NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
NewEnglandTrailConditions.com:
MA
|
ME
|
NH
|
RI/CT
|
VT
|
Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Zealand Mountain, NH
Trails
Trails: Zealand Road, Zealand Trail, Twinway, Zealand Spur
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, February 13, 2022
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: As of this writing, the parking area 1/4 mile down 302 is clean down to the pavement.  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes, Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Bridges are in fine shape.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: One blow-down, easily passed.  
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Holy Toledo, what a difference a week and some warm weather makes. The trail was basically frozen concrete. It was an 18 mile long epic journey, but quick time was made; I averaged (over the whole trip) about 2 MPH. The only bear was the really steep bits, but those are fairly short. At the time of this writing, things are frozen solid and hard, to the point where snowshoes are possibly optional. I found no problem staying on the very top of the snowpack throughout the day, with quite unusual and fairly shallow exceptions. The only post-holing I did was when I stepped off trail, but as long as I stayed to the tramped down bits, I sank millimeters, not inches. As long as it stays good and cold, this should hold up well -- it felt remarkably solid.

I had no issues getting to Zealand's summit. It was clean and clear all the way. Fellow hikers (including Cone Demon!) told me it was a tad soft heading out to Guyot, but not appreciably worse than what I experienced as far as Zealand. These were truly classic conditions.

If Zealand is on your list, it's about as good as it's going to get.

Trip report is on my blog as always. Wordpress is being weird at the moment, so there might be minor edits over the next day or three as I can find the time. Share and enjoy!  
Name
Name: Protean Wanderer 
E-Mail
E-Mail: hiker@proteanwanderer.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2022-02-13 
Link
Link: https://www.proteanwanderer.com/2022/02/13/trip-report-zealand-is-a-go-go/ 
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.

Copyright 2009-2024, All Rights Reserved