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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Bondcliff, Mt. Bond, West Bond, NH
Trails
Trails: Lincoln Woods Trail, Bondcliff Trail, West Bond Spur
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Friday, March 10, 2017
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Empty at 4am and nearly empty at 3pm 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable) 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: Deteriorating lower down but currently all were rock hop-able. Some water in stretches of Bondcliff Trail but easy to hike above where the snow has gone.  
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: One big one on the Wilderness trail. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Today would have been no issue 
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: After turning around at Tilton yesterday due to black ice warnings everywhere, I made a last minute decision this morning to seize the opportunity for the Bonds since the forecast looked pretty good. In fact, the weather was very nice, in spite of overcast skies most of the day. Left LW at 4:15am, 28 degrees at start and at finish; Zero wind on route out and just a slight breeze late morning on return to Bondcliff.

There were a few posts this week but I thought it worth mentioning conditions today in case anyone decides to go out the next few days. I wear snow shoes 98% of the time. Today was a day I wish I had left them behind (mine are heavy). I never put them on until the 2nd to last crossing (last being the almost always bridged spot just before the big S turn where you can see Bondcliff up above). Hillsounds were perfect all day. In fact, the snow shoes were a nuisance on the sidewise slant the last two miles up- the sidehill was pretty bad. Everything was hard packed. I changed back to Hillsounds at Bondcliff and wore them to W Bond and for the entire route out. They did far better going down the sidehills. Oh, yes- the steep little climb just before Bondcliff was a piece of cake today- can walk right up at this time.

Bondcliff had thin glazed ice in most places, the type that loudly breaks off the rocks. Took care to step half on rock and the ice.

Bond was fairly easy to ascend, even though tracks were already faded from earlier in the week and not visible at all in some spots. From Bond to W Bond, there was some drifting snow and no visible footprints, amazingly (snow yesterday?). I had no problem staying on top with Hillsounds- definitely would not have been worth wearing snow shoes for the few drifts out to W Bond- unless a lot more snow falls or it gets much warmer. Lots of trees trying to steal my hat today over there.

The weather is supposed to get very cold and I would just add that at least for next few days, good traction and even crampons may be helpful to have in the frigid weather. Better than snow shoes unless we get a pile of snow to cover the hard terrain. Today, crampons were not necessary but I would have put them on if temps were 20 degrees lower.


Never saw a soul all day. Where was everyone?  
Name
Name: Lucky Laura 
E-Mail
E-Mail: luckylaura95@yahoo.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2017-03-10 
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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