H
HikerBob
Guest
Stop the presses! I know that book time is based on a simple formula, but I am usually way over on all my trips. Not this time...
Lincoln Woods to Bondcliff Trail: Book Time 2hr 25min - Bob Time 1hr 55min
Wilderness Trail to Bondcliff: Book Time 3hr 30min - Bob Time 3hr 20min !!
First bit of excitement was a close encounter with a huge bull moose on the drive up Rte 112 somewhere below the notch between Moosilauke and the Kinsmans. I was keeping an eye open and barely saw the beast when it was on the side of the road. The warnings are true, it decided to step into the road and my path. It stopped, I stopped and for a moment we were eye to eye. I was rather glad to be inside the vehicle. One sits rather high in a Grand Caravan but the moose was taller still. It stared at me for a moment then swung around and back into the forest. The encounter was brief, but amazing.
I started the day very early because I knew that Bondcliff in a day was a long trek, around nineteen miles round trip, and I am not known to be the speediest of hikers! I had aimed to hit the trail at 5:30 or 6 at the latest figuring I'd rather hike in the dark when I was fit and raring to go rather than weary and flagging at the end of the day.
Arriving at the Lincoln Woods parking lot around 5am I decided to get a little shut-eye before heading out. The sound of cars arriving and doors opening and closing roused me to discover it was already 6:20! I geared up and made it to the ranger station at 6:30. The other group were going to Owl's Head and while I dawdled to take a few shots of signs they marched off and were nowhere to be seen when I started up the old railroad track.
It was still pre-dawn but there was enough light not to need a headlamp. My Brunton weather gizmo told me it was a shade under 32* but after a few minutes of brisk tramping I removed my light Marmot jacket. Seems I wasn;t quite generating enough heat though and it went back on again after my arms started to chill.
The forecast called for partly cloudy to mostly sunny conditions but as the dawn broke it seemed to be getting cloudier. I was caught up and overtaken by a couple of guys who were trying to catch up the group headed for Owl's Head. After they passed I carried out a little experiment. Both these guys were 6ft plus and had long legs, I'm 5'5" (and shrinking) with short legs.
They were a little way ahead but I decided to match them pace for pace. Well, long legs make a big difference! It took hardly any time at all for them to be way off into the distance despite an equal number of paces. I thinl inside leg measurement should be a factor in Book Time calculation
I passed the site fo the old Franconia Brook campground and, as usual, noted tents pitched within spitting distance of 'no camping' signs. Then it was more of the same, level and straight.
At the vanishing point of the trail in the distance I suddenly spotted something dark moving. I stopped and peered. I used full zoom on the camera and peered some more but still could not determine what it was. With all the hikers I'd met heading for Owl's Head there shouldn't be anyone in front of me. I decided to press on. A short distance ahead I saw movement again and again was still unable make out what it was.
The mystery was soon solved when I shortly found myself meeting the two 'catcher-uppers' who had completely missed (I can't think how) the Franconia Brook trail and had decided to turn back when they hit the Bondcliff Trail junction!
I completed the five mile Wilderness Trail section ahead of book time and took a short break before heading off up the Bondcliff trail. The sky was still grey and as I made my way into the relocated section it started to spit with rain. The rain turned first to sleet and then snow. It was very light and the cloud cover was broken so I was not completely disheartened. In the back of my mind I was thinking how much of a disappointment it would be to cover such a distance to a renowned vabntage pint to see only clouds.
I stopped more often as I usually do on the up but was still making pretty good time. My Brunton gizmo was driving me crazy though. I had set the altimeter at the start of the Bondcliff trail but I didn't seem to be making much progress. In terms of vertical feet. Well, I discovered later I had it set to meters - doh!
As I made my way up so the clouds broke and the skies cleared. I found my first traces of snow at about the start of the Alpine Zone. On reaching the short scramble the skies above were clear blue. I gained the top of the scramble and turned to the most amazing views.
