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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks North Twin Mountain, South Twin Mountain, Zealand Mountain, West Bond, Mt. Bond, Bondcliff, NH
Trails
Trails: Herd path, North Twin Trail, North Twin Spur, Twinway, Zealand Spur, West Bond Spur, Bondcliff Trail, Lincoln Woods Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, April 27, 2013
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Car spot at lightly used Lincoln Woods, then drop off at Seven Dwarfs, where one vehicle parked in front of no parking and no trespassing signs (but, apparently ok if not in way of snow plows during winter?)  
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Mud - Significant, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Slush, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow - Spring Snow 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: All streams open, but easily crossed, except for Little River which requires either shinny across large downed tree or creative rock hopping 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Twinway badly in need of brushing, whether deep snowpack or not; ridiculous for important part of the AT; section of Bondcliff Trail below last crossing to long switchback typically muddy with standing water, as usual 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Saw one tired dog on his way to Guyot lean-to, along with his six humans 
Bugs
Bugs: Not yet, but probably soon 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Trekking poles at Lincoln Woods parking lot, which I stumbled over in the dark; please describe in detail to owner of this site, who knows how to reach me 
 
Comments
Comments: Got a car spot at Lincoln Woods from friend before he dropped me off at Seven Dwarfs Motel at end of Little River Road for 9 am start, a bit late but beggars cannot be choosy. :-)

Slow going all the way with still a lot of snow above 2500 ft; for the most part snowpack held up if I could stay on the packed narrow "rail" in the middle of trails. I would call the snow rails solid, presumably because the nights have been below freezing up high; in my view stable or unstable is a condition of the hiker, but my guess is that the snow rails will not remain solid for long.

Only used snowshoes for out and back on Twinway to Zealand from Guyot, but would have been fine without, as others hiking from Zool hut were. Arrived at Bondcliff, my 6th NH4 of the day, just as our Sun set behind Lafayette. Lower Bondcliff Trail was difficult in dark and 4.7 miles of Lincoln Woods Trail tedious as always. Back at LW parking lot at 11.30 pm.

I made this traverse in reverse minus Zealand with friend on the same weekend in late April a few years ago for my first round of the Grid. Second and solo grid rounds are going much easier and quicker.

Met 10 others on trails yesterday, including six young people with dog at the West Bond spur trail junction who were backpacking into Guyot shelter; perhaps they were the ones I saw gearing up at LW parking lot around 8:15 am? Another kid who was soloing the Pemi loop (31.5+ miles, with added miles dependent on number of side trips) with two overnights en route; he was wearing running shoes, and his pack was half the size of my daypack; he told me that he likes to travel light. :-) I really admire some of today's youth.
 
Name
Name: HFKA Dr. D. 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2013-04-29 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense.

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