Bondcliff

Trail: Zealand Road, Zealand Trail, Twinway, Zealand Spur, Bondcliff Trail, West Bond Spur, Lincoln Woods Trail

Conditions: Dry Trail, Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Spring Snow, Leaves - Significant/Slippery

“Zearoad is rough, crusty mix of everything, zea trail is better as everyone actually walked in a single file instead of neurosis on the road making everywhere equally tedious. Spikes went on leaving the hut and stayed on until the old wilderness trail jct on Bondcliff trail at the start of the death march. A semi consolidated mess showing the early signs of becoming monorail in the near future across twinway. Guyot was brutally punchy, collapsing crust and the mean alpine winds made me cry. Very mealy snowpack on the ridge over to treeline on Bondcliff and on West Bond spur. Semi punchy, kinda bony, and a little crusty on Bondcliff tho the winds mostly behaved thankfully. Mashy springy mess become very slushy on the stupid 1984 relo stretch which had lotsa open leaves and muddy wet puddles. Only a few railroad ties exposed w/minimal slushiness, most of the dirt patches were nice and dry on the last forever 5 miles out. Lotta semi-crusty mix of ice and slushy granular on LW”

Trail: Lincoln Woods Trail, Bondcliff Trail, West Bond Spur

Conditions: Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Wet Trail, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Slush

“Today was a Christmas Miracle in March for our W48 Finish! Not only was the trail hard packed and perfect for microspikes, but it was virtually free of postholes once you turned onto Bondcliff Trail. Snow is in decent condition, with a few rotten spots near the water crossings and along the river. Full snow coverage until you reach the “Hillary Step”, which we climbed in Hillsounds with no trouble. Above the Hillary Step ice and snow disappear, and we barebooted to the true summit, then donned Hillsounds half way up to Bond when ice and snow made a reappearance. Be aware, there is a wonky bushwack to the left of the true trail ascending to Bond from Bondcliff. The correct trail is to the right. Bond is mostly free of ice. There’s a very narrow monorail from Bond to West Bond. West Bond true summit has a few small patches of ice, and some REALLY grabby trees..protect your eyes and your neck! On our descent the trail had firmed up, and the water crossing were a smidge easier. More postholes were added to LW in our absence, so be aware”

Trail: Lincoln Woods Trail, Bondcliff Trail, West Bond Spur

Conditions: Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Postholes, Snow/Ice - Small Patches

“Seems like I was just here, yet everything is much different than Sunday. East Branch was still running high in the morning but way down from where it was Monday Tuesday so we figured it was worth a shot. After the cold overnight I took a calculated risk and left the misery slippers in the car, opting instead for a pair of sharp spikes and a pair of rock spikes. Lincoln Woods is icy AF and the rocks at all the crossings are glazed. If I was going back this morning I’d wear the sharpies out the gate. Yesterday I started with the rock spikes, got gear inertia and stubbornly didn’t want to switch at the first crossing…it went exactly how I thought it would, I slipped off a glazed rock like a dumb@&& and dunked a boot. All the crossings are open. They were passable with some thought and some care, though nobody survived the day with dry boots (I should have, sigh). Rock spikes or bareboot from Bondcliff to the Krummolz. Be careful to not follow our tracks. We weren’t paying attention and ended up in the swamp of sadness a couple times. Navigation is strangely tricky right now. After the rain our boottrack from Sunday was wiped out. The snowpack is still incredibly high though so the trail corridor is easy to lose in places. Stay frosty. Great day out in the Pemi with Granite.”