I have gazed upon grand views before in the Whites but maybe it was because of the extra effort needed to reach this spot, I almost cried. It was that beautiful. The whole of the Pemigewasset wilderness laid out at my feet. From Garfield in the north, along the entire Garfield and Franconia ridge to the minor peaks below Flume. Owl's Head like a giant lounging in the valley and the river winding towards my starting point that morning. I wish I were eloquent enough to describe it fully.
After taking my fill of the view and one or two pictures I headed up through the scrub to the summit. Reaching the ridge top I spied Carrigain, the only peak in view still toying with the clouds, and then there were *the* cliffs. Amazing.
More amazing still is the fact that I made the ascent in a whisker under book time! Unheard of - the book must be wrong
At that moment something caught my eye and I stooped to pick up a wrist watch lying on the ground. It was still ticking and showing the corect date and roughly the right time. If you lost a watch that day, email me the make and I'll mail it to you.
There were a couple of other hikers at the summit, both of whom had arrived from the Zealand side. They had just completed the 'usual' photograph for each other and obliged me with mine.
Standing on that rock that juts out into thin air with a 10mph wind gusting at my back did nothing to quell my vertigo! I much preferred the views from seemingly more solid ground.
After half an hour at the summit I decided it was time to head down. I was reluctant, but I had already covered almost as much ground as a normal day hike and had the same distance to cover again. I left vowing it would not be my last visit.
The trip down was uneventful and speedier than the ascent. I started getting a painful twinge on the inside of the instep on my right foot but otherwise was doing well. I took another break at the Wilderness Trail then got stuck into the last, flat five miles.
After the Franconia Falls junction I started seeing more and more folk out for a stroll. Most were totally unaware of how far the Falls were from the parking lot. None of the signs I saw gave any indication of the distance.
I started ticking off the landmarks and distance to go. The last 1.4 miles after the Osseo trail junction seemed longer than the rest put together but I was soon at the bridge and the end of my adventure.
Bondcliff in a day is easily doable. If I can do it - you can do it. I did set myself a pretty good pace but I was never over doing it.
Amazing. Simply amazing.
Pictures (and there are a few) can be found starting HERE.
Bob
Lincoln Woods to Bondcliff Trail: Book Time 2hr 25min - Bob Time 1hr 55min
Wilderness Trail to Bondcliff: Book Time 3hr 30min - Bob Time 3hr 20min !!
First bit of excitement was a close encounter with a huge bull moose on the drive up Rte 112 somewhere below the notch between Moosilauke and the Kinsmans. I was keeping an eye open and barely saw the beast when it was on the side of the road. The warnings are true, it decided to step into the road and my path. It stopped, I stopped and for a moment we were eye to eye. I was rather glad to be inside the vehicle. One sits rather high in a Grand Caravan but the moose was taller still. It stared at me for a moment then swung around and back into the forest. The encounter was brief, but amazing.
I started the day very early because I knew that Bondcliff in a day was a long trek, around nineteen miles round trip, and I am not known to be the speediest of hikers! I had aimed to hit the trail at 5:30 or 6 at the latest figuring I'd rather hike in the dark when I was fit and raring to go rather than weary and flagging at the end of the day.
Arriving at the Lincoln Woods parking lot around 5am I decided to get a little shut-eye before heading out. The sound of cars arriving and doors opening and closing roused me to discover it was already 6:20! I geared up and made it to the ranger station at 6:30. The other group were going to Owl's Head and while I dawdled to take a few shots of signs they marched off and were nowhere to be seen when I started up the old railroad track.
It was still pre-dawn but there was enough light not to need a headlamp. My Brunton weather gizmo told me it was a shade under 32* but after a few minutes of brisk tramping I removed my light Marmot jacket. Seems I wasn;t quite generating enough heat though and it went back on again after my arms started to chill.
The forecast called for partly cloudy to mostly sunny conditions but as the dawn broke it seemed to be getting cloudier. I was caught up and overtaken by a couple of guys who were trying to catch up the group headed for Owl's Head. After they passed I carried out a little experiment. Both these guys were 6ft plus and had long legs, I'm 5'5" (and shrinking) with short legs.
