Zealand

[Anonymous]

#46948 |

We are car spotting at Hale Brook Trailhead and then leaving Zealand Trailhead at 7:30.
The five of us; Peggy, Trevor, Jerry, Todd and I will be toting Ole Glory and all the necessary accoutrements up Zealand Trail
to the Twinway to Mt. Zealand summit. We’re having lunch at Zeacliff and having a look around for some other flags!!
:flag: :flag: :flag: :flag: :flag: :flag: :flag: :flag: :flag: :flag:
We are bagging Mt. Hale on the return trip descending on the Lend-a-Hand to Hale Brook Trails. 😀
Sunrise: 6:21 😀
Sunset: 7:03 😀
Weather: 40% chance of scattered showers. 🙄
Temps:68/45 😀
Winds: 6 mph from West/Northwest 😀

[dirt_girl]

#50162

I last posted making a guest appearance from vacationland. 😮 My bad and sorry for any confusion. 😳

Just for the record and any worried team members, the guest was me… dirt_girl… climbing Zealand with all you outstanding people. 😀

Andey and Mark… thanks for joining us!!!

:flag: :flag: :flag: :flag: :flag: :flag: :flag:

dirt_girl

[Anonymous]

#50163

Awesome job by Madison and crew, especially the undauntable Trevor! I am a 10th Mountain Division Descendant and joined in for the third time, along with my friend Lucy L, her first event. Madison’s crew helped hoist the 10th Mountain flag up as well, thanks to all.

Climb to Glory!
Thank you to our Armed Forces.
Deb MacAuley Lear

[Greg]

#50164

We could see the Zealand flag very clearly from South Twin. I was amazed to see it blowing above the treetops! Nice job!

[Hoot]

#50165

😀 It was a great hike to Zealand!! Thanks Madi for organizing it. Thank you also to Peggy, Jerry, Mark, Andey, and Trevor for making it fun and memorable!! Ohh yea, thanks to Warren, Deb and Lucy too, and all the unnamed people we met along the way!!

I uploaded some additional pictures from Mark and a few quotes too. I wish I could remember all the great quips and quotes along the way. Anyone who had a tidbit, quote or picture I should add to the album, let me know.

Hope to see you all on a future hike!! God Bless America!!

Hoot (Todd)

:flag:

[Anonymous]

#50166

Hey Hoot,
Glad to hear you had a great time. I had my father in law with me on North Twin..he is from Pomfret as well. Small world isn’t it. :flag:

[summit1]

#50167

That was me logged in as guest
Hey Hoot,
Glad to hear you had a great time. I had my father in law with me on North Twin..he is from Pomfret as well. Small world isn’t it.

[Hoot]

#50168

Hi Summit1,

It sure is a small world!! Now I can’t get that disney tune out of my head “It’s a small world after all” LOL

[dirt_girl]

