finally ending on Zealand Road. Trailhead 2.5 miles from 302
Stretched a beatiful dayhike into an overnight camping trip last weekend, hiked Mt Hale, then past Zealand Hut & Zealand Falls, camped off trail past Zealand Pond.
Great scenery with weather to match, met up with 3 friends at the trailhead on Zealand Road about 11am, started on Hale Brook shortly after. Heavy rain all week meant we were in for some interesting water
crossings, and had several rock hops on our way up to the summit. The summit of Mt Hale is wooded, but a large pile of rocks at the summit clearing offered limited views. Cold mountain air reminded us this wasn't a summer hike, so after a short break and a snack, we were back on the move toward Zealand hut.
The wilderness south of Mt. Hale is really pretty in the fall, felt like we were walking through someone's garden the entire time. Wet trails all day after 4 days of rain, but great maintenance on all trails, not one blowdown to speak of. After the Lend-A-Hand trail, we met up with the AT and the Zealand Hut shortly after. I may have undervalued the huts on my adventures thus far. Warm soup & fresh bread on a cold Saturday was one of the high points last weekend, plans were immediatley made to return.
After a light lunch we were climbing on and around Zealand Falls, roaring out last weeks rainfall next to some excellent views of Crawford Notch. Fall foliage is in full force right now, making an already scenic hike into something truly memorable. Easy grades from the falls down to Zealand Pond were a great way to relax after an agressive hiking season. Once we found our campsite the fire was built and Gin was flowing in no time at all. The next day a short hike to Zealand road then a small roadwalk to our cars was a gave an endcap to a great adventure with good friends, two of which survived the Krypteia back in August. Made it home in time for a late football game and dinner with my wife & parents, Fall be an awesome time to hike in the Whites.
I have pretty much the exact same picture of the scenery from the Zealand Falls hut. I think I even have the de-foliaged little tree in the bottom left corner of my picture.
ReplyDeleteIf you didn't, you need to hike up to Zee Cliff next time. It's exhausting, but the view is freaking awesome.
I want to do a "hut-traverse" next year, Zealand to Greenleaf, and Zcliff is one of the main attractions
ReplyDelete