Mt. Zealand, or There and Back Again

Leaders
Amit Scheer (Leader)
Program
3-season hiking
Type
Hiking
Trip date
Sunday, July 13th
Difficulty rating
Difficult (L4)
Prerequisites
have completed at least one hike >6 miles w 2000 ft elevation in past year

Pack your Lembas bread and prepare for an unexpected journey as we venture forth from the Shire (Cambridge) to the distant peaks of the Misty (White) Mountains to summit Mount Zealand (a 4000-footer)!

Our expedition will follow a 10.5-mile There and Back Again (out-and-back) trail with 2,430' of elevation gain—a considerable journey that would certainly make Bilbo think twice about leaving his comfortable hobbit-hole. We will likely be hiking most of the day, so we'll take efficient breaks to enjoy second breakfast, elevenses, and perhaps even afternoon tea along the way.

We'll pass the enchanting Rivendell (Zealand Falls) and Zealand Falls Hut before reaching the wooded summit of Mount Zealand. But the real treasure of this quest lies at Zeacliff, where, if we're lucky, views rivaling anything in Middle Earth await! The forecast currently indicates precipitation, so please be prepared to journey in the rain.

There will be a mandatory pre-adventure council (meeting) on Thursday, July 10th at 5:30 PM on Zoom to discuss the route, required gear, and logistics, and to determine whether one can or cannot simply walk to Mt. Zealand. Expect to depart Cambridge early Sunday morning.

To take the hobbits to the trailhead, we'll need a pony (or a car), so preference may be given to drivers. Please make sure your car status is updated if you can drive others (including if you are willing to rent).


Signup

Algorithm
first-come, first-serve
Maximum participants
4
Signups opened at
July 9, 2025, 10:30 p.m.
Signups closed at
July 10, 2025, 4 p.m.
Notes
  1. Briefly describe the most challenging journey you have hiked in the past year, including distance and elevation gain.
  2. Which meal will you be most upset about missing while we're on trail, and what's your backup snack strategy?
Signups for this trip are closed.