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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Middle Sugarloaf, North Sugarloaf, NH
Trails
Trails: Zealand Road, Sugarloaf Trail, Trestle Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Zealand Road still closed as of today, but I would expect it to be open soon. Be sure to park in the winter parking area a quarter mile south on the uphill side of US 302. This makes a nearly 1.3 mi road walk to reach the trailhead and there is a 200 foot elevation climb in the first quarter mile of Zealand Road. There are also several broken pavement areas on Zealand, some of which could cause damage at higher speeds, so unless they get repaired be careful driving when they do open it. Only 3 other cars in lot upon arrival at 10AM and one had left upon my return at 2PM. I saw no one on the roads or trails the entire day. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: None on Mt Sugarloaf Tr, 4 walkovers on Trestle Tr, all in second half Posting indicates that Trestle Trail bridge is washed out in case you were planning on hiking further on this trail. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: No blowdowns on trail, although many off-trail, and relatively leaf-free footpath, so maintainers are doing excellent job. Muddy/wet areas are mostly on lower leg and there are ample rocks or firmer mud paths to bypass the wetter/softer stuff. Some blazes are faded and difficult to see. Also some turns were a little difficult to discern. The biggest marking problem on the entire hike is where the North summit path turns uphill to the summit. There should be a double blaze on the large tree on the left side of the trail at the turn. I continued straight, even though there was a small branch on the trail. I was not the only one as there is a very well defined path for a short ways, and then it becomes a very difficult, narrow, steep, side-hill path that is significantly more difficult than the actual trail. When I couldn't see any blazes in any direction, I doubled back and discovered my error. I placed another larger log across the trail to help, but it would be much better to have a double blaze here since it is a very sharp turn and the major turn on this segment of trail. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Other than the brook alongside the Trestle Tr for the first .2mi, there is no running water on the trail. Terrain is not difficult, although there are some rocky sections, especially near Middle summit, and a ladder just before the summit. Treads are wide however, and it is more like a residential stair tread than a ladder. 
Bugs
Bugs: Saw a few flying about, but no landings or biting today. It will only be a matter of time folks, they are working up an appetite. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Trailhead is 1 mile in from US 302 and parking is on right near kiosk (when Zealand Rd is open). You reach the Trestle Tr first, which on trail maps parallels the Sugarloaf Mt Tr, but there is a posting that indicates the bridge is out. Since the brook is wider, deeper and faster than something I would attempt to cross and not knowing what part of the trail the crossing is at, I continued down the road a piece. I didn't see any signage that indicated the start of the Sugarloaf Mt tr, but there was a gated grass covered road about where I would expect the trail, and since it immediately turned to parallel the Trestle Tr, I took a chance. It climbed very gradually for .2mi and then a very obvious path crossed it and headed up through the forest on the left. There are visible yellow blazes and a very small trail sign (illegible)to confirm. To the right is the connector trail to the Trestle Tr.

This segment of trail climbs .7 mile to the junction with the two summit trail segments. (Some maps show this distance at .6, but my gps said .7 and the sign at the jct says .9 to Zealand Rd. The lower section is the flattest and also the wettest, with some bog bridges and rock hoppable muddy sections. The trail then climbs slightly more steeply, with some switchbacks and rock steps getting steeper closer to the junction, again with some swithcbacks and rock steps. It flattens at the junction with the summit trails.

The junction is a good place to take a break, if needed.

The Middle summit is .4mi to the left (actually .45) in four segments. The first is fairly flat with some rock slabs, the second is a steep section with more rocks and steps, the third is another flatter section and the last is another steep rocky, slabby climb ending with a ladder (see dog section) and a short rocky climb to the summit. The summit sprawls over a large rocky area with 270 degree views. Trekking poles will be helpful in navigating the rocks and slabs, unless you have mad goat climbing skills and exceptionally grippy shoes. The views from this summit are clearly far superior to those from the North summit, with one exception (noted below). Some of the rocks and slabs have some gravel on top, so take care descending.

The North summit trail is a shorter .3mi (if you don't go off trail - see maintenance section), but it also drops 50 feet near the beginning, adding to the elevation climb in both directions. The summit is not as open as Middle, so views are limited to closer to 180 degrees. Since this summit is closer to Mt. Washington and the northern presidentials, some might say this view is better than Middle, but only slightly - and how many views of west side of Mt. Washington does anyone need? I wouldn't recommend this section, unless you are a completist for peaks or trails.

The day started out cloudy and rainy, so I was thinking about skipping this, but the skies lightened up a bit on the drive over from my early morning Pemi hike, so I started the road walk. The sun broke through just a bit on the roadwalk, so I decided head up to the summits. Conditions at the summits were partly sunny, so was well worth the effort. I don't know if the views would be better on a fully sunny day or not.

On the return, I decided to continue down to the Trestle Tr to see if there were any issues. Apparently the washed out bridge is further uptrail from the jct with Sugarloaf Tr, and all 4 stream crossings are easy stepovers. So starting on Trestle is a good option on the ascent, especially if you like brookside trails.

Views from Middle are definitely worth the effort; North, not so much (IMHO).

Again, solitude from Car to Car. I don't think I have ever had 2 consecutive hikes (in the Whites) with no other human encounters.  
Name
Name: SpartyHikerfromME 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2021-04-28 
Link
Link: https:// 
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