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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Zealand Mountain, Thoreau Falls, NH
Trails
Trails: Zealand Road, Zealand Trail, Twinway, Zealand Spur, Zeacliff Trail, bushwhack, Ethan Pond Trail, Thoreau Falls Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, March 29, 2015
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Zealand Rd. closed.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow - Spring Snow 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Good bridges in here. The one at base of Zeaclif tr. no issue  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Zealand spur sign not apparent--likely snow-covered Zeacliff trail is marked with very faded blazes.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: I thought I might ski in, but the road conditions were too icy for my liking (many others skied though). I wore micro spikes to the hut and then switched to snowshoes, more for traction/televators than floatation. Lots of snow up there, but so well packed that it made for very easy going on the steep stuff. The views were amazing and more prevalent because of the snowpack. The snow reaches the base of the Zealand summit sign.

I had planned to descend the Zeacliff trail and was surprised to find tracks. The tracks only lasted about 100 yrds, where the person must have turned around. The snow was very deep, but fairly firm in most places. In the upper section the trail was followble with care by, using map/compass and looking for cut branches and occasional faded blazes. However, at a glade about halfway down, I saw no blazes and deemed the trail proper a 'needle in a haystack.' I followed a compass bearing eventually picking an opening, which I considered a contender for the trail. Eventually running out of openings I guesed that I was south of the trail and slabbed until I hit it, fortunately at a blaze. From there I was able to follow the trail with care. This is a challenging route when snow-covered.

At the Ethan pond tr. I hit ski tracks and followed them to the shoal pond junction, with a short side trip to Thoreau falls. From the falls spur I barebooted all the way back to my car.  
Name
Name: zporterColdRiverCampCook 
E-Mail
E-Mail: zap88@tds.net 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2015-03-30 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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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