| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bondcliff, Mt. Bond, West Bond, Mt. Guyot, Zealand Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Lincoln Woods Trail, Bondcliff Trail, West Bond Spur, Twinway, bushwhack, Zealand Mountain Spur, Zealand Trail, Zealand Road |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, March 16, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
No issues at LW. There was a group of 30+ at the Hut which it appears they each took their own car at Zealand Winter. Zealand Road is plowed and down to surface for Bethlehem Water Supply, don't get too excited its a single track for them for ingress/egress - but it affords zippy moving. There are beachball + sized icebergs on each side |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Mud - Significant, Snow - Spring Snow |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No issues on One Mile Brook nor Black Brook. Of note, the upper crossing of Black was flowing, a sure sign spring is on the way. Always the question mark of the hike, the crossing above Zealand Hut was a non issue |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There are approximately five blow downs on the Wildnerness Trail (Bondcliff Trail) - all approximately 0.5-0.75 from its junction with Franconia Brook Trail. There are a few further up but are within wilderness guidelines. There is one that is a large crown of a tree, it is borderline axe worthy, I think it would be more efficient with one - and that's coming from someone who wields a 14" big boy. Not saying it can't be done, would just take a bit. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Didn't see any, but don't think they'd have any issues |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
FOUND: A pair of spikes on a carabiner near Zealand. I believe I know the owner - reach out to me with the color of the spikes and beaner and we can work on reuniting you. They cried all night missing you! :( |
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 | Comments: |
A SPLENDID day in Henry's Woods. A charity grid support hike. Hard to pass up Bonds in March if the conditions are right - and they where. AARP start at 0800. Lincoln Woods was mostly hard packed bullet ice with intermittent patches of bare ground. More efficient moving would have been spikes, but we where so young and full of hope at this point we didn't mind. After the Trestle 7 (Wilderness) there was a light coating of grippy granular to warrant the continuation no spike nation. No issues to treeline. There are some open spots on the terrible reroute, with mud and flowing water, but its largely avoidable. People pay good money for mud treatments like that, you can get them for free here. The SAR litter has taken up residence just before Hillary's Step. Once topping out on Hillary's, we where immediately greeted with a the warmth from the strong March sun. Great views where afforded, especially of my favorite peak, the Sleeping Elephant that is Owl's Head. You can't unsee it! I did note the incredibly obvious railroad line that is visible from Camp 10 to 12, seeing as I walked its entire length last year. We continued to bareboot to Bond proper, surprisingly minimal wind in the col, which is usually a funnel for them. We donned snowshoes at the West Bond junction, arguably we should have at Bond as there was a sharp change in snow consistency at this point. They remained on until Zealand Road. No issues to West Bond, or Zealand. Enough cover in the alpine area to hide the rocks as well as to allow passage to Guyot, North Peak (Trailwrights) as it requires a trek through alpine veg. As is typical, the eastern side of the Pemi had a jackpot amount of snow, the most I have seen all winter, and was softer, versus lower snow and harder pack on the western side. So much snow that the bog bridges and associated water body are completely hidden. A large group of 30+ skiers at the hut, most pulling sleds. Power to them, there is not a lot of snow down low.. especially with the road. Much to our delight (and their collective dismay), they have loosely plowed Zealand Road to the water supply. See note above. Almost all in snowshoes today, given the weather forecasted next week (actual spring weather, not 60..) this entire trek should likely freeze up to an absolute drag strip. A great day of history, starting and ending at two different JE Henry logging endeavors, that both went to Shoal Pond but never culminated. How different the woods would be if they had. Also for your super random historical bar trivia, Mt. Bond was in the running to be used for downhill skiing for the 1976 Olympics! |
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 | Name: |
The Teal Goat, Lil Squirt, Pretzel |
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 | E-Mail: |
sea2thebiscuit@yahoo.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-03-17 |
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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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