WWE New England – Overnight Stay at Zealand Falls Hut at Zealand Trailhead – Bethlehem, NH

Join Women Who Explore – New England for a scenic hike and overnight stay at the Zealand Falls Hut in the Pemigewasset Wilderness of the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire (no tent required for this overnight in the wilderness ).

Please carefully read all details below before registering for the event.

ADVANCED HUT RESERVATION REQUIRED: You must purchase your own reservation in advanced for one night at Zealand Falls Hut through the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) website: https://www.outdoors.org/destinations/book-now/#/room?resultFilterValue=21918

• Purchase your reservation for one night for Friday, October 23rd to Saturday, October 24th.

• $42 plus tax (non-AMC member)

• $36 plus tax (AMC member)

• It is highly recommended to make your reservation as soon as possible to secure your spot as Zealand Falls Hut is a popular stay for hikers.

• Please forward your reservation confirmation email to Aubrey Voelker (WWE New England Ambassador and event organizer) at aubreyrose77@gmail.com. This is just to ensure that all attendees have purchased their reservation in advance. If you have not purchased a reservation, you may not be able to stay overnight at the hut.

Registering for this event through Eventbrite does NOT include your reservation to stay overnight at Zealand Falls Hut.

Responding as “Going” on Facebook does NOT reserve your spot.

MEETING LOCATION AND TIME

Trailhead parking lot has a day use fee:

• $5 per vehicle per day (can pay cash via a self-serve pay station) or have a valid Recreation Pass.

• Valid passes include the daily pass ($5 per day), White Mountain National Forest annual passes, as well Interagency Passes and Golden Age and Access passes. Any one of these passes can be displayed on the windshield of the parked vehicle.

• Additional details about White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) day use and annual passes and fees can be found on the WMNF website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/whitemountain/passes

Meet at Zealand Trail trailhead at 1:30pm on Friday, October 23rd.

Click here for Google Maps location and directions.

There will be a brief introduction, confirm all attendees have purchased a hut reservation, and answer any questions before starting the hike. We will stay together as a group for the hike to the hut.

Once we arrive at the hut, we will check-in with the hut caretaker who will confirm everyone’s reservation and assign our bunks and kitchen time for dinner and breakfast. You are then free to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings. Zealand falls is next to the hut as well as tables/benches inside to read a book, play games, socialize, etc.

ABOUT THE HUT

Zealand Falls Hut is a remote backcountry hut in the Pemigewasset Wilderness in the White Mountains National Forest. It is one of many huts operated by the AMC.

We will be staying during the hut’s “Self-Service” season, so you are required to bring your own food and bedding. Everyone is assigned a bunk in an unheated co-ed bunkhouse.

• No meals are provided; attendees are responsible for their own meals and clean-up. Attendees need to bring own food and will have use of the hut’s kitchen area (hut caretaker may assign groups to a specific kitchen time). Please make sure to bring enough food for dinner Friday night, breakfast Saturday morning, plenty of snacks, and beverages (the hut does provide potable drinking water).

• No bedding is provided; you will be assigned a bunk that has a mattress. You are required to bring your own bedding (sleeping bag, travel pillow, etc.). Highly recommend extra layers as the bunkhouses are unheated and it can get cold at night in the mountains in October.

• Guests are assigned a bunk in one of the bunk houses. Bunkhouses are co-ed and other hikers (all genders) apart from our group may be staying the night as well. Hut caretakers do try to accommodate group requests and keep groups together; however, this is not always guaranteed. While our Women Who Explore group will be an all-women group, other hikers and groups may be staying the night at the hut as well. If you are uncomfortable staying in co-ed accommodation, it is not recommended to join this event.

• Hut has bathrooms with composting toilets.

• The are no outlets or cell service at the hut, please plan accordingly.

More detailed information about Zealand Falls Hut, what to expect during your stay, and a recommended packing list can be found on the Zealand Falls Hut webpage: https://www.outdoors.org/destinations/new-hampshire/zealand-falls-hut/

ABOUT THE HIKE

The hike to Zealand Falls Hut is an easy 2.8-miles on the Zealand Trail that passes by multiple scenic beaver ponds and over boardwalks and bridges. There is one short steep section just before arriving at the hut but otherwise there is minimal elevation gain on this trail. Around a 1–2 hour hike to the hut. Saturday morning we will hike back to the trailhead the same way we came in. We will aim to leave the hut by 10:30am Saturday morning, however this may change based on weather and group decision.

• Optional sunrise hike to Zeacliff Saturday morning: If the forecast looks promising, join me for an optional hike to Zeacliff to watch the sunrise Saturday morning. A little over one mile of uphill hiking from the hut to the Zeacliff viewpoint. We will hike in the dark to arrive at Zeacliff a little before sunrise (pre-sunrise colors are not to be missed!). Those interested in joining will decide as a group Friday evening on the start time for Saturday morning. A headlamp is required for the hike as we will be hiking up to Zeacliff in the dark. We will hike back down to the hut after sunrise to check out and join back up with the rest of the group.

• For those who prefer to sleep in but still want to enjoy early morning colors, there is a lovely view from the front porch of the hut (event cover photo was taken from the hut) to drink your coffee/tea while enjoying the early morning mountain glow.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Event is limited to 9 attendees. Please be sure to reserve your spot through Eventbrite.

Due to local guidelines, and in accordance with Leave No Trace Principles, Women Who Explore limits the number of attendees for hiking or outdoor events. To make sure we are following local guidelines, every attendee must register through Eventbrite. In the event you successfully register, and then are unable to attend, please release the ticket so that another member may attend.

LIABILITY WAIVER

Friendly reminder that it is required to sign the e-waiver before attending your first Women Who Explore event. Please sign on an annual basis. Link here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfX6bkwHzE2YJ-6ohx5vX2CfBNIscs1UINt_QjtjrrhOv9dbg/viewform?fbclid=IwAR1SoZj9eZOMMkCFPXJhBNWIQGZt1bBZoS1cdjqaKrME3P_FpWODzNTRA_M

PLEASE NOTE: Ambassadors are not wilderness first aid certified. This is a casual get together for shared outdoor enthusiasts. Safety is a top priority; please plan accordingly.

CANCELLATION POLICY

If you are registering for one of our group events, we ask that you are 100% committed to attending when you register. If you reserve a spot and are unable to attend, please cancel as soon as possible on Eventbrite. We ask that you try to cancel a minimum of 3 days prior to the day of the event as this allows other women who would like to attend the ability to plan to join us.

Please be mindful of other members attending the events. If you have developed cold or flu-like symptoms leading up to the event, please cancel your spot in Eventbrite and notify the ambassador hosting the event.

QUESTIONS?

Please email Aubrey Voelker at aubreyrose77@gmail.com with any questions.

Aubrey Voelker – Women Who Explore – New England Ambassador