Mount Hale November 24th

[ImYourHuckleberry]

Hiked Mount Hale with a friend via N. Twin Trail and the Fire Wardens Trail on Sunday. The road was still open and there were several cars around when we parked. I think there were some hunters out and about as well as trucks were parked on the side of the road here and there on 3 and on Haystack Road.

There was a tiny bit of snow down low, and then perhaps 6" to 8" by the time we reached the summit. Never needed snowshoes or any traction either up or down. We were in and out in just over 3 hours. We saw about 6-8 other people headed up Wardens when we were on our way down.

It looked like Gale River Loop road was still open as well, at least on the one side where you can see the gate from route 3.

 

[Rhody Seth]

I enjoyed my hike up the Fire Wardens trail a few years ago. Definitely prefer it over the standard route up Hale.

 

[maineguy]

Mt Hale is a great little peak, but it's views have really degraded over the decades. I first climbed it in 67 or 68, can't remember, but the view was pretty spectacular. We did a day round trip from the Ethan Pond shelter. The firetower was still partially standing but it was not climbable. Too bad they didn't build a viewing platform there similar to what now exists on Carrigain. Of course, the same goes for Osceola.

 

[ImYourHuckleberry]

Mt Hale is a great little peak, but it's views have really degraded over the decades. I first climbed it in 67 or 68, can't remember, but the view was pretty spectacular. We did a day round trip from the Ethan Pond shelter. The firetower was still partially standing but it was not climbable. Too bad they didn't build a viewing platform there similar to what now exists on Carrigain. Of course, the same goes for Osceola.

Yes, there is really no view at all any more. I only first did this one a couple of years ago, so I never got to see the view you speak of. (I attempted it in the winter from Zealand Hut probably about 35 years ago, but if my memory is true, I turned back because I was out-of-shape.)

 

[maineguy]

This is what the view looked like in the mid to late 60s. It is a poor image, but the best I was able to do when copying a 57 year old slide.

 

[Dennis C.]

Hiked Mount Hale with a friend via N. Twin Trail and the Fire Wardens Trail on Sunday.

What's the condition of the Fire Wardens Trail these days? I did trail maintenance (mostly blowdowns) several times back in my White Mtn peak bagger days. Just wondering if someone else is "carrying the torch" now.

 

[KRooney]

What's the condition of the Fire Wardens Trail these days? I did trail maintenance (mostly blowdowns) several times back in my White Mtn peak bagger days. Just wondering if someone else is "carrying the torch" now.

It's been 2 or 3 years since I've done it, but it used to be relatively easy to follow, The hardest part was finding to the spot on the left were you scrambled up the bank above the river. After that, pretty straightforward. IIRC, some back-country skiers used to help keep the glades open.

 

[Rhody Seth]

This is what the view looked like in the mid to late 60s. It is a poor image, but the best I was able to do when copying a 57 year old slide.

What a difference. I remember visiting for the first time in 2002 and even then it had a decent view from atop the rock pile. No longer!

 

[DayTrip]

It's been 2 or 3 years since I've done it, but it used to be relatively easy to follow, The hardest part was finding to the spot on the left were you scrambled up the bank above the river. After that, pretty straightforward. IIRC, some back-country skiers used to help keep the glades open.

That spot looks a bit different now. I came through there on a S-N Bonds/Twins traverse this Summer and the now I think official rerouting of North Twin Trail made that tell tale thin tree where you'd turn up the bank less obvious with the new foot tread. I didn't investigate it but I wanted to point it out to the person I was with and I didn't notice it. Was probably there. Just looked different versus my memory.

 

[JToll]

The trail was in great shape in June 2024. Look in New England Trail Conditions (NETC) for recent reports

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

It's been 2 or 3 years since I've done it, but it used to be relatively easy to follow, The hardest part was finding to the spot on the left were you scrambled up the bank above the river. After that, pretty straightforward. IIRC, some back-country skiers used to help keep the glades open.

You will not have any problem finding the hairpin turn up the slope at the base now if there is any snow on ground as the route to Hale is very popular, even more so in winter once Zealand Road is closed, and also part of a 20+-mile loop over Zealand and the Twins that is also becoming popular.

When Haystack Road is closed, as it is now, you can park at the Seven Dwarfs near the end of Little River Road (do not park at the end of the road) and leave Franz $20 in the box at his doorstep for his efforts to keep parking spaces plowed all winter.

Also make sure to remove crampons and/or snowshoes when crossing the neighbor’s wood-planked bridge on right near the end of the road and follow signs for the approx one-mile walk to the kiosk at the end of Haystack Road.

 

[ImYourHuckleberry]

What's the condition of the Fire Wardens Trail these days? I did trail maintenance (mostly blowdowns) several times back in my White Mtn peak bagger days. Just wondering if someone else is "carrying the torch" now.

It was in great shape. There were are a couple of larger blowdowns that could stand to be cleared, but otherwise it's very nice and easy to follow. I took the time to clear two small blowdowns myself on my hike.

Next fall I will be hiking it from the reverse direction. I'm going to do an extended pemi loop and (traveling counter-clockwise) bang a right at Guyot to take in Zealand, Hale and N. Twin before rejoining the regular loop at S. Twin. Then from Galehead dumping into the valley to snag Owls Head before coming back up to Garfield and the Franconia Ridge. So my hike last weekend was some recon for that trip.