| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bondcliff, Mt.Bond, West Bond , NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Lincoln woods, Bondcliff trail, West Bonds spur |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, January 2, 2026 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
First cars in the lot, last 3 in the lots. Bathrooms are open |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Ice - Black, Ice - Blue, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction, Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All were either completely frozen and bridged or only had small spots that weren’t frozen. All very easy to cross |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few small blowdowns throughout but nothing that can’t be easily avoided |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
|
|
 | Bugs: |
|
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
The fab 5 set out for an arctic trip to the bonds. Lincoln woods to the bondcliff trail can be easily barebooted as it is packed down. 3 put on snowshoes at the bondcliff trail junction 2 remained barebooting which was no problem as there was Minimal new snow. We all opted for snowshoes about 1.5-2 miles after the bondcliff junction to use televators and to deal with snow that was 3-5 inches in depth. The real drifts started about 1.5 miles from Bondcliff where the snow was about 5-8 inches with occasional knee deep drifts. We took the bypass at Hilary Step and were hit with knee to waist deep drifts immediately, definently needed snowshoes. However a couple hundred yards later Bondcliff turned into an absolute ice rink, with about an inch of ice all the way back to the trees heading up Bond. We switched to spikes when we found a spot to shelter from the wind. Going up Bond spikes slowed us down as we again encountered 6-12 inches of snow with knee deep drifts, we powered through to Bond and switched back to snowshoes. From Bond to West Bond had the most snow by far. There was minimum 6-8 inches but most often it was knee to waist deep drifting. With 5 sets of snowshoes the return trip from West Bond to Bond went much quicker. We opted to keep snowshoes on to get back through the trees right off the summit of Bond and were too exhausted to switch back to spikes and could find no shelter from the wind so we carefully ice skated in snowshoes back to Bondcliff. We kept snowshoes on from Bondcliff to the Lincoln Woods junction then switched out and barebooted back to the parking lot. With the wind from today and tomorrow who knows how much of our track will remain but the trench we made will at least be faint in most sections. If going out definently be prepared for some massive drifts and ice skating on Bondcliff. |
|
 | Name: |
George & Gemma |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2026-01-02 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
