| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bondcliff, Mt. Bond, West Bond, Mt. Guyot, Zealand Mountain , NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Lincoln Woods Trail, Wilderness Trail, Bondcliff Trail, West Bond Spur, Twinway, Zealand Spur, Zealand Trail, bushwhacks |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, March 11, 2010 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Zealand Road closed. US 302 Zealand lot plowed. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Unpacked Powder, Ice - Blue, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow - Spring Snow |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
On Bondcliff Trail, first two partially bridged. Everything else fully bridged. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Lots of blowdowns and leaners on Bondcliff Trail, West Bond Spur, and Twinway. We did a little bit of cleanup on the Bondcliff Trail, but didn't even make a dent. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Long hike with unpacked trail - probably not the time to bring a dog. |
|
 | Bugs: |
|
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
This traverse is much more difficult than normal. Lincoln Woods Trail and Wilderness Trail barebootable, perhaps light traction. Lower Bondcliff Trail pretty firm, but snowshoes a good idea as you climb. At third crossing, packed route hops into woods, then back onto brook bed, and climbs up brook bed (fully snowcovered) to crossing 4. Packed trail splits in a few places above here and buswhacks around a few of the switchbacks. Lots of blowdowns and leaners make this challenging. Ledge scramble completely covered. Trail across ridge mostly snow free. After hopping into the "woods" to Bond, packed trail goes north of trail and bushwhacks to summit. Packed trail bushwhacks in a few places from Bond to West Bond. From Guyot campsite to Zeacliff, likely only one person had been though (today) since the storm a few weeks ago. We broke out the proper trail ascending to South Guyot, then crossed the snowfield to Guyot. Thick going to Zealand - lots of blowdowns, a few bushwhacked areas. Reaching Zealand, we hung west of the summit spur in clear going, then hopped into the scrub to the summit sign (literally at snowline). From Zealand to Zeacliff is a disaster - don't bother following the broken out route. It meanders all over the place and adds distance and vertical. We followed it for too long, and eventually opted to do our own bushwhack back to the trail and to the Zeacliff spur area. Lots of various packed routes in this area - don't bother attempting Zealand for the time being if you're unsure of the navigation. Trail well packed out from Zeacliff area down to hut and beyond. Bootable below hut, with light traction. Zealand Road is plowed - mud and ice until reaching the pavement, then bare. |
|
 | Name: |
rocket21 |
|
 | E-Mail: |
rocket21 at franklinwebpublishing dot com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2010-03-11 |
|
 | Link: |
 https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos/NewHampshire/bondcliff-2010-0311.php |
|
|
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. |
|
