Mount Hale?

[WhiteMTHike]

Greetings, I'm gathering up a group of trails to go on when I hit the WMNF this fall. I was looking into Mount Hale via the Hale Brook Trail. I realize that I could also take the Lend-A-Hand trail and stop to visit the Zealand Falls Hut but I'm thinking of just taking the Hale Brook trail to the (4,054 foot) summit of Mount Hale then doing an about face after hanging out on the summit for a bit and going back via the same trail.

Has anybody ever gone on this trail? how would you rate it? well marked? yellow blazes? how open is the summit of Mt. Hale? Would I be missing out by NOT going on the Zealand Falls trail? Would it be worth it to go on the Lend-A-Hand trail and stop at the hut? Sorry to ask so many questions but I'd appreciate any info I could get. I'm seriously thinking of adding this trail to my list, it sounds worth the time from what I've read but I'd like to hear from any of you who have experienced this trail. Thanks.

 

[Papa Bear]

Has anybody ever gone on this trail? how would you rate it? well marked? yellow blazes? how open is the summit of Mt. Hale? Would I be missing out by NOT going on the Zealand Falls trail? Would it be worth it to go on the Lend-A-Hand trail and stop at the hut? Sorry to ask so many questions but I'd appreciate any info I could get. I'm seriously thinking of adding this trail to my list, it sounds worth the time from what I've read but I'd like to hear from any of you who have experienced this trail. Thanks.

The trail is easy and the summit is open, or I should say it's cleared.

If you stand on that rockpile pretending to be a cairn, you have good views of the Twins, Zealand, Tom, Field and Willey. You just have to stand on tippy toes.

Here's the twins from Hale:

Willey Range:

 

[Gris]

Respectfully disagree with Mr. Rooney. I for one think the area around Zealand Hut is beautiful. There are small cascades above and below the hut. And the view from the porch of the hut out through the notch to Carrigain is sublime. Walk out is a pretty walk in the woods too (and very flat and easy).

 

[HikerBob]

Hmmmm - PB - that post was a lot shorter when Ivy and I were up there a little while back

Bob

 

[Papa Bear]

Hmmmm - PB - that post was a lot shorter when Ivy and I were up there a little while back

Bob

Ah yes ... So I guess you didn't need tippy toes to get a good view.

 

[HikerBob]

Maybe not tippy toes, but x-ray specs would have been useful

Bob

 

[forestgnome]

Consider Middle Sugarloaf for a short, beautiful hike to a large open summit with views in all direction, for a sunset hike or for a view of the Zealand area, which is particularly nice in Autumn. If you're in Zealand and you have three hours, go for it. Also, from the same parking lot, walk across the road and down the grassy lane (baring right at a fork) to Wildlife Pond. This is really nice, with views of Sugarloaf, Hale, and Willey Range.

 

[SherpaKroto]

There's no mention of "needing" to bag a 4K peak. With that in mind, if the prime objective is the best views in with area with a relatively easy hike involved, I'd say head in to Zealand Hut and up the Twinway to Zeacliff. Fantastic views, and the hike is very nice. Hale is "ok" but I wouldn't build a trip around it IMHO.

Hale was a lot nicer back in 1975 before the trees grew on the summit. On the other hand, Tom is a lot nicer now that they've died off
Whitewall from Zeacliff 3/1/2003
Bemis, Nancy, Anderson, Lowell, Vose Spur and Carrigain flank Carrigain Notch from Zeacliff 3/1/2003

 

[WhiteMTHike]

Well, I certainly do appreciate all the replies, information and pictures I received on this post. I can see from the pics what people mean when they say some of the views are blocked by vegetation. However, I think Hale will be worth spending some time on. I'll be in the WMNF for a full week so I'll be able to go on a decent amount of trails. It looks like this one will be good enough for half a day and I probably will check out the Zealand Falls Hut as well. Thank You all.

 

[Jim lombard]

I've enjoyed Lend-A-Hand several times, there's lots of Spruce Grouse around and once I saw Golden Eagles gliding on thermals just below the summit of Hale. Hike it on a weekday rather than a weekend and you never know what you will see.