| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Hale, Mt. Tom, Mt. Field, Mt. Willey, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Hale Brook Trail, Lend-A-Hand Trail, A-Z Trail, Mt. Tom Spur, Willey Range Trail, Ethan Pond Trail, Zealand Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, August 23, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at Zealand Trail trailhead lot off Zealand Rd. This is a fee lot ($5 a day) with a kiosk and well stocked privy. Bear trash can available as well. This is also a AMC shuttle stop. Times posted on kiosk. Shuttles take cash and cards (you pay the driver directly. This is an awesome service). Reservations encouraged. Zealand Rd is paved in part, then turns to a good gravel road passable by any vehicle. Gated in winter as it, partly, becomes a snowmobile route. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Nothing of significance. Take note, I was hiking in a deluge so I really did not care if my feet got wet in a crossing. They were soaked anyway… |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The first ladder on the Willey Range trail heading to Mt Willey summit is missing 4 rungs. There is a work around for now, but these ladders are in dire need of attention. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
The 1.1 miles on Wiley Range trail descending off Mt Willey may be too technical for them. There are multiple ladders and loose rock. Water points ample in today’s rain. |
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 | Bugs: |
One durn deer fly on A-Z trail. Am I never to be rid of this kamikaze flyer?!? Otherwise, no bugs in todays rain. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Route:
20.6 mile loopish trying to grid 4 of the 4000 footers in NH on this wet, wet day.
Roadwalk from Zealand parking to Hale parking > Hale Brook Trail > Lend-A-Hand > Zealand Trail > A-Z trail > Mt Tom Spur > Willey Range Trail > Ethan Pond Trail > Zealand Trail > end.
Hale Brook: well blazed in yellow. Last night’s rain beefed up the few water points. Wet, slick rocks. No mud. Trail simple to follow.
Lend-A-Hand: well blazed in blue. Nice decent off Mt Hale. Wet, slick rocks. Take care on the descent. Some standing water on trail (but there always is outside of snow season). Really nice trail.
A-Z Trail: moderately blazed in yellow. Lots of mud and encroaching understory. Bog bridges and rocks wet and slick. This is a great trail and is nicely maintained. Much more gradual ascent to the Willey Range. Many water points running well on trail. Great backcountry camping options. Footbed simple to follow despite the blaze spacing.
Mt Tom Spur: signed, no blazes. Simple to follow this slick, rocky, muddy footbed. No views outside of winter. Large rock carin at summit.
Willey Range Trail: only blazed in blue between Mt Field and Mt Willey summits. Footbed well worn, simple to follow. Mostly wet, slick rocks. Bits of mud on less rocky segments. The 1.1 segment after the summit of Mt Willey is on the “25 Most Terrifying Trials” list for a reason. I made it down today, the the rain, with wet slick rocks and wet ladders. It took me over an hour to do this segment. My butt got soaked using the “5 points of contact” on some of this trail.
Ethan Pond trial: this is the AT and is well blazed in standard white blazes. Wet, muddy and slick trail. I took a “majah diggah” off one of the rocks, careening into a mud pool. Though this is a lovely graded route, take time in the rain.
Zealand Trail: well blazed in blue. Popular, gently graded route to the Zealand Hut (AMC operated). I was convinced that the biblical Moses was going to carry off two of each kind from the Zealand Pond with all the rain. But he never appeared so I pressed onward through the rain and numerous puddles. |
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 | Name: |
Remington34 |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-08-23 |
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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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