Bondcliff via. Hellgate Ravine

[dr_wu002]

Has anybody ever climbed Bondcliff via. The Headwall in Hellgate Ravine? How technical is it? It looks doable but if you pick the wrong route you could get yourself into a mess.

-Dr. Wu

 

[Jkrew81]

?

is that the ravine sandwitched between west bond, bond and bondcliff? If so that looks pretty interesting

 

[sapblatt]

Hellgate

is that the ravine sandwitched between west bond, bond and bondcliff? If so that looks pretty interesting

It kind of comes up from the south of Bondliff, goes up to Bondcliff and towards Bond. Topozone makes it look like about 1200 feet of elevation in about a 1/2 mile. I wonder if there is a route...it looks pretty damn undoable (nontechnically) when looking down from the edge of the cliffs. Apparently it is named Hellgate for good reason.

Does Dr. Wu's quest for interesting hikes and routes ever rest?

 

[dr_wu002]

It kind of comes up from the south of Bondliff, goes up to Bondcliff and towards Bond. Topozone makes it look like about 1200 feet of elevation in about a 1/2 mile. I wonder if there is a route...it looks pretty damn undoable (nontechnically) when looking down from the edge of the cliffs. Apparently it is named Hellgate for good reason.

Does Dr. Wu's quest for interesting hikes and routes ever rest?

It could end pretty quickly on one of these "intersting" hikes, I guess, with a fall...

I mean the Headwall up Bondcliff... the west side of Bondcliff. The real rocky part. I'm wondering if people have ever gone up that. The bushwhack down from West Bond into Hellgate Ravine is standard and I'm not necessarily interested in the Bushwhack down/up Bond. But I stood there, the first time I was ever on Bondcliff during last Fall, and wondered what it'd be like to go either up or down the headwall.

-Dr. Wu

 

[sapblatt]

It could end pretty quickly on one of these "intersting" hikes, I guess, with a fall...

Dr. Wu

Well, please don't do that. The trip reports around here are interesting enough.

Looking at the map...a little south of the bondcliff summit there are some topo lines that look a bit less severe than the ones directly below the cliffs. They stretch out towards an unnamed summit (3314'). I have no idea from experience, but it looks more doable than the cliffs. Maybe 800' in a 1/2 mile. Of course, that means nothing...it can still be undoable!

 

[dr_wu002]

Well, please don't do that. The trip reports around here are interesting enough.

Looking at the map...a little south of the bondcliff summit there are some topo lines that look a bit less severe than the ones directly below the cliffs. They stretch out towards an unnamed summit (3314'). I have no idea from experience, but it looks more doable than the cliffs. Maybe 800' in a 1/2 mile. Of course, that means nothing...it can still be undoable!

No, I don't want that Summit on this hike. That might be an interesting destination though, sometime. I don't necessarily care about the Δ in elevation (cute, huh?)... The Cathedral Trail up Kathadin is about 2400' in about a mile, IIRC.

I want to go straight up the headwall, chosing the best route, of course. I'm not necessarily going to do it.... I just want to know if anyone has done it and what route they chose and if it's technical or not.

-Dr. Wu

 

[sapblatt]

No, I don't want that summit on this hike. That might be an interesting destination though, sometime. I don't necessarily care about the Δ in elevation (cute, huh?)... The Cathedral Trail up Kathadin is about 2400' in about a mile, IIRC.

I want to go straight up the headwall, chosing the best route, of course. I'm not necessarily going to do it.... I just want to know if anyone has done it and what route they chose and if it's technical or not.

-Dr. Wu

I ws just using that summit as a marker as to where the possible route would be heading in from...I guess that would not really bring you up the headwall though.

 

[Brownie]

I have stared down off this cliff and gully several times.
Could be interesting.
Larger talus outfall down low followed by loose scree and then a "problem" or two at the high rock prominence worthy of at least Class 3 rating, I am sure.
If mountaineering is your bag, just go find your route. That’s all part of it.

Would I do this?
No.
Its in a Protected Wilderness Area.
Travel may be required through fragile alpine zone.

Brownie

 

[dr_wu002]

If mountaineering is your bag, why even ask if there is a route?
Just go find one. That’s all part of it.

