Trails Used

Zealand Trail, bushwhack, FR192A, A-Z Trail, bushwhack

Trail Conditions

Notes

After 1.45 miles on Zealand Trail, we bushwhacked to FR192A and took that to A-Z Trail. Started bushwhack south to W Field just after water crossing, passing FR192A. Took northwest ridge which was really open at the beginning (found a moose skeleton), but then tightened up into pencil pine the 2nd half. PVC canister (thank you again Carl Cressey) easily found. Descended via a similar track until 3500' and then tracked more northwesterly. Hit FR192A which was wet & marshy. Found some beautiful patches of Purple Pitcher Plant (carnivorous). Because the FR was so wet, we continued bushwhacking back to A-Z. Took FR192A all the way out to Zealand Rd which was a pleasure (soft underfooting without rocks or roots to trip us up).

Parking

Plenty of parking at Zealand Trailhead

Water Crossings

Zealand River - rock hoppable

Wildlife

None

Trails Used

Zealand Trail, bushwhack, A-Z Trail, FR192A, bushwhack

Trail Conditions

Notes

Easy cruise up Zealand to the pond and across the hot birch glades and the slippery iffy bog bridges up A-Z to the east jct w/the FR192. A wade crossing and a left outta an overgrown clearing started the bushwhack SE up a stream boggy overgrown old road extension. This ended shortly and I followed the spine of the ridge up angling SW thru a couple small bogs and much semi open conifers. A short fir wave and I was at the summit canister (which easily opened)!! Much better than last saturday from the west ridge (very thick), a mile in 45 minutes. Stayed on the west side of the fir wave descending and struggled with both meandering across the spine and finding the road from the bottom bog. Overall pretty easy solo whack. Easy meander back down to the car after returning to A-Z trail, tho very warm and summery down low and way too many people, also not hut snacks season yet either, double boo!

Parking

Big lot almost full, sugarloafs trailhead was a clusterfucky mess, road has fewer scary potholes than last weekend

Water Crossings

So much aqua on trail, walked thru many puddles and flowing little streams

Wildlife

Still not alive

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Avalon, Willey Ridge, A-Z

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Return to winter. Soft snow on remaining stable monorail. Soft snow meaning snowshoe snow, spikes just rototill what snow shoes just packed. Avalon no ice showing all covered with snow even the steeps. Willey Range Tr. down to Tom same, limited snowshoes so far, still unconsolidated. Tom spur again all covered but soft. What view there was is now behind a wall of spruce, ....sad. A-Z seemed very soft, and freshly rototilled, but really no ice here either. Snow was a little sticky as the sun was starting to work on it in the hardwood sections. Monorail was good unless you stepped on the very edge

Parking

Parking along road

Water Crossings

The first crossing still bridged, others had to hop/ step over

Wildlife

Not yet

Also on this trip

Trails Used

A-Z, Avalon, Willey Ridge, Tom Spur

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Really nice conditions for an afternoon hike. The lower mile plus is barebootable up to the first split. From there it was snowshoes all day. The trail is packed really well for snowshoes, but most will likely slip, slide and post hole in bare boots. Nice to meet LGD on the trail.

Parking

Plenty of road parking all day

Water Crossings

All bridged or pretty easily hopped across with a little planning