Bonds 8/28 44,45,46

[peakn]

With the forecast for the last couple of days looking perfect, I decided last minute to tackle the Bonds in the easiest way possible (comment- it still isn't easy. I found it quite stenuous.)
So hiked up to Galehead Hut Monday early afternoon. Got me a lower bunk and took a nap. (Been to Galehead)
Hiked up the Twinway and out to Bondcliff, picked up W. Bond and back to Galehead in 10 hours (yep, I am slow!). Getting back in time for dinner was a BIG motivator though.
There is absolutely nothing I can say about this hike that hasn't been said here before so I will just say awesome, incredible !!!! Perfect weather, maybe even a bit too hot as there was little breeze.
There were just a few people on the trail, so I hiked alone all day. Nobody at Bondcliff while I was there. One hiker that I had been leapfrogging with, passed by as I was coming down from the summit and I did see a group up there when I took my last glance back on the way back up to Bond.
While there are continuous incredible views on this hike, there is something quite special about seeing the Bondcliff ridge come into view as you approach.
Hike out Wednesday AM uneventful except that I was surprised at how wet the rocks still were after 2 dry, hot days.
Other than one downer (see posting in General Backcountry) it was a great few days in the Mtn's.

 

[Willoughby]

Bonds 8/28... from Zealand Rd

Tuesday surely was a glorious day to be out in the mountains! I headed out to the Bonds as well, doing a slightly different loop.

Actually, I only ("only") climbed Bond and West Bond. I climbed Bondcliff from the south, about this time last year (see trip report), making it possible to attack the other 2 Bonds from via Zealand Rd.

The day started at 3AM(!) followed by a moonlit drive north. As I turned onto 302 in Twin Mountain, I drove into the sunrise, and shortly thereafter geared up and hit the trail at 6:30AM.

I cruised up the Zealand trail and then onto the Twinway and past Zealand Hut, pausing to take a quick picture. An old-timer on the porch watched me go by and said "the swarms are out already" - he calls me a swarm, I can call him an old-timer!

The swarm of 1 then made the ascent up the Twinway onto the ridge, stopping at the viewpoint to take a break and pictures of the Pemi. Great views! and as usual I dawdled too long. Then it was the long trudge along Zealand Mt and its, shall we say, undistinguished summit. As I dropped off Zealand I thought, hiking back up this is going to suck!

The ridge up to Guyot seemed to go on for ever, I wound up taking a break about 10 minutes from the first summit. There was a fair bit of traffic along the Twinway, mostly looked like AT hikers and family groups going hut-to-hut. Guyot (once I got there) is amazing! Either summit clearing would make a fantastic White Mt picnic spot, with views to beat many 4Ks.

Once you get to Guyot, the climb out the Bondcliff trail to Bond is really pretty mild. I sat on Bond, enjoyed the views, and ate lunch. I saw plenty of groups on Bondcliff, but not many actually came up to Bond.

On the way back I headed out to West Bond. That's a nastier climb - the summit cone is quite steep - and the last pitch is very narrow and rocky. The views from West Bond, especially of Bondcliff sitting below it, are unique. But after Guyot and Bond it's just not as impressive.

From West Bond it was merely a matter of retracing my steps. I joined up with another fellow I had bumped into on Bond, and we chatted our way back to Zealand Hut where he was staying. I had another hour hike out to my car, leaving the woods at 7:20PM, almost 13 hours after I started. I used every scrap of daylight and boy was it worth it.

I drove home under the same moon that watched me drive up...

 

[Willoughby]

Pictures

I posted some pictures here

 

[Bobby]

Not bad Harry. You're not that slow, you beat me up pretty good last year on the Willey Range, and you have about 27 years on me. Super job.

 

[sapblatt]

Nice job! One of the best places out there - it is a long hike, so that is not that slow - Bobby and I can show you slow!

 

[peakn]

One of the best places out there - it is a long hike, so that is not that slow

Yeah. But you guys are young and improving. I'm going the other way.