| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt Zealand (attempt), NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Zealand Rd. Zealand Trail, Twinway |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, December 11, 2025 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked on Rte 302. They were just finishing the plowing at 8:30 AM |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Hard to see best route with new fresh snow, but no large crossings. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
No blowdowns, and I cleared the waiting snow from many trees. Mostly on purpose. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
None |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
Fresh snow all the way, and it snowed all day. I broke trail all day. I skied up almost to the hut, thinking it would be faster than the snowshoe slog, and it was (barely). Had to take the skis off and walk some of the rocky parts of the trail, and water crossings were challenging. About 4 inches new snow at the the parking lot and well over a foot up by the Zeacliff view point. That's as far as I made it - not even to the Zeacliff trail. Took 90 minutes from the hut. The snow wasn't bad at first, but got real deep approaching the first viewpoint sign I was up past my knees on most steps even with my (admittedly small) snowshoes. Turned around at 2:15 because I didn't want to be (as someone wrote recently) part of a SAR chapter in a book. The Twinway was pretty good on the way up, but I found a bunch of rocks as I snowshoe-skied back down. Stopped briefly at the hut to eat and talk to Sadie, then left around 3:40. 3 hours to the parking lot. I snowshoed down to Zealand road and only skied out the Rte 302. Skis were faster than walking (1:20 for the last 4 miles), but visibility was terrible with snow and wind (and dark, I guess) - could barely see my track from the morning. Cold, snow, and lousy roads down toward Bartlett, but just dry after that. Frustrating to not make it to Zealand, but still a nice day in the woods, except maybe the last hour. |
|
 | Name: |
Andy N |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-12-11 |
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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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