| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Zealand, Guyot, West Bond, Bond, Bondcliff, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Zealand, Twinway, Bondcliff, Lincoln Woods |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, September 15, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking at both ends of the traverse are WMNF pay/pass lots. However, we were dropped off at Zealand and picked up by another at LW. There is cell reception on the high peaks along the route, so we called our pickup when leaving Bondcliff to give her a time window for our arrival at LW. For us, this has been about five hours, although two weeks ago (8/28 NETC report) it was a bit short of 4:30 and yesterday it was about 4:15 (2:23 to the old railroad bed, 0:07 to shuffle pack stuff and get out food for the flat walking, 1:47 for that "death march." We were moving along at a good clip, for us anyway. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Due to the continuing drought, there were no crossing issues. Just above the hut, the two places to be crossed were trivial stepovers. Coming off Bondcliff, the upper crossing or two were dry, and a couple below that had some flow; these would have been simple walk-across but we had to be careful about stability of all the rocks available. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails are generally in good shape, with just the usual and easily avoided blowdown/falldowns here and there. Coming down some of the steeps, like off Bond headed toward Bondcliff, it seems that the lack of rain has caused a light dusting of fine trail dirt on some of the boulder faces - something to keep in mind while descending. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
None. Providing water for Fido from just above the hut to well down on the Bondcliff trail would be a big concern, around 11 very dry miles. |
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 | Bugs: |
A few, if we looked. Another no DEET hike. It's that time of year. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
On the Bondcliff trail, just below a crossing with some water flowing, we encountered a light wind jacket obviously draped over a light branch across the trail. I imagine someone encountered it and hung it there, impossible to miss, so that someone hiking in would find it later on return. Accordingly, we left it there. |
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 | Comments: |
Nice hike with Pat, who needed this one for her over-80 round, on yet another great weather day. |
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 | Name: |
Pappy |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-09-16 |
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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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