They were a little way ahead but I decided to match them pace for pace. Well, long legs make a big difference! It took hardly any time at all for them to be way off into the distance despite an equal number of paces. I thinl inside leg measurement should be a factor in Book Time calculation
I passed the site fo the old Franconia Brook campground and, as usual, noted tents pitched within spitting distance of 'no camping' signs. Then it was more of the same, level and straight.
At the vanishing point of the trail in the distance I suddenly spotted something dark moving. I stopped and peered. I used full zoom on the camera and peered some more but still could not determine what it was. With all the hikers I'd met heading for Owl's Head there shouldn't be anyone in front of me. I decided to press on. A short distance ahead I saw movement again and again was still unable make out what it was.
The mystery was soon solved when I shortly found myself meeting the two 'catcher-uppers' who had completely missed (I can't think how) the Franconia Brook trail and had decided to turn back when they hit the Bondcliff Trail junction!
I completed the five mile Wilderness Trail section ahead of book time and took a short break before heading off up the Bondcliff trail. The sky was still grey and as I made my way into the relocated section it started to spit with rain. The rain turned first to sleet and then snow. It was very light and the cloud cover was broken so I was not completely disheartened. In the back of my mind I was thinking how much of a disappointment it would be to cover such a distance to a renowned vabntage pint to see only clouds.
I stopped more often as I usually do on the up but was still making pretty good time. My Brunton gizmo was driving me crazy though. I had set the altimeter at the start of the Bondcliff trail but I didn't seem to be making much progress. In terms of vertical feet. Well, I discovered later I had it set to meters - doh!
As I made my way up so the clouds broke and the skies cleared. I found my first traces of snow at about the start of the Alpine Zone. On reaching the short scramble the skies above were clear blue. I gained the top of the scramble and turned to the most amazing views.
I have gazed upon grand views before in the Whites but maybe it was because of the extra effort needed to reach this spot, I almost cried. It was that beautiful. The whole of the Pemigewasset wilderness laid out at my feet. From Garfield in the north, along the entire Garfield and Franconia ridge to the minor peaks below Flume. Owl's Head like a giant lounging in the valley and the river winding towards my starting point that morning. I wish I were eloquent enough to describe it fully.
After taking my fill of the view and one or two pictures I headed up through the scrub to the summit. Reaching the ridge top I spied Carrigain, the only peak in view still toying with the clouds, and then there were *the* cliffs. Amazing.
More amazing still is the fact that I made the ascent in a whisker under book time! Unheard of - the book must be wrong
At that moment something caught my eye and I stooped to pick up a wrist watch lying on the ground. It was still ticking and showing the corect date and roughly the right time. If you lost a watch that day, email me the make and I'll mail it to you.
There were a couple of other hikers at the summit, both of whom had arrived from the Zealand side. They had just completed the 'usual' photograph for each other and obliged me with mine.
Standing on that rock that juts out into thin air with a 10mph wind gusting at my back did nothing to quell my vertigo! I much preferred the views from seemingly more solid ground.
After half an hour at the summit I decided it was time to head down. I was reluctant, but I had already covered almost as much ground as a normal day hike and had the same distance to cover again. I left vowing it would not be my last visit.
The trip down was uneventful and speedier than the ascent. I started getting a painful twinge on the inside of the instep on my right foot but otherwise was doing well. I took another break at the Wilderness Trail then got stuck into the last, flat five miles.
After the Franconia Falls junction I started seeing more and more folk out for a stroll. Most were totally unaware of how far the Falls were from the parking lot. None of the signs I saw gave any indication of the distance.
I started ticking off the landmarks and distance to go. The last 1.4 miles after the Osseo trail junction seemed longer than the rest put together but I was soon at the bridge and the end of my adventure.
Bondcliff in a day is easily doable. If I can do it - you can do it. I did set myself a pretty good pace but I was never over doing it.
Amazing. Simply amazing.
Pictures (and there are a few) can be found starting HERE.
Bob
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