| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
North Twin Mountain, South Twin Mountain, Mt. Guyot, West Bond, Mt. Bond, Bondcliff, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Snowmobile trail, Haystack Road, North Twin Trail, North Twin Spur, Twinway, Bondcliff Trail, West Bond Spur, Lincoln Woods Trail, bushwhacks |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, April 2, 2019 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Got dropped off by Fancypants at 7 Dwarfs and took the snowmo route, so parking was not an issue. He had LW lot to himself at 6:30 am. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow - Spring Snow |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Upper crossing of Little River was still solidly snowbridged. Its days are numbered, however. First crossing, which was solidly snowbridged two weeks ago, was completely open. Second crossing was partially bridged but sketchy looking. I used the established herd path and did just the final crossing. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
|
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
|
|
 | Bugs: |
|
|
 | Lost and Found: |
Found sunglasses on North Twin Trail. Let me know if you want them back. Lost my sunscreen in a little pill bottle. |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
With well below freezing overnight temps, and 16 degrees at the start, I was able to 'spike it to about 4000' on North Twin Trail. Snowshoes from that point to the rocks/ice of Bondcliff. As expected, most tracks from previous hikers were blown in and covered by 2-4" of new snow, so a lot of navigating was happening beyond South Twin! I did smile every time I came across Rich's tracks from 4 days ago. :) Lots of fresh critter tracks though!
Leaving the summit of ST there was no evidence of a trail, just lots deep beautiful snow and views like I've never seen. Fortunately, I have done this route "a few" times and am pretty good at sniffing out where the trail should be. Also "cheated" with my GPS app here and there. Part of the time I was bushwhacking, sometimes intentionally in order to see things I'd never seen previously. Awesome views into Redrock Ravine and all the slides right now!! Blazes are just above snowline on Twinway. (Early AT hikers are in for a surprise.)
There is a really nice - and slick! - snowfield on Guyot at the beginning of Bondcliff Trail at the moment. Lots of rock and ice on Guyot. From Guyot to West Bond Spur was a bit more bushwhacking, but the woods above snowline are open and lovely. The 007 sign at Guyot Campsite Spur is completely buried, West Bond Spur sign was thankfully poking above the snow. More bushwhacking to get to West Bond but again, lovely open woods.
From Bond to the open area of Bondcliff is a bit more tricky route finding in the unbroken snow but is easier to do in this direction. Open areas of Bondcliff are very icy. I switched to spikes at this point. Met Fancypants on top of Bondcliff (yay!), and we spiked and barebooted all the way back to Lincoln Woods.
NOTE: We were able to bareboot this section yesterday because overnight temps had been in the single digits and teens, and the "monorail" was solid enough underfoot. There was a very occasional posthole if we stepped off to the side. Snowshoes are still very much needed and will be needed for many weeks, especially as the warmer spring temps turn the incredible amounts of snow into mashed potatoes.
We saw NO ONE ELSE all day long, on a gorgeous weather day. If you want solitude, go hiking midweek in April. :p |
|
 | Name: |
Snowflea |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2019-04-03 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
