hikersinger
Member
Nothing real special with this trip I suppose, but I was able to fit a few notable (for me) things into three days along the Whitewall Brook and Ethan Pond area. Such a blast. It gets harder and harder to come home each time...
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Photo Library: https://www.facebook.com/erikbertrand/media_set?set=a.10153134616369567.1073741862.570654566&type=3
As co-adopter of the Zeacliff Trail with Jamie Gillon, I have the responsibility to visit the trail at least once a year for routine maintenance. I hadn't been the previous year at all, but Jamie did visit it with some friends and covered good ground. I was ready to spend as much time as needed to ensure the trail was clear to follow and free of brush for the two-foot-wide, eight-foot-high corridor allowed. (Visit the AMC website for more info on their Adopt-A-Trail program.)
(All but perhaps 20-30 feet of the trail's 1.4-mile length lies within the Pemigewasset Wilderness area, one of a few in the White Mountains that limit the measures available to trail maintainers. For instance, painted trail blazes are not allowed, and the corridor width/length is greatly reduced.)
The rough plan was to spend three days in the forest, doing maintenance and exploring the Ethan Pond area (which I hadn't yet visited in my travels). I'd spend the two night in-between at the AMC Zealand Falls hut.
After a casually late start, I started off from the end of Zealand Road and made good time to the hut. I checked in, dropped much of my pack, and headed off along the Ethan Pond Trail for the Zeacliff Trail junction to start the work. I wanted to be back in time for dinner at 6 - a can't-miss event!
I knew from past experience that the upper 1/3 of the trail tends to grow the most, as it's pretty dense and sees more water than the rest of the trail. This trail doesn't require much more than simple "brushing," the act of cutting back branches and other growth to maintain the trail corridor. Since I'd be coming the same way the next day on the way to Ethan Pond and that general area, I left the lower part of the trail alone and concentrated on the upper 2/3.
Still, the lower 1/3 of the trail was in quite good shape. The crossing of Whitewall Brook was straightforward, with reasonable water levels. I did have to clear some fallen trees/logs that were laying across or along the steepest parts of the trail, but made relatively quick work of that. Some brushing along the way was required, but nothing terrible.
As I traveled along, I spent more time ensuring branches were cleared, especially the higher ones. I often pictured myself three, four, or even more feet higher than I was, as if it were winter, when snow levels effectively put hikers that much higher. I couldn't reach many branches I would have liked, but I was able to clear a good many and ensure a roughly eight-foot-tall opening.
I spent the most time taking care of the upper 1/3 of the trail. In several places, I spent quality time cutting back a lot of growth that had encroached over the trail proper. This made a huge difference and was long overdue.
As I worked, I listened to A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson's telling of his trip along the Appalachian Trail. Mildly funny in places, and appropriate for the task I suppose, since this trail connects two lengths of the Appalachian Trail. A hike of the AT is something I'd like to do some day, though I'm most certain I'd have to do it in sections. Hearing his account, and talking with an AT thru hiker later that evening at the hut, I knew this would be best anyway since "rushing" through it is just not that fun an experience.
Four hours later, I reached the top of the trail at its intersection with the Twinway. I was relieved since I had hoped to be done for the day by 5pm, but wasn't checking GPS coordinates to see how far along I'd been progressing. I'd easily be able to travel the 1.2 miles back to the hut for dinner.
The Zealand Falls hut experience - like all AMC high-mountain huts - is something every person should experience at least once in their life. To be able to join together with fellow hikers for a hearty meal inside relatively rustic hut, after a day of play in the mountains, is one of the funnest things. The hut was almost full this night with solo hikers like myself, couples, and families with children of all ages.
Weather remained quite good this first day, and we saw stars ever-brighter as the evening wore on. The calm but persistent rush of the falls just steps from the hut's front stoop, along with views along the river valley south, provided such an idyllic and peaceful environment in which to just sit and "be."
The next morning, following a hearty breakfast, I started on my way along the Ethan Pond Trail again to finish trail work. The weather forecast called for a chance of showers, thunderstorms, and even hail, so I packed accordingly, including the new rain jacket I purchased the day before at Rogers. I had been hoping for a Gore-Tex/breathable rain shell, but the one they had (an Arcteryx) was going for well over $400. No thanks - I settled for a Helly Hansen they called "breathable" for just $99, knowing it wouldn't be the very best, but it would do me well.
This time, I focused my trail work on the first relatively short stretch of trail which crosses a boulder field and enters the woods above Whitewall Brook. In places along this stretch, some hikers found their way off-trail, since much of it involved basic rock-hopping. I placed some large sticks, and constructed one small cairn, to help guide people along the trail; we'll have to see how these measures stand up to nature!
All in all, I spent 5.5 hours on the trail, and felt very good about the outcome. I'll be submitting a trail report and will plan on visiting the trail either this Fall, or certainly next Summer.
trip report continued below...
