| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Hale, Zealand, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Zealand Road, Hale Brook Tr, Lend-a-hand Tr, Twinway, Zealand Tr |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, January 19, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Used the 302 lot, no problems. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Crossings are bridged. On the lower part of Lend-a-hand, there were a few churned up spots with detours, at water crossings, past the bog areas towards the Twinway Jct. But not a problem to navigate. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One medium-sized pine tree has fallen partly across the trail, up high on the ridge, near the little peak between Zeacliff and Mt Zealand. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Met a dog working on her grid right at the Zealand summit, she and owner about 1/3 of the way there. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Three great days in the mountains. Sunday Jan 18, parked on 302, barebooted up the road and on to Hale Brook trail, then put on snowshoes when it got steeper. I wore snowshoes the entirety of the hikes until I returned to Zealand Rd, and I highly recommend bringing and wearing them to help consolidate the snow. The trail conditions are great, with a well-defined track carved by 'shoes. That said there was loose powder from fresh snowfall. I saw a few postholes here and there, mostly higher up. It's a great time to go get these peaks, and I could see the Twinway going off to the Bonds was well tracked too. Fire Warden's had signs of a good amount of use, too, but no one has been on Zeacliff Trail, if you were wondering. Ethan Pond Tr was tracked out nicely, and A to Z had signs of use, though not as well defined of a track that I could see.
Right at the Hale summit I met grid finisher Zach Porter from 2021, the only person I encountered on trail all day. I descended Lend-a-hand, also well broken out, and spent the night at Zealand Hut. It was packed on Sunday night, but only two guests the next night. My first stay in a hut, and it was great. Certainly facilitates doing these peaks in winter. The caretaker Peter worked cheerfully and tirelessly to stoke the wood stove and bring water - thank you.
On Monday, I slept in a bit, took my time getting breakfast, then donned my snowshoes and did the 6 miles out and back to Mt Zealand. Snowshoes the whole way. Limited but enjoyable views at Zeacliff. That little sub-peak on the ridge (at 44.18344, -71.50893) really needs a name: I propose "Zeapeak." At the so-called Zeapeak, met a Canadian man with antique Norwegian skis made of mahogany, from his family - the skis had old bindings, and didn't have skins, but rather were treated with pine sap to give some grip. He'd carried them up to the ridge and was having a great day on the Twinway. Met a friendly dog and hiker - the aspiring gridders - at the Z summit, returned to Hut.
Tuesday I was up early to hike out in temps of around 11-14ºF. Met a college outing club who'd skied in and were about to go up Hale. |
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 | Name: |
Joseph (Ear Drum) |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-01-21 |
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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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