| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Zealand Mountain, Mt. Guyot, Mt. Bond, West Bond, South Twin Mountain, North Twin Mountain, Galehead Mountain, Mt. Garfield, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Twinway, Bondcliff Trail, West Bond Spur, North Twin Spur, Frost Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Garfield Trail, Gale River Road |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, December 17, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All crossings were passable with rock hopping. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There were at least 4 duck-unders, but branches had been removed for an easy step-under. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
I started in spikes from the Zealand hut. The climb up to Zeacliff was packed, but only 1 pair of snowshoes had gone further. The frozen crust allowed for spikes all the way to Zealand but then I switched to snowshoes for the traverse over to Guyot. That one pair of snowshoes had gone all the way to the Bonds. At the West Bond spur, I was delighted to find that a group of at least 4 people had come in and out from Lincoln Woods and the trail was well packed from West Bond up to Bond, with their tracks leading back down Bondcliff. I'd already gotten Bondcliff for December, so I headed back to Guyot. From Guyot to South Twin, it was completely unconsolidated snow, but max snow depth was knee-deep so it wasn't too bad to break trail. At South Twin, the trail was packed in both directions so I switched back to spikes. I tagged North Twin (there were a few soft spots in the saddle from drifts but overall, it was in good shape) and then headed down South Twin, eager to be away from the wind. At the hut, I tagged Galehead and then headed towards the trail intersection. Garfield Ridge Trail had seen 2-3 people in spikes since the last snow; the waterfall and ledges were very icy with slick, soft snow. It was a very challenging climb up to the intersection with Mt Garfield trail, and I wished I'd brought trail crampons or full crampons. As expected, the trail was well packed from the Mt Garfield trail intersection to the summit. Then I descended to Gale River Rd; it was spring conditions, with packed powder, soft snow, slush, blue ice, black ice, mud, and standing and moving water on trail at different points. I wiped out on black ice I couldn't see in the dim light within 0.25mi of the road in the shade of the evergreen trees. The road walk was a bit slushy but quick walking. |
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 | Name: |
Data |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-12-18 |
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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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