| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Zealand Mountain, Mt. Guyot, West Bond, Mt. Bond, Bondcliff, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Zealand Trail, Twinway, Zealand Spur, Bondcliff Trail, West Bond Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, June 8, 2019 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Arrived a 6:00 am and the lot was half full (presumably from over-nighters. We returned at 6:00pm and cars were parked along the road from the lot. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable) |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Couple of boardwalk planks between Mt Zealand and Zeacliff submerge when stepping. It looks like you'd get soaked but you can easily hop to the next set of planks. The water crossings just above the hut were fine. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
The most dogs Ive ever seen on a hike. Most seemed happy though I don't know how the short legged dogs manage (pitbulls, corgis, etc). |
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 | Bugs: |
From Zealand Hut to the parking lot were steady blackflies. This would have been in the 5PM hour. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
My first time ever making the trek from Zealand Hut thru to Bondcliff. Took just under 12 hours including all breaks, Zeacliff visit, and a hut rest. The trail from the parking lot to the hut is gradual, pleasant and scenic - it's a welcome beginning and ending (esp when exhausted). And we saw moose in the wetlands at the long bridge! The hike up to Zeacliff is rugged-rocked and consistently steep. If youre just going to the hut and wavering on the 30 minutes up to Zeacliff - do it! It's well worth the view.
The trail between Zeacliff and Mt Guyot is fairly moderate with some varying steepness up & down Zealand. Where there were snow monorails (quite a few actually) there was wide packed down snow for easy ascending. It's evident where to step and where not to. No traction other than hiking boots needed.
Mt. Zealand was really just a ticked checkbox for me on my way to the Bonds. From Guyot to West Bond spur is very moderate, open and with beautiful views. If fatigue makes the distance to Bond look daunting, it isnt. You arrive more quickly than it looks. West Bond spur feels like that obligatory march to a 4,000 footer. Beautiful views, of course, but the prize is Bondlciff. Lots of packs stored at this intersection at West Bond and Bondcliff trail.
Mount Bond was crowded when we arrived so we headed straight down to Bondcliff. Once you come out of the trees the entire hike feels epic on the Cliff. Two Pemi Loopers were just leaving as we arrived and we had the Cliff to ourselves for about 5-7 minutes. But as we left, it was steady traffic coming down the trail. The hike back up to Mt Bond is grueling especially after hiking 6 hours.
It's a long day going to Bondcliff and back to Zealand parking lot. There is alot of exposure out there but if you have good weather you must experience the trek out to the Bonds. |
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 | Name: |
Young Parisians |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2019-06-09 |
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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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