btausend
New member
Date of Hike: March 15, 2013
Trail Conditions: Hale Brook Trail doesn't get a lot of traffic that the other trails get. The trail is in okay condition. There are some boot tracks that I wouldn't call post holes, but they tend to make the trail a little uneven in places. Also there is no snowshoe groove on this trail. The trail can be wide at times and you may not be on the most solid part of the trail. I used Microspikes car to car. The only time I kind of post holed was when I stepped on the side of the trail. It was cold this morning and the trail was hard packed, but the trail also gets a lot of sunlight. On the way down the trail seemed a little softer. As it starts to warm up snowshoes will be the better choice. The trail on the side slope before you switchbacks is narrow and there is post holes through this section. There was 2" to 3" of fresh snow at the summit.
There is some open water down low on the trail. You can either hop over it or go around it. The 1st brook crossing is not bridged, but you can walk over the rocks which were icy. The crossing just before the switchbacks was bridged, but there were some holes in it. It is also in direct sun light so I would cross cautiously.
Special Equipment Used: Light traction is fine if the trail is solid. If not snowshoes would be the best option.
Comments: The Zealand Road was the worst part of the hike. There are ATV tracks/ruts in the road. There is no one track to follow. You need to move around to find solid snow to walk on. Bareboots, spikes or snowshoes are fine for the road walk.
Brian
Trail Conditions: Hale Brook Trail doesn't get a lot of traffic that the other trails get. The trail is in okay condition. There are some boot tracks that I wouldn't call post holes, but they tend to make the trail a little uneven in places. Also there is no snowshoe groove on this trail. The trail can be wide at times and you may not be on the most solid part of the trail. I used Microspikes car to car. The only time I kind of post holed was when I stepped on the side of the trail. It was cold this morning and the trail was hard packed, but the trail also gets a lot of sunlight. On the way down the trail seemed a little softer. As it starts to warm up snowshoes will be the better choice. The trail on the side slope before you switchbacks is narrow and there is post holes through this section. There was 2" to 3" of fresh snow at the summit.
There is some open water down low on the trail. You can either hop over it or go around it. The 1st brook crossing is not bridged, but you can walk over the rocks which were icy. The crossing just before the switchbacks was bridged, but there were some holes in it. It is also in direct sun light so I would cross cautiously.
Special Equipment Used: Light traction is fine if the trail is solid. If not snowshoes would be the best option.
Comments: The Zealand Road was the worst part of the hike. There are ATV tracks/ruts in the road. There is no one track to follow. You need to move around to find solid snow to walk on. Bareboots, spikes or snowshoes are fine for the road walk.
Brian
