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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Zealand Mountain, Mt. Guyot, West Bond, Mt. Bond, Bondcliff, South Twin Mountain, North Twin Mountain, Galehead Mountain, NH
Trails
Trails: Zealand Trail, Twinway, Zealand Spur, Bondcliff Trail, West Bond Spur, Twinway, North Twin Spur, Twinway, Frost Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Gale River Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, May 25, 2019
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Gale River and Zealand Roads are open. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Mud - Significant, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable) 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: NBD 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: West Bond is a disaster. Most of the Twinway is okay. Some guy was out on between Zealand and Zeacliff with an axe but didnt seem to have done anything. This entire area will need a lot of work once the snow melts. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: All three on our day had a good time and managed the rails well 
Bugs
Bugs: Only in the parking lot for beers after. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Overall, not a terrible day. Still WAY too much snow for Memorial Day weekend, but what can you do?

Zealand trail is pretty dry to the hut. A few wet spots, but those of us who tried kept our feet dry.

Twinway is snow-free to Zeacliff and rail only intermittent between Zeacliff and Zealand summit. From summit to Guyot was pretty deep, mostly-packed-but-sometimes-leg-swallowing snow. No need for snowshoes. Trail is easy to follow and with a few more good rain storms and hot days, this stuff will be mostly gone.

Guyot is bare, but Bondcliff trail from the trees to West Bond and Bond are pretty gross. West Bond was the worst of it, with unstable, narrow monorail (weird) and lots of blowdowns. There are a few areas on the way to Bond that are bare, but what is bare is wet. Bond to Bondcliff is snowpacked and nasty until the open second half, where it turns into July.

The Twinway from Guyot Jct to S. Twin was better than anticipated. Again, tons of snow, but it was surprisingly well packed. No problem trail finding. Ran into some loopers coming the other direction who said the Garfield Ridge sections were much worse than the Twinway, for those who are wondering.

North Twin spur was gross. Soaking wet for the first quarter mile, then deep, unconsolidated snow to the col. Climb to N. Twin was slightly better.

First half of descent from South to Hut was fine, but the second half was very "April"--monorail, a little ice, wet, and bony. Took us a little extra time to negotiate.

Frost trail mostly bare.

Garfield Ridge was on and off snow to the junction, at which point it died. From the jct down to the parking lot is standard mud and running water on the trail.  
Name
Name: Nate Weeks 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2019-05-26 
Link
Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/2397232646 
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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