| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Hale, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Zealand Road, Hale Brook Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, March 28, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Zealand Road is clear of snow but still gated, so you have to walk the 2.5 miles to and from Hale Brook Trail. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Slush |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
A fair bit of rock hopping over streams, one real bridge, one ice bridge that was still intact. Lots of mud puddles and standing water to slosh through. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
The trail wasn't bad going up, but the weather forecasts I looked at were very, very wrong and it hailed at the summit (irony?), sleeted most of the way down, and then poured rain the rest of the hike and the entire drive home. Everything was completely sodden, including the trail, which went from sticky snow to slippery slush. I'm glad I didn't try for Mt. Zealand, as was my original plan--10 miles in those conditions to and from Mt. Hale were plenty for me. My partner bare booted it (we had snowshoes for him but he didn't need them) and was fine, but I used my micro spikes most of the way up and the whole way down. We didn't posthole much (though there were quite a few from previous hikers), but the monorail was beginning to gather. It was pretty stable going up, but in the rain, it kept turning to mush and sliding under our feet (not really collapsing but more of shifting). We made it back to the car before the worst of the rain, but the trail is probably a real mess by now. Stay safe out there, y'all! |
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 | Name: |
Barefoot |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-03-29 |
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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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