It was 11:40am Saturday, as I made it back to the Ferncroft parking area after my hike to Whiteface and Passaconaway earlier. With that done, I had one more peak to bag before calling it a night and getting ready for the next day's adventure. That was Mt. Hale. From Wonalancet, I made it to the parking area across from Zealand Road on 302 in about an hour including a stop to get some more snack supplies at the Irving up ahead. I set off up Zealand Road from the lot at about 1:30pm.
By now, the day was so beautiful, bright, and sunny. I saw two women near the beginning of the road on my way in, and that was it. The road got slightly mushy in some places making it seem like a treadmill providing some resistance, but I would try to find the crunchy sparse snow or harder gravel to walk on. I made the approximately 2.5 mile walk in exactly one hour.
Start of the Hale Brook Trail |
Hale Brook Trail rounding the corner near the top |
Open summit of Mt. Hale |
Me on Mt. Hale for the 2nd time (#43) |
Since I was back to my car around 5:30pm, I had a whole bunch time to get settled for the night before my next hike on Sunday, which would be approximately another 20 miles but with more elevation gain than I just did today. That was something I was a little bit nervous of because I had not decided my exact route just yet in order to end on Carter Dome. I hopped in the car and my next stop was Gorham to get a huge meal in me for the night, some snacks for the night, morning, and hike, a couple of batteries, and some more drinks. After I picked those items up, I headed down Route 16 and car-camped it in the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center lot. This was safest lot in the area to do this, and because I was by myself with no car spot, its at least accessible for a few mile walk depending where I would end.
Be sure to stay tuned and read my next trip report on the Wildcats and Carters to see how I wrapped up this mammoth weekend hiking 8 peaks to finish my second round.
Hike Stats
Be sure to stay tuned and read my next trip report on the Wildcats and Carters to see how I wrapped up this mammoth weekend hiking 8 peaks to finish my second round.
Hike Stats
Trails: Zealand Road, Hale Brook Trail
Distance: 9.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,950 ft
Book Time: 4hrs
Congrats on your accomplishment - again! I can only wish that I had your level of energy and endurance. Your hikes are epic journeys and I can't wait to read them each week. I'll have to be happy with my 4,000 footers - one at a time.
ReplyDeleteYour blog is definitely one of my favorites and I have it listed on my blog. You can be sure that I will be following your Mt. Whitney adventure. Great blog, spectacular hikes! ~Don
Hi Don,
DeleteThank you VERY much. I took notice last week, and I greatly appreciate the link on your site. By the way, nice set up, and best of luck with your blog. I will be checking into yours as well. I can't wait to get some skis of my own next year so that I can do some back country stuff, Tuckerman's in particular, like you have. Whitney will be coming up so fast. It's exciting. I think its the mountains that bring out the energy and endurance, its tough to get the same feeling while sitting here at work, hence our need for Outdoor Diversions on a regular basis, which is my/our way of forgetting about the real-world temporarily. Thanks!