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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Zealand Mountain, Mt. Guyot, West Bond, Mt. Bond, Bondcliff, NH
Trails
Trails: Zealand Trail, Twinway, Zealand Spur, Bondcliff Trail, West Bond Spur
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Thursday, July 14, 2011
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Lot nearly full on my return but there is more parking just up the access road. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: rock steps 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Trails in pretty good condition. Some mud in the usual spots. Zealand spur sign is loose propped up on a small cairn at the trail jct. Ladder on Zealand ridge is down to 2 spaced rungs. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: The mighty tough little dog had fun, in part because the temps were mild and humidity low for a sunny July day, a breeze kept things cool on the open ridges, and I brought extra water some of which went on to his fur when he didn't drink it. There's no water on the trail starting a little ways up from the hut's stream crossings. He sure loved a dunk when we got back to them. We saw 2 family dogs between the hut and parking on the way back. 
Bugs
Bugs: No problems. None biting; a few suicidal dashes of unknown entities into my mouth or nose. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: Lost one red bandanna near Zealand. I thought I'd get it on the return leg but it was nowhere to be seen. It's easily replaceable although the fact it's from a long ago NOLS wilderness expedition gave it some uniqueness. 
 
Comments
Comments: One of our favorite hikes, ZBOB, an out and back to the Bonds from Zealand, on a nearly perfect summer day. Can't beat that. No slog out Lincoln Woods doing it this way.

I actually wanted the forecast of higher summits in and out of the clouds thinking it would be needed to keep Pepper cool with his black fur, and make for nice pictures. But the day started clear and stayed that way until we got to Bondcliff in mid morning and fair weather clouds just started to form. Fortunately mild temps and a nice breeze on the exposed ridge kept us cool. We saw a few Guyot Shelter overnighters on the way out, had Bondcliff all to ourselves, and on the way back ran into what appeared to be a fair number of all or mostly Shelter or Hut hikers. Great day. Great trails. Great dog.  
Name
Name: Pepper and Me 
E-Mail
E-Mail: windriversjohn at gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2011-07-14 
Link
Link: https:// 
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