Day 1
- 11:10 - 11:50 Zealand Road lot to hut (2.7 miles)
- 12:15 - 12:45 Hut along Ethan Pond Trail to junction with Zeacliff Trail (1.7 miles)
- 12:45 - 16:50 Zeacliff Trail maintenance
- 17:00 - 17:35 Twinway back to Zealand Falls hut (1.3 miles)
Day 2
- 08:10 - 09:00 Hut along Ethan Pond Trail to junction with Zeacliff Trail (1.7 miles)
- 09:00 - 10:40 Zeacliff Trail maintenance completed
- 10:50 - 12:50 Ethan Pond Trail to Willey Range Trail junction, with stops at Thoreau Falls and Ethan Pond/shelter (5.1 miles)
- 13:05 - 14:50 Willey Range Trail to Mt. Willey summit, and back (2.2mi)
- 14:50 - 17:10 Ethan Pond back to hut, with stop for dip at Thoreau Falls (6mi)
Day 3
- hike out (2.7 miles)
Photo Library: https://www.facebook.com/erikbertrand/media_set?set=a.10153134616369567.1073741862.570654566&type=3
As co-adopter of the Zeacliff Trail with Jamie Gillon, I have the responsibility to visit the trail at least once a year for routine maintenance. I hadn't been the previous year at all, but Jamie did visit it with some friends and covered good ground. I was ready to spend as much time as needed to ensure the trail was clear to follow and free of brush for the two-foot-wide, eight-foot-high corridor allowed. (Visit the AMC website for more info on their Adopt-A-Trail program.)
(All but perhaps 20-30 feet of the trail's 1.4-mile length lies within the Pemigewasset Wilderness area, one of a few in the White Mountains that limit the measures available to trail maintainers. For instance, painted trail blazes are not allowed, and the corridor width/length is greatly reduced.)
The rough plan was to spend three days in the forest, doing maintenance and exploring the Ethan Pond area (which I hadn't yet visited in my travels). I'd spend the two night in-between at the AMC Zealand Falls hut.
After a casually late start, I started off from the end of Zealand Road and made good time to the hut. I checked in, dropped much of my pack, and headed off along the Ethan Pond Trail for the Zeacliff Trail junction to start the work. I wanted to be back in time for dinner at 6 - a can't-miss event!
I knew from past experience that the upper 1/3 of the trail tends to grow the most, as it's pretty dense and sees more water than the rest of the trail. This trail doesn't require much more than simple "brushing," the act of cutting back branches and other growth to maintain the trail corridor. Since I'd be coming the same way the next day on the way to Ethan Pond and that general area, I left the lower part of the trail alone and concentrated on the upper 2/3.
Still, the lower 1/3 of the trail was in quite good shape. The crossing of Whitewall Brook was straightforward, with reasonable water levels. I did have to clear some fallen trees/logs that were laying across or along the steepest parts of the trail, but made relatively quick work of that. Some brushing along the way was required, but nothing terrible.
As I traveled along, I spent more time ensuring branches were cleared, especially the higher ones. I often pictured myself three, four, or even more feet higher than I was, as if it were winter, when snow levels effectively put hikers that much higher. I couldn't reach many branches I would have liked, but I was able to clear a good many and ensure a roughly eight-foot-tall opening.
I spent the most time taking care of the upper 1/3 of the trail. In several places, I spent quality time cutting back a lot of growth that had encroached over the trail proper. This made a huge difference and was long overdue.
As I worked, I listened to A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson's telling of his trip along the Appalachian Trail. Mildly funny in places, and appropriate for the task I suppose, since this trail connects two lengths of the Appalachian Trail. A hike of the AT is something I'd like to do some day, though I'm most certain I'd have to do it in sections. Hearing his account, and talking with an AT thru hiker later that evening at the hut, I knew this would be best anyway since "rushing" through it is just not that fun an experience.
Four hours later, I reached the top of the trail at its intersection with the Twinway. I was relieved since I had hoped to be done for the day by 5pm, but wasn't checking GPS coordinates to see how far along I'd been progressing. I'd easily be able to travel the 1.2 miles back to the hut for dinner.
The Zealand Falls hut experience - like all AMC high-mountain huts - is something every person should experience at least once in their life. To be able to join together with fellow hikers for a hearty meal inside relatively rustic hut, after a day of play in the mountains, is one of the funnest things. The hut was almost full this night with solo hikers like myself, couples, and families with children of all ages.
Weather remained quite good this first day, and we saw stars ever-brighter as the evening wore on. The calm but persistent rush of the falls just steps from the hut's front stoop, along with views along the river valley south, provided such an idyllic and peaceful environment in which to just sit and "be."
The next morning, following a hearty breakfast, I started on my way along the Ethan Pond Trail again to finish trail work. The weather forecast called for a chance of showers, thunderstorms, and even hail, so I packed accordingly, including the new rain jacket I purchased the day before at Rogers. I had been hoping for a Gore-Tex/breathable rain shell, but the one they had (an Arcteryx) was going for well over $400. No thanks - I settled for a Helly Hansen they called "breathable" for just $99, knowing it wouldn't be the very best, but it would do me well.
This time, I focused my trail work on the first relatively short stretch of trail which crosses a boulder field and enters the woods above Whitewall Brook. In places along this stretch, some hikers found their way off-trail, since much of it involved basic rock-hopping. I placed some large sticks, and constructed one small cairn, to help guide people along the trail; we'll have to see how these measures stand up to nature!
All in all, I spent 5.5 hours on the trail, and felt very good about the outcome. I'll be submitting a trail report and will plan on visiting the trail either this Fall, or certainly next Summer.
trip report continued below...
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