| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Zealand Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Zealand Road, Zealand Trail, Twinway, Zealand Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, March 19, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Whitewall Brook above the Zealand Falls Hut - second crossing - was still bridged, but I suspect it won't be for long. The first crossing was easily stepped in and across. Several open streams on the Zealand Trail were also easily negotiated. Some open drainage areas on the lower end of the Twinway, all easily stepped across. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Really just a reiteration of most of the other recent trail reports. There is still significant snow at elevation, even if the ground is beginning to appear at the trailheads and lower elevations. Snowshoes are still necessary, particularly with the warmer temperatures and sloppy snow.
I bare-booted the walk up Zealand Road for about 3 miles. It is open and muddy in places, icy in places, and mashed potato snow. I put my snowshoes on shortly past the Hale Brook trailhead because there was enough soft snow on the road to make walking tedious. Much easier with snowshoes, and much easier than carrying the weight.
Snowshoes all the way to Zealand summit and back to roughly the same spot on the road. There are a few areas of exposed ground, particularly in the vicinity of Zealand Pond with southern exposure, but overall still decent snow coverage on the trails. I was anticipating a difficult water crossing above the Hut due to the recent warm temperatures, but it was not an issue, at least at present. Above the Hut on Twinway there is increasingly significant snow - several feet of snow at least, between Zeacliff and Zealand summit.
There are areas on the trail which has been completed mangled by those who refuse to use snowshoes. Really unfortunate. Some of the post-holes are quite deep. I pity the poor souls who continue to press forward under such circumstance. It must be absolutely exhausting. I will say that the majority of the snowshoe track between Zeacliff and Zealand summit remains largely intact with a solid base, but if you step off the track you will post-hole deep, even with snowshoes.
The two (2) steep sections on Twinway between Zeacliff and Zealand summit are potentially a bit dangerous, so definitely use caution. Going up was much easier than descending.
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 | Name: |
Del |
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 | E-Mail: |
dlefevre@tarbellpa.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-03-20 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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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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