Trail Info request for Hale

[SherpaTom]

Looking to possibly hike Hale next Monday, therefore I have a couple of questions:

1/ I see where Zealand Rd is closed which if hiked, adds another 5.6 miles to the 4.4 miles up Hale Brook. Does anyone know what the elevation gain is for the additional walk up the road & book time or approximate time?

2/ I noticed the last two post on Hale spoke about Firewardens Trail off of Haystack Rd. Can someone tell me a little more about this Trail? Is it all bushwacking?

As always...thanks

 

[NewHampshire]

Looking to possibly hike Hale next Monday, therefore I have a couple of questions:

1/ I see where Zealand Rd is closed which if hiked, adds another 5.6 miles to the 4.4 miles up Hale Brook. Does anyone know what the elevation gain is for the additional walk up the road & book time or approximate time?

It is minimal. The steepest part (if you can call it that ) is just at the beginning. I would say the raod walk adds no more than 50-75 feet of elevation to the trip. It COULD be more, but does not seem like it.

2/ I noticed the last two post on Hale spoke about Firewardens Trail off of Haystack Rd. Can someone tell me a little more about this Trail? Is it all bushwacking?

As always...thanks

No, it is not a bushwhack. The trail is abandoned, but is in good shape. The hardest part is finding where the trail starts down low. But since Haystack Rd. is closed, and you need to use North Twin trail to access Firewardens trail, you are still in the same boat as Hale Brook Trail.

Brian

 

[4Khiker]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the elevation difference between the winter parking area to Zealand Road and the Hale Brook Trailhead is approximately 250 feet. Route 302 and the Ammonoosuc River are at about 1500 feet elevation; the trailhead to the Sugarloaves is at 1640 feet; Hale Brook Trail begins at 1770 feet.

 

[Mohamed Ellozy]

It is minimal. The steepest part (if you can call it that ) is just at the beginning. I would say the raod walk adds no more than 50-75 feet of elevation to the trip. It COULD be more, but does not seem like it.

Not only COULD it be more; it IS more The road is not steep after the initial part, but it follows the river upstream for a couple of miles, which means some elevation gain.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the elevation difference between the winter parking area to Zealand Road and the Hale Brook Trailhead is approximately 250 feet. Route 302 and the Ammonoosuc River are at about 1500 feet elevation; the trailhead to the Sugarloaves is at 1640 feet; Hale Brook Trail begins at 1770 feet.

Absolutely right.

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

But, the 2.8 miles along the highway and up the road is very skiable, and a fast way to get down, so can be still a relatively easy NH4 in the winter. And, of course the Firewarden's Trail is a destination for b/c skiers because of the expansive birch glades that have been cleared in the mid-section.

 

[MichaelJ]

Zealand Road will be plowed for logging this winter, so don't count on it being as nicely skiable as in prior years.
AMC Notice

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

Zealand Road will be plowed for logging this winter, so don't count on it being as nicely skiable as in prior years.
AMC Notice

I had forgotten about that; thanks for the reminder. Of course, this logging operation was the reason for the million-dollar overhaul of the bridge across the Ammi. But, in the past when the road has been plowed by the Bethlehem Water Department, usually we could find just enough skiable snow along the edges of the roadbed below the snowbanks.

Also, see other thread about parking restrictions at Little River roadhead for Fire Wardens and North Twin Trails.

 

[NewHampshire]

Not only COULD it be more; it IS more The road is not steep after the initial part, but it follows the river upstream for a couple of miles, which means some elevation gain.

Yeah, sounds about right. But as my last sentance says....it sure does SEEM like thats all it is .

Brian