Zealand Falls Hut - trip report

“Tarabull flew up Wednesday night and stayed at our home. Thursday morning she and I drove to the White Mountains to join Buddah Bear and his friend Kelly for the hike into the Zealand Falls hut. There wasn't a lot of snow and snowshoes were not necessary. Buddah Bear donned his crampons and pulled a sled with gear for their 4 day stay. Tarabull and I were staying in the hut for just one night. The hike in was beautiful. There was magnificent blue sky and a little more snow as we got higher in elevation and closer to the hut. Ther were parts that were pretty difficult with the sled. BB needed about 8 inches more snow for smooth going. He was a trooper pulling the sled the whole way while Tarabull, Kelly and I took turns pushing the sled back up more difficult sections. Right near the hut was a difficult steep section. BB and I unloaded the sled there and he donned his pack and we split the remaining items and hoofed it up the steep and icy trail. This is one section that I wished I had brought my crampons. It took us a little over 3.5 hours to reach the hut, taking numerous breaks along the way.

The hut was really nice with sleeping bunks for 36. I think there were 19 or 20 people in the hut that night. We signed up for cook and clean times in the large comminity kitchen. They had everything we needed including a large supply of spices, all pots, pans, dishes, utensils. The caretaker lit the woodburning stove at 4 PM and the place warmed up pretty quickly, but it never really got warm enough to sit around without some sort of jacket. Views from the front of the hut were fantastic! We ate, did dishes and played cards and had a couple of drinks until lights out at 9:30 PM. Tarabull made a wonderful four cheese tortilini with pesto for our dinner and we had a grilled bagel. She even baked some brownies! I slept like a log that night, thanks to earplugs. The sleeping areas are unheated, but very comfortable, with the hut supplying matresses, a pillow and a blanket in each bunk.

The weather forecast was not so promising for the next day. Tarabull and I hiked out with some pretty strong winds, sleet and freezing rain. Our packs were lightened a bit on our way out, although they were never that heavy because we didn't have to bring a stove, water filter, tent or sleeping pad. We put on our snowshoes for the slippery, steep downhill and then took them off a short time later. Crampons would have been perfect. Why did I leave them home? It took us two hours to hike out the 6 miles to the car. About halfway out, we met Artex, SirPete and a friend of SirPete's. We stopped and chatted for awhile, but had to get moving again because it was raining, we were wet and needed to get warm again. Artex, Sirpete and friend were joining Buddah Bear and Kelly for a couple of nights at the Zealand Hut. What a great place to spend New Year's Eve! We stopped for lunch in Lincoln on our way out and then drove home and my wife made a spinch and cheese ravioli dish for dinner. It was delicious.

Tarabull drove to the airport to pick up Yam and then later learned that Yam's flight had to return to the airport for a possible open door. Apparently that was fixed as the plane has landed in NH. They'll pick up luggage and skis and switch the rental car and they'll be on their way back. Tommorow and Sunday, we'll go skiing at Killington with Monkeyboy and Skeetahbait.

It was great to hike with Tarabull, Buddah Bear and Kelly and to get to know all of them. I had never met them before this trip. It was also nice to finally get to meet SirPete and it's always great to see Artex. Artex told me he was safekeeping a couple of straps I had lent to Yam on an August trip to Chimney Pond in Baxter State Park we took in August...they were attached to the back of his pack.

Pictures will follow in a day or two.
last edited: 12/31/04 10:22:18 PM”

“the only thing skiracer forgot to mention was that the hut's caretaker is yummy... oh, and the stars were magnificent!!!

signed,
tarabull”

“Has reading and commenting on trip reports gone out of TT style?”

“skiracer, Weekend posting is always slow plus with it being a holiday it is even slower than normal.

Glad y'all had a great time. Good to see Tara got her wish for snow.”

“Wow, what a surprise; a great trip report sinking to the bottom. ;o)
I'm really bummed that I had to cancel this trip, but I'm glad you all are having a great time. I hope the weather is cooperating and that you're having a blast on the slopes today.

Hey Tara - is your yummy caretaker's name Ben? When I was at the hut in Nov, I heard he was going to be there on the 30th. I met him last year at Carter Hut. Real nice guy. I wouldn't go so far as to call him yummy though. ;o)”

“Great Report Ski. Wish I'd been able to get out and meet up with y'all.

I'll await the pics.”

