| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bear Pond, Mt. Bond, Bondcliff, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Lincoln Woods Trail, Franconia Brook Trail, old railroad grade, herd paths, bushwhack, Twinway, Bondcliff Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, June 16, 2016 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
lots of parking at Lincoln Woods but I lost my usual spot near the ranger station as a dead red fox was lying in the spot when I got there :( |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Most were muddy but rock-hoppable. One exception was the Franconia Brook Trail crossing at Redrock Brook - I had to take off shoes and wade barefoot - REALLY numbing!!!!! |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Only major issue was a HUGE beech tree which has fallen across the Bondcliff Trail at about 1800'. Pretty new - no real established herd paths around it yet. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Lots of water - all streams were high. I wouldn't take a dog on the bushwhack up above Redrock Pond - it's HORRIBLE |
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 | Bugs: |
not enough to warrant bug dope, even at the pond |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Terrific overnight. I actually started the hike on June 15. Enjoyed Franconia Brook Trail as I haven't been on it in years - saw a plethora of dragonflies at the beaver ponds. This would be a good trail run - not that many blowdowns!!!!
From Franconia Brook Trail I went past Redrock Brook quite a ways and took the gradual RR grade back up to the river. There was *some* evidence of Camp 14 at the end of the line but not as much as I had hoped. At the end of the RR grade, I took the skidder/logging road and above that there was a clear herd path almost directly to the pond. Took some care to follow it, but, obviously well-used. I have wanted to camp at the pond since I went with Hiker Ed and a group years ago as a day hike to visit it. It was terrific!!!! Pond had very high water. Was around 10-11 miles to the pond from Lincoln Woods. I slept like Rip Van Winkle for many many hours after setting up camp :)
In the morning, after breaking camp, I found an old scree field almost due east of the pond with excellent views. I went up there as far as it went and then started a horrific bushwhack. Very steep/mossy/thick - only 1000' to get up to the ridge but it took me 2 hours and beat the crap out of me. I was pretty exhausted - glad I was well rested. I was really too tired to go to West Bond so I skipped it on my way out via Bond and Bondcliff. From there down, I poked around on some skidder roads.
Then, the dreadful walk out of 5 miles.... until I bumped into Charlie & Nancy Foote at the Black Pond Trail junction - YAY!!!! Always fun to see them and chat - the rest went like a breeze!!!!! |
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 | Name: |
Becca Munroe |
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 | E-Mail: |
beccahiker@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2016-06-16 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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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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