| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Zealand Mountain, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Zealand Road, Zealand Trail, Twinway, Zealand Spur |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, December 26, 2023 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
RT 302 new paving in lot. Plenty of room |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
1 before AZ Trail is ice bridged, I made it both times but its unstable. Above the hut I went upstream a bit, way back I just went for it. Until it gets colder these are all unstable. All other were easy rock hops, no ice on rocks. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
1 new blowdown duck under on Twinway. This will be an issue with more snow. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Long day |
|
 | Bugs: |
surprisingly no with the warm temps |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
packed out a snow basket |
|
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|
 | Comments: |
Felt like cheating today to call this a winter hike. Zealand Rd had minor ice/snow but no issues. I bear booted to the hut with no problems. Spikes would have been on/off. The falls were beautiful this morning, plenty of ice/water. Icy climb to hut, I rock hopped & made it. Spikes on at hut, knew I would need them on the water crossing. Kept them on until back below the hut. Ice/snow mix on way to Zeacliff. Stunning undercast here, with Anderson Lowell & Carrigan poking thru the clouds. Snow depths increased on the Twinway. Conditions varied from packed solid trail to mashed potatoes, ice, bear ground. Climb to ladder was icy, ladder was free but lots of big flows around it. As always the spur was sloppy, not solid at all. No need for snowshoes today. The amount of time I could have used them to pack down the trail wasn't worth carrying them....IMO. I saw no one carrying these today. Fairly quick back to hut, then the long trek back to car. Lond day but the weather was amazing. Saw a couple of groups doing the traverse. 1 from each way. |
|
 | Name: |
buzza77 |
|
 | E-Mail: |
buzza77@msn.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2023-12-27 |
|
 | 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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