blog. |
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 | Name: |
Protean Wanderer |
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 | E-Mail: |
hiker@proteanwanderer.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-02-06 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.proteanwanderer.com/2022/02/06/trip-report-awash-in-powder-in-zealand/ |
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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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