Summit: Zealand Mountain (4,260')
Trail route: Zealand Road, Zealand Trail, Twinway
Trail conditions: Soft packed snow to unconsolidated snow
Weather: Cold temps to start then warming into the 30's, sunshine early with afternoon thin cloud cover
Total miles: 18.8
Total time: 9:45
I am close to finishing my Winter 48 4,000 footers but I would need to get through a very long hike today. The out and back trip to Zealand Mountain is 18.8 miles. The unplowed Zealand Road alone is 3.5 miles one way. I was fortunate to find four other hikers to join me on this long trek and would be meeting up with Scott, Lisa, Keith and Deb. After watching the weather this day looked like the pick of the week.
We met early at the Zealand parking lot on Route 302. I actually arrived early enough to go down to the Highland Center and get dressed in front of a warm fireplace. The outside temperature was starting out around 0°F early this morning. At the parking lot I put on a few more layers and was ready to go. We started up the Zealand Road at 6:30 AM. The snowshoes and light traction was carried and we barebooted to start.
The Zealand Road was loosely packed. We reached the Zealand Trail after 3.5 miles and continued to bareboot. We got a good look at how much snow there is on the ground. While crossing the bog bridge at the old beaver pond the snow level was even with the bridge indicating several feet of snow. Just before the steep climb to Zealand Hut we all put on snowshoes, they never came off again during the rest of the hike.
At the hut I adjusted layers. There was full sunshine and it was getting warm. The trail continued up and it was definitely a warm climb. We took the spur trail out to Zeacliff and enjoyed the spectacular views. A few photos and we got back on the Twinway. We had to look carefully for the trail as it was somewhat obscured. We found it but the trail was somewhat confusing as we got closer to the Zealand summit. I have been here several times without snow and the terrain looked completely different with the deep snow today.
We were following a set of snowshoe tracks but it did not appear to be the actual trail. We seemed to be walking among the treetops which would indicate an incredible amount of snow. There was one solo hiker ahead of us. When we reached the summit the solo hiker was there and told us the summit sign was below us. So we were definitely off the trail and following a bushwhacked path never reaching the spur path that went to the summit.
We dropped down through a hole in the trees to the summit and the summit sign was below my knees. Without snow the summit sign is above my head. That meant there was over five feet of snow at the sign and even more from where we had just come down. It was just an amazing amount of snow! It was rather crowded with the five of us trying to maneuver around in the treetops at the summit sign. We got some photos then went back up into the clearing and started our long hike back to the parking lot.
We stopped at another clearing and ate lunch. There were many miles to go so it was a brief stop. We did some buttsliding on the steep section, it seemed like the safest way down and we had no problem. We met a couple of large groups coming up as we were going down. Back at the hut it was another brief stop then dropped down to the Zealand Trail. It was warm and the snow was sticky where the sun was hitting it so there was some balling up on the snowshoes but not really a big problem.
We got to the trailhead and there was still the 3.5 miles of road walk ahead of us before reaching the parking lot. It seemed a lot longer on the way out than it did on the way in. I was sure glad to see the bridge over the Ammonoosuc River at the end of the road. Thanks to Scott, Lisa, Keith and Deb for joining me on this hike. After hiking to this summit today Keith completed his second round of the Winter 48 and that is an amazing accomplishment!
I now have one more hike to finish my Winter 48 4,000 footers. I'm hoping the weekend is favorable for a loop hike to Mount Lafayette and Mount Lincoln that will complete my Winter 48!
Enjoy the photos and video!
Pond covered in deep snow
Crossing the bridge over the Ammonoosuc River after hiking over 18 miles
Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!
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