| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Zealand Mountain, Mt. Guyot, West Bond, Mt. Bond, Bondcliff, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Zealand Road, Zealand Trail, Twinway, Zealand Spur, Bondcliff Trail, West Bond Spur, Lincoln Woods Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, December 22, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking at both LW and RT 302 lots. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All passible with care. The larger Zealand Trail crossings iced over but didn't look like it would hold any weight, we went upstream about twenty feet and found a path across icy rocks. The crossing above the hut was open with weak shelf ice on each side, here two of use tossed on trash bags and dunked a foot rather than trying a leap of faith. Kurt went upstream and found some stable, flat ice to cross. The Black Brook crossings on Bondcliff Trail were all open with weak ice, again we found our way either stepping on slightly submerged rocks of finding solid ice on rocks, we used spikes for each of these. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There is a duck under blowdown on Twinway before the steep section near Zeacliff Pond Trail that may be tricky after the snow base builds back up, today it was no issue. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
None seen today. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Not often would you expect doing a winter ZBonds without snowshoes, but today there was no need for them. The snow base was rock solid yet a bit choppy, and even between Zealand and West Bond it can't be any more than 8".
E.T. and I headed up Zealand Trail and found mix rock and ice up to the hut, Kurt broke off to grab Hale and had great conditions across Lend-a-Hand. The snow is mostly consistent over Zealand, no issues with ice flows. Guyot was mostly rock with patches of ice/snow until WB, where it was more consistent snow. Back to a mix of rock with short sections of ice/snow from Bond to Bondcliff. The step was dry. Then a mixed bag of ice and rock down Bondcliff Trail.
The warmer temps predicted tomorrow will soften it up, and water levels may again rise.
We didn't see anyone until descending off Bond where Chris and Teal where heading north, so I'm sure there will be a more informative and entertaining trail report to come. |
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 | Name: |
Kyle L, E.T. Fudge & Kurt |
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 | E-Mail: |
kjlanctot g mail |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-12-22 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.strava.com/activities/10422162595 |
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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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