Orsonab
Member
Wanted to get the Bonds and Zealand done before winter truly set in so I persuaded Mr GlennS to accompany me at least partway on my quest. We left my car at the Zealand Rd entrance and then headed over to the Lincoln Woods trailhead. We set off at 8am under cloudy skies but warmer than expected (mid-20's?). Zoomed right along Lincoln Woods and then headed over the Franconia Brook bridge to the Wilderness trail. I was trying to get used to my 35/40 pound pack and thinking in the back of my mind whether I would make it to Guyot Campsite and how wise an idea was this anyhow? Even the small brook crossings were hairier than they should have been due to ice-slicked rocks but we made it to Bondcliff by 10am and the real climbing began. A dusting of snow on the trail meant that footing was good as we climbed though brook crossings were a little challeging due to afore-mentioned ice rather than water level. By the time we reached the switchbacks, the sun had broken out and I was feeling better about the hike (though my pack seemed to increase in weight the higher we got - I'm sure there's a scientific explanation).
As the trail turned to the west along the south face of Bondcliff we hit blowdown hell. Luckily, Glenn had the presence of mind to bring a pruning saw but it was very time-consuming as every 50/100 feet we came across a pine blocking our path. I did a lot of "overseeing" as Glenn did a lot of cutting.
Unfortunately, the blowdowns meant that Glenn reached his turnaround time before we got within a mile of the summit so we said our good byes and I soldiered on which meant a lot of crawling along the trail - oh, the indignity!
By the time I got to the 15 foot ledge below Bondcliff summit, the sun was shining bright, there was hardly any wind and the sky was blue - perfect conditions for a ridge-walk. And what a joy that ridge-walk was. I got to Guyot campsite as the sun was setting, quickly set up tent (I have a thing about the open space of a shelter - am I the world's only agrophobic hiker?), and ate Ramen as the temp dropped. After gazing at the beauty of a crystal-clear night, I was tucked up in my bag by about 6pm (there wasn't another living soul at the campsite). I'd like to say I then read some inspirational thoughts by Thoreau, etc, but, instead, I read my cheapo airport thiller and dropped off.
The next morning I polished off West Bond on another stunning weather day before heading over to Guyot where the wind had picked up, pushing me over to Zealand and an uneventful trip back pass the hut and down the long, long, long road to my waiting car. All-in-all, a wonderful experience and I'm now within three of the Big Prize (there is a prize, right?)
As the trail turned to the west along the south face of Bondcliff we hit blowdown hell. Luckily, Glenn had the presence of mind to bring a pruning saw but it was very time-consuming as every 50/100 feet we came across a pine blocking our path. I did a lot of "overseeing" as Glenn did a lot of cutting.
Unfortunately, the blowdowns meant that Glenn reached his turnaround time before we got within a mile of the summit so we said our good byes and I soldiered on which meant a lot of crawling along the trail - oh, the indignity!
By the time I got to the 15 foot ledge below Bondcliff summit, the sun was shining bright, there was hardly any wind and the sky was blue - perfect conditions for a ridge-walk. And what a joy that ridge-walk was. I got to Guyot campsite as the sun was setting, quickly set up tent (I have a thing about the open space of a shelter - am I the world's only agrophobic hiker?), and ate Ramen as the temp dropped. After gazing at the beauty of a crystal-clear night, I was tucked up in my bag by about 6pm (there wasn't another living soul at the campsite). I'd like to say I then read some inspirational thoughts by Thoreau, etc, but, instead, I read my cheapo airport thiller and dropped off.
The next morning I polished off West Bond on another stunning weather day before heading over to Guyot where the wind had picked up, pushing me over to Zealand and an uneventful trip back pass the hut and down the long, long, long road to my waiting car. All-in-all, a wonderful experience and I'm now within three of the Big Prize (there is a prize, right?)
