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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Zealand Mountain, Mt. Guyot, West Bond, Mt. Bond, Bondcliff, NH
Trails
Trails: Zealand Road, Zealand Trail, Twinway, Zeacliff Spur, Zealand Spur, Bondcliff Trail, West Bond Spur, Lincoln Woods Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Friday, April 29, 2016
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Plenty of parking at Zealand winter lot, only 2 other cars there on Friday. Zealand Road still gated as of 4/30 so walked the road. Saw that cars were ticketed that parked on Route 302 near Zealand Road instead of winter lot 0.2 mi down the highway. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable) 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: All OK, rock hops 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: A few stepovers on Bondcliff Trail. The Zealand spur trail sign WAS there; reported missing recently 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Great conditions the whole 2 days for Eva, plenty of water to drink and play in, new snow to roll in. In the 20s at Guyot Campsite overnight, so her winter hiking coat and extra down jacket were essential. 
Bugs
Bugs: none 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: We did a 2-day Zealand-Bonds Traverse on Fri 4/29 and Sat 4/30. Spotted one car at Lincoln Woods on Friday, only a couple of other cars. Drove through Franconia Notch to park at Zealand winter lot (Zealand Road still gated as of 4/29 and 4/30). Walked the bare Zealand Road which is in good condition. Barebooted to Zealand Hut, but microspikes helpful soon after (snow and ice) as far as Zeacliff. Microspikes on and off to jct Bondcliff Trail, at times a steeply-slanted snow-ice monorail. Barebooted on Guyot, but microspikes back on for rest of the day to W Bond and backtracked down to Guyot Campsite for the night. Tent platforms covered in snow and ice, quite wintry when we arrived (temps in 30s and dropped to 20s). Previous overnighters had left a lot of trash in the bear boxes, one was very smelly and unusable. Beautiful sunrise at Guyot Campsite, another cool, clear morning. Microspikes from there to Bond summit, then microspikes in the woods toward Bondcliff, but barebooted the ridge. Perfectly clear and only light winds the entire 2 days, so lingered long on Bond and Bondcliff, what a treat, extraordinary. Microspikes helpful for descending top half of Bondcliff Trail, stream crossings all easy, then barebooted the long trip out to Lincoln Woods on Saturday, parking lot close to full on a beautiful spring day, 65 degrees at the end. Thanks to Joyce for a beautiful 2 days across the Bonds. Eva's #40-43 NH4Ks.  
Name
Name: Donna D 
E-Mail
E-Mail: winnie@vermontel.net 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2016-05-01 
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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