| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
North Sugarloaf, Middle Sugarloaf, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Zealand Road, Sugarloaf Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, March 5, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I parked at the winter lot for Zealand. You can walk on the highway or the snowmobile trail to get to the start of Zealand Road. Great parking lot. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
There were a couple step overs or tiny rock hops on the waterways coming down to the river on the first part of Sugarloaf trail. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There was a significant blowdown birch on the switchback, which crossed perfectly in such a way to block the trail twice! People have been going to the side of it and over it. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I met a few dogs. Dog friendly trail. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
The trail is very interesting right now because it is a lot of ice, like the yellow brick road only ICE. Not necessarily a bad thing - because almost all of the ice is flat (easier than a raised monorail) and microspikes bite right into it. There were places where the ice is thick, curling over a rock step up, requiring more care. There is some snow left with a posthole here or there. But the snow isn't very deep so it was easy enough to walk on. I carried snowshoes but the only small sections where they might have helped stomp down old drifts were so brief that I couldn't take the time to get them off the pack. The top of both summits had a lot of nice rock lookouts, and that rock was dry. Overall it was a delightful trail with surprisingly good summits and views. |
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 | Name: |
R Whelton |
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 | E-Mail: |
rachelwhelton@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-03-05 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.youtube.com/rachelwhelton |
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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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