| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Zealand Mountain, Mt. Guyot, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Zealand Road, Zealand Trail, Twinway, Zealand Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, February 27, 2019 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
plenty of "mostly" plowed parking at the Zealand winter lot on Route 302 |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
no issues |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
numerous blowdowns on the Twinway |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
not today |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
Initially planned a Z-Bonds traverse from N to S, but scaled it back to out and back hike due to high winds and below zero temps. We barebooted Zealand Rd, then snowshoes the rest of the day from Zealand Trail and all along the Twinway. Snow is very deep and drifted on Twinway, snowshoes essential. We found out at Zealand Hut that 3 hikers had set out on a Z-Bonds traverse that morning which was good news. But 5 minutes later we met the first of that group who said they had turned back due to "brutal cold and wind" up on the ridge and cold feet. It turns out they made it to just after the ladder which was still a mile short of Zealand spur. Many thanks to this group for their good trail breaking to the ladder. We continued breaking trail all the way to our goal of Mt. Guyot which was no easy task, with challenging trail finding, deep and drifted snow, blowdowns, overhanging spruce, etc. Most of the way you would not know that hikers had been through there 4 days prior, with all the fresh snow and considerable drifting from high winds. At times we were not on the trail but we found it on the way back at each point. We never saw the Zealand spur sign, and as in the previous Zealand post, there were multiple snowshoe tracks taking various routes to the Zealand summit. A great day out on the wild Zealand and Guyot ridges; the 3 of us were able to stay warm and happy all day despite minus 16 degree starting temp. A very long day, out with headlamps. |
|
 | Name: |
Donna D |
|
 | E-Mail: |
winnie@vermontel.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2019-02-28 |
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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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