Would I do this?
No.
Its in a Protected Wilderness Area.
Travel may be required through fragile alpine zone.

Brownie

No, mountaineering isn't necessarily my bag.

I wouldn't walk through an alpine zone either. I'd find another way or turn around and go home.

-Dr. Wu

 

[blueridge]

about the Δ in elevation (cute, huh)

Now if you can do 'with' as a 'c' and a '-' on top, I will be really impressed.

 

[HAMTERO]

Guy Waterman

Maybe Guy Waterman did it when he did the 48 all points of the compass trick. He was an experienced rock climber though.

 

[HighHorse]

i have discussed this same problem several times with a climbing partner. we had actually planned a technical ascent; i'll have to ask him about some of the details (he did the research, i had the idea).

 

[Brownie]

No, mountaineering isn't necessarily my bag.
-Dr. Wu

I read many posts of hikers wishing to explore the remote regions of the Whites or ADK's, climb some slides, or like your case DocWu, a decent steep rock cliff or ledge like Bondcliff.
This type of backcountry activity has growing interests as I have noted here on VFTT.
Maybe here in the east people think of this as just steep bushwhacking, or whatever.

An ascent of this nature to a remote steep rock ledge, via unknown route, could be considered a mountaineering quality climb.

When proved difficult enough, a climb could be qualified as a technical rated rock route, but I am not suggesting that direction for activity in this regard.

There comes a point in difficulty when a simple rock scramble does not yet become a "technical rock climb" in its purist form, but certainly is steep and scary enough that a fall could result in serious injury.
That's "Mountaineering" and becomes time to look into safety issues.

Maybe folks might be interested in learning some basic rope techniques to master Class 4 climbs and step up a notch to safe, steep ascent exploration, particularly for exposed ledges, rock and slides.
Out west this is standard operations in locations like the Sierra's.

As far as the alpine growth issues go, we need to play that politically correct and practice acting "good stewardship" as commonly known in the climbing community.
Therefore, this type of activity should remain off limits in designated Wilderness Protected Areas, enforced by the USFS.
There is more than just alpine growth on the Bondcliffs, there are birds of prey nesting.

However, there are many other remote locations in the Whites for decent climbs and would prove more acceptable to the persons or "entities in control of the lands" for such activity.
I say go for it!

Climb high, practice safety, keep it green

Brownie

 

[dr_wu002]

There comes a point in difficulty when a simple rock scramble does not yet become a "technical rock climb" in its purist form, but certainly is steep and scary enough that a fall could result in serious injury.
That's "Mountaineering" and becomes time to look into safety issues.
Brownie

The solution is that I won't tell anyone when I attempt a climb like this. That way, when I fall 1000' to my death - unnoticed - nobody will be any wiser. I'll be compost in a few years. The birds of prey'll know though.

-Dr. Wu

 

[dr_wu002]

actually, it will be scavengers, not predators.

Turkey vultures are way cool!

Hopefully I'll still be alive when I hit the ground...

I have specified in my will that I'm to be ground up and made into hotdogs and served to the attendees at my funeral. Things are more primitive, however, in the wild.

-Dr. Wu

 

[Brownie]

actually, it will be scavengers, not predators.

Turkey vultures are way cool!

Dr Wu, Dr Wu....
scavenging for Dr Wu.....?

He is lost to the wild.

 

[dr_wu002]

Dr Wu, Dr Wu....
scavenging for Dr Wu.....?

He is lost to the wild.

You know, you'll be the (un)lucky one -- when you finally agree to go bushwhacking in the Whites -- to step on my rotting corpse in the wilderness. Hopefully you don't hike barefoot.

Guess I'll stick to the Hellgate Ravine BW off West Bond.

-Dr. Wu

 

[Raymond]

I've been curious about the Garfield cliffs visible from Lafayette. The AMC White Mountain Guide describes them as "inaccessible," but I suspect that that's an overstatement

Has anyone here checked them out close up?

 

[HAMTERO]

hellgate

I could be up for that Hellgate ravine trip but I am booked till mid September with some mountain bike races.

 

[HikerBob]

Dr Wu, where are you?