#50169

Saturday morning began in a flurry, we overslept!! Trevor in a half conscience state loaded all the gear as I gathered it. We left in record time and flew up the highway through New Hampshire arriving, to our amazement, at the agreed upon place and time.
😀
Mark, Andey, Todd and Peggy were promptly on time and all in good spirits. After introductions were made and the revised plans (not bagging Mt. Hale) for the day discussed, we loaded up and traveled the final mile of Zealand Rd. to the trail head. The walk from the parking lot to the Zealand Falls Hut is best described as, leisurely, serene, picturesque and enjoyable. Trevor couldn’t get over the fact that it was so easy as he was “mule” for the day. He cheerfully packed all the poles, flag, rope, duct tape, miscellaneous equipment and all his stuff as well!!! The temperatures were cool and the conversation lively, having planned for plenty of time to reach the summit we paused for photos whenever the notion struck, as you can tell by the amount of phenomenal pictures (a most fabulous job,gentlemen) taken by Mark and Todd.Check out the Gallery and http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/tomarkallen/album?.dir=/9655&.src=ph&.tok=phwMOvBBzagwFG.3
Our group of almost complete (yes Mark, as opposed to incomplete) strangers had melded quite nicely from the start; we were well suited, good buddies by the time we reached the hut. With little effort we arrived and Peggy added another patch to her collection, we had a snack, went milling about inside and outside, shared conversation about our mission with several hikers and of course took more photos. Then we were on our way once again.
😀
The trip to Zeacliff took a bit more effort but the grand reward was worth the minimal struggle. The warmth and clear skies afforded us time to truly enjoy this fabulous place. We shared the cliffs and conversation with two people until we were joined by the “guys” from the hut who were on their way to Franconia Notch. Two women came along just before we left the cliffs. They had no idea who we were nor did we know they were the Deb and Lucy we were expecting… like ship passing in the night… Jerry also met up with us on the spur trail to the cliffs as we were leaving; he stayed at the cliffs, taking in the fabulous view for awhile, as we traveled on. He caught up a short time later, as did Deb and Lucy. The trail from the cliffs to the summit is best described as one big mud hole after another with small patches of dry ground. It made for interesting, precarious and dirty travel. One of the more humorous statements happened along this section. While making a slight descent before reaching the summit our first timer Trevor asked “Why are we going down hill?” to which Peggy promptly replied “Because the summit is down here.”
:flag:
At the summit our band of seven became eleven. With everyone there, it was time to raise ‘Ole Glory’ and 24 feet of PVC. Each took a part in raising the flag, even the hiker we came across as we made the summit. He was minding his own business but felt compelled to join in. Warren joined us as we pieced together the poles and became an active participant as well. Deb had brought a flag belonging to her Grandfather’s WWII Mountain Division. This flag was secured to the pole as well and we all lifted them both up to meet the wind. The flag stretched out across the tiny opening above Zealand summit and a cheer filled the space below. The purpose of the day was never far from our thoughts as we shared a meal, some stories and a beautiful day under the canopy of the American flag. We cheered each hiker that made the summit and told them of our purpose, we received congratulations and praise for the deed at hand and what it represented. Deb and Lucy made there way home before we brought the flag down as did our helpful hiking buddy. When our band of eight brought down the flags, Andey and Mark folded ‘Ole Glory’ with military expertise and great care. The rest of us made short work of disassembling the poles, with everything packed and no trace of us having been there, our tribe of eight began trip home. At the end of the day we all felt tired from the day’s journey and good about what we had done. I can not think of anyone else I would have rather spent the day with. An awesomely fabulous group!!! We spent time in the parking lot exchanging a few more laughs and our addresses. What I learned from the day with these determined, engaging, entertaining and humorous individuals…
😮 Complete strangers are different than incomplete strangers.
😆 You know your close when you can throw a rock from here to there.
😉 Large, young men can climb small, old trees.
🙄 There are three rings of marriage.
😮 Sometimes you must go down to reach the summit.
😀 What happens on Zealand stays on Zealand.
:flag: There is no such thing as too much fun.

Thank you Peggy, Trevor, Mark, Andey, Todd, Jerry, Warren, Deb and Lucy for making this one of the most remarkable and memorable hikes of my lifetime. Your spirits are kind and remain in my memory forever.
:beer:
dirt_girl

[Hoot]

#50170

Thanks Maddi for putting the trip together!! It was a great time!!

[dirt_girl]

#50171

Hey, putting the trip together was the easy part, It was all of you who came along that made it such a remarkable trip! 😀
I count hiking Zealand with such an easy natured, fun loving team as just my good fortune. :flag:
I’m just glad it was you guys who got to witness the baptisim of my boots. 😳
Hoot, you and Mark took so many fabulous photos!! 8)
Thanks to you both for freeze framing thoes memories and sharing them with everyone.:D
It really was one of the best days I’ve ever spent in the White Mountains.:flag:

Wanna go again next year??? 😀

dirt_girl

[Hoot]

#50172

If you remember, drop me a line for next years hike or any others you plan throughout the year and I’ll look for you when I’m making plans for next years flags on the 48.

I will get those last few quotes and some of Jerry’s pics uploaded this week sometime. Ohh yea and get a CD burned for all who I have addresses for…..

The hike was a blast and I hope to see all you guys around on a trail sometime, somewhere!

Have a great week!
Todd

[Author]

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