| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bondcliff (attempt), NH |
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 | Trails: |
Lincoln Woods Trail, Bondcliff Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, February 20, 2017 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
less than 10 cars at Lincoln Woods in the am; maybe 1/3 of the lot full in the afternoon |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable) |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
except for one crossing all other crossings were open but with low water level; easy to rock hop |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
a few minor duck under; nothing difficult |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
one was out and about today (but I didn't see it; hiker and dog started after I did and turned around before I did) |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
I was trying to get Bond and Bondcliff after last week's weather had us abort a planned southbound traverse on Hale. Surprisingly, nobody had traversed thus far this weekend. When I started, I noticed one set of fresh microspikes tracks on Lincoln Woods; they continued onto the Wilderness Trail where the hiker switched to snowshoes; I followed suit. A few barebooter holes (from Saturday or Sunday) were there, ruining the cross country ski tracks that ran 3/4 to the Bondcliff Trail. The barebooters had turned around at the Bondcliff trail juncture.
Exactly one pair of snowshoes on Bondcliff trail and I thanked the hiker in my mind every minute; the snow was so rigid due to being icy from yesterday's thawing. Eventually, I, unfortunately for me, met the hiker. We teamed up and I took the lead trail breaking. Bob decided to turn around after a little while. He had done an amazing job--he had nicely bushwhacked around some areas of the trail that were under water. I ended up turning around not long thereafter just below the trail beginning to zigzag. My pace was so slow I knew I wouldn't make it to Bondcliff by turnaround time (never mind making it to Bond). I bumped into Bob again who was having lunch on the trail. After I passed him, I came across a set of bareboot prints and dog prints... a hiker had come up about .25mi of Bondcliff trail before deciding to turn around. That quarter mile was totally mucked up again and I tried to smoothen it with my snowshoes as much as I could. Same for the Wilderness Trail.
Bumped into ranger on Lincoln Woods trail and had a nice chat. Not many people out and about; mostly cross country skiers. Lincoln Woods was solid and a bit icy; perfect with microspikes.
If everything went according to plan, a southbound traverse run by an AMC chapter happened today so the trail is hopefully broken out now.
While no summit, a gorgeous day in the Wilderness with bluebird skies, silence,.... nature is pretty. |
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 | Name: |
M |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2017-02-20 |
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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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