“post a pic of the yummy guy. Boy...you guys wernt out there long enough for canabalisem to be a nescessity but what ever flaots your boat!”

“Skiracer --

Thanks for the report.


Sounds like a fun time.


I have stayed at Zealand numerous times .. . but never in the winter. I did do a ski/sled drag one winter that put me in the woods just beynd the hut.

Sounds like a good crew. Were yam and Tara headed back up to Zealand, or just skiing from your place?”

“Skiracer's pics from Zealand Falls Hut hike

I'm sure Tarabull will post her pictures once she gets home.

Yam, Tarabull, Monkeyboy, Skeetahbait, Mrs. Skiracer and I skied on Sunday at Killington. We were going to go on Saturday, but high wind and evening high temps made conditions lousy and delayed the opening. Only about 10% of the mountain would be open on Saturday and we decided it wouldn't be worth the $72 holiday lift ticket price.

See the Killington ski trip, New Years weekend thread which includes a link to a few pictures of the gang from Killington.
last edited: 1/03/05 5:01:43 PM”

“I flew into Manchester, NH on the evening of 12/29, got my car and headed to skiracer's place. Ski and his lovely wife were very friendly and we sat up chatting for some time. Then... I unpacked, repacked, organized, etc and didn't get to bed til about 1:30 or 2 in the morning. Got up at about 5:45 to finish packing, showering, etc so we could be on the road in time to meet Buddha Bear and Kel in the White Mountains. We met at the parking area near the Zealand CG on Rte 302 around 9am and were on the trail around 9:45. The first three miles of the trail are on an access road that's closed in the winter. It's slightly uphill but pretty easy. At the halfway point, we left the access road and started on the Zealand Trail which, follows an old railroad grade most of the way. Some of the trail was pretty tricky (rocks and creeks and such) with BB's sled but he was up for the challenge. Kel, Ski and I were carrying packs. Kel and I found ourselves ahead of the guys and at the Zealand Hut (2,700 ft) at around 2:00. The last 300 feet were pretty steep but, after taking in the view, we headed back down, without our packs, to help the guys get the contents of the sled up the hill. Fortunately for us, as we neared the bottom, we spied two ppl with BB and ski who were helping them instead. So, naturally, we turned and headed back up. The total mileage was 6.2 miles with only 700 feet of elevation gain. It was a beautiful day with sunny skies and comfortable temps. As we climbed, there was more and more snow and some pretty great views.

The huts are so nice. They supply mattresses, pillows and a wool blanket for sleeping. In the kitchen, there's hot water and cold, potable water that the caretaker, w/ the help of the guests, keeps around at all times. And, there's a full stove and oven along w/ any pot/pan/skillet/bowl/plate/mug/utensil you would need to make your meals. The wood burning stove is started up around 4pm and the propane lights are lit as it gets dark so guests have enough light to cook and play.

We spent the evening hanging around the hut, meeting the folks, having dinner and playing cards. There were approx 20 ppl in the hut that night. There were millions of stars out at night. It was awesome. Light's out was at 9:30. And, at 10, I was the last, besides the caretaker, to hit the sack. I slept pretty comfortably for the first four hours. Then, tossed and turned for a few hours. I was the first one in the hut to get up and at 'em, just after 6am. I grabbed some hot water for my coffee and sat on the table by the front window enjoying the view of the mountains. BB was up next and the rest of the hut's guests slowly followed.

Ski and I were only there for the night so we packed up after breakfast to begin our hike back to the car. The freezing rain and sleet began shortly before we hit the trail. We made fantastic time, despite the weather. Just about halfway down, we ran into Artex, SirPete and his friend Jerry who were headed up to meet BB and Kel for the New Year's Eve. Chatted w/ them for about 20 minutes then continued on down the trail. Made it to the car in just over two hours. Put on some dry clothes then stopped in Lincoln for lunch.

When we returned to Ski's place, we cleaned up and relaxed before I headed out to get Yam from the airport.

The rest of my trip is continued on the Killington thread... http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/35588,3.php

And, some ppl may be posting their reports to the trip thread... http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/34106,-1,2.php?id_trip=cf67355a3333e6e143439161adc2d82e#1067666”

“kids see-sawing in the road sign...now that is unusual”

“Pennsy - his name was Matt.

Sorry, Spirit, no pics of the caretaker. Got some nice pics of the trail and the views, tho.”

“awesome pics and reports!”