Just about all you need to know about how to tackle the Bonds

[Mike P.]

This question comes up from time to time, what way is the shortest or involves the least amount of elevation gain. I did some of this before the Pemi Traverse trip on Dave M.'s hikethewhites.com website. I'm going back next month with some people I have not hiked with before so I took the six ways I would consider doing them & broke out distance, elevation gain, book time where provided (guessed on downhill parts not shown in the book, the Twinway which is listed in both directions is book time either way) & guessed on my time based on my current perceived level of fitness. I later went back & added four more options, a couple of these are just reversing direction of a couple of the first six. I did not get all the book times on the last four

Which way is the best way? Depends on what your goal is, if the Bonds, although the North Twin approach to the traverse may have less elevation gain, you might find conditions (yours, the groups or weather) dictate turning back.

(Now I can't help you with the question day hike or overnight but the distances & elevation remains the smae.)

Dave do yo have the time we started & ended in 2002? If so, is the time I picked as MAP (my initials) time close to the our time.

Hopefully the attachment works:

 

[Davehiker]

These spreadsheets certainly provoke a lot of thought. Just curious, Mike, how did you decide on your rankings? You seem to prefer south-to-north over north-to-south. I certainly never thought so deeply about this, but I will now!

 

[forestgnome]

Hike to the bonds and enjoy the beautiful forested mountains from different trails in different seasons. You'll enjoy each hike.

Start early at Lincoln Woods and bike to the wilderness boundary. Stash the bike and enjoy the trails. Mornings have been nice and cool. Don't fuss over elevation gain and mileage comparisons. Just hike and love it all!

Happy Trails

 

[Mike P.]

Rankings were strictly personal for this trip at this time. The highlight of the trip is the Bonds while for my peakbagging list at the moment (& the fact I've done one of the choices already as far as Zeland Road Trailhead) makes going by Galehead attractive.

The Bonds & Galehead I have not done in the fall, everything else in the area, I've been to at least once in fall. All routes hit the Bonds & Guyot (another big plus) except the out & back from Lincoln Woods. I'm looking at doing 48 x 4 seasons

Another person in the group needs West Bond for their peakbagging list.

In a list free world, I'd probably consider Twins & Bonds my first choice going from Haystack road, less elevation gain, nice river walk to start, a couple of good views on N.T then great bare views on ST, Guyot, West Bond & Bond before a mile ridgewalk, the highlight for a view junkies trip.

Only issue starting by going over other mountains is you (or group member)may get tired or decide to turn back at say Zealand or South Twin. In a list free world that's okay, that would be a nice hike. If the Bonds are your goal, it's hard to get to tired before getting to Bondcliff except for the distance & if that's the case, you won't get there from any other direction without even more effort.

 

[RoySwkr]

Well you managed to leave out the first way I went to the Bonds which I thought was best at the time - Haystack Rd -> Bondcliff -> Zealand Rd for ~21 miles

You also left out all bushwhack routes which tend to be far more interesting than the eroded trails and can even be faster if you are a hiker not a trailrunner

 

[Kevin Rooney]

For whatever reason, whenever I've done a Bond traverse it has included Zealand but have never considered the Twins as part of the trip as they make a fine day trip just by themselves, but ... much harder to get motivated to do just Zealand as an 'out n' back'. So, usually 'save' Zealand for a traverse in one direction or the other.

For me, the direction of the traverse should consider weather as the determining factor, so that in peak t-storm season you're not attempting to hike between Bond and Bondcliff in a storm. That means s->n in summer as most thunderstorms occur in the afternoon. Of course, if the remains of a hurricane are moving thru a t-storm can occur at any time of the day or night.

Personally, I don't think the minor difference in elevation in starting points makes much difference over 22-odd miles, but some will quibble on that and argue that starting on the Zealand side saves effort.

 

[Mike P.]

Which is why I said, "just about all"

I agree Kevin, getting up for a Zealand trip is tough which must explain why I've been there just 3X, twice in the Spring, once in the fall & all on trips that included additional Peaks.

(Twins & Zealand similar to Roy's trip without the Bonds, The Traverse on Dave's site & a early season trip from F-Notch to C-Notch ten years ago.)

Thinking when I do it in winter I'll stay at Zealand Hut with the idea of a hot meal & warm - okay not warm but I'd have to think warmer by a couple of degrees than a tent (yes?) - place for the night.

For bushwhacking wouldn't there really be 360 degrees of bushwhacking options? Sure Hellgate Brook is a common winter descent but a hardcore climber might opt for climbing up the cliffs of Bondcliff, you could come from F-Ridge directly or from anywhere really, only your imagination, thought of crossing rivers in places you can't possible stay dry & technical climbing ability limit your choices.

 

[RoySwkr]

I agree Kevin, getting up for a Zealand trip is tough which must explain why I've been there just 3X, twice in the Spring, once in the fall & all on trips that included additional Peaks.

Actually Zealand-Hale is a nice loop that can even be done without a car spot, if you don't want to backtrack to the hut just bushwhack from Zealand to Lend-a-Hand and pick up a NHHH peak on the way.

For bushwhacking wouldn't there really be 360 degrees of bushwhacking options? ...crossing rivers in places you can't possible stay dry & technical climbing ability limit your choices.

For spreadsheet purposes probably all the routes within a 20-degree swath would have similar distances

I don't think there are any uncrossable rivers (the trails cross them) but Guy Waterman & NHMH have done some routes they found interesting but would be too much for me

 

[Snowflea]

Hale-Zealand-Twins

A really nice loop which doesn't require car spotting would be to start at the North Twin TH and ascend the old Firewardens' Trail up Hale. Then take the Lend-a-Hand & Twinway to Zealand and continue over to South and North Twin, descending the North Twin Trail. Of course, one could do the loop in either direction. I remember it being about 17 miles in all.

Makes a really nice, albeit rather long, winter loop as well. (Drag your skis along and ski down the Firewardens' Trail!)

 

[chipc]

A really nice loop which doesn't require car spotting would be to start at the North Twin TH and ascend the old Firewardens' Trail up Hale. Then take the Lend-a-Hand & Twinway to Zealand and continue over to South and North Twin, descending the North Twin Trail. Of course, one could do the loop in either direction. I remember it being about 17 miles in all.

Makes a really nice, albeit rather long, winter loop as well. (Drag your skis along and ski down the Firewardens' Trail!)

Just did this loop 10 days ago (without skis). Except for a little difficulty in finding the start of the Firewarden's Trail, excellent route.

Back to the Bonds - here's one I did last year that I don't think you had on your list.

A "loopier" option from Lincoln Woods:
Park at Lincoln Woods. Wilderness Trail to Bondcliff Trail to Bondcliff and Mt. Bond. Spur to West Bond and back. Continue on Bondcliff Trail to Twinway over S. Twin down to Galehead Hut. (Can throw in N. Twin for fun - I didn't) Twin Brook Trail, with detour to Galehead and down to Franconia Brook Trail. Back to Wilderness Trail and parking. ~ 26-27 miles.

 

[Frodo]

3 days ago I did a Bonds loop (up Wilderness Trail to Bondcliff Trail, over the Bonds, and bushwhacked down the Hellgate Brook Route, and back out via Franconia Brook/Wilderness Trails). I think that this is the shortest and easiest route (took me 7 hours and 45 minutes). It's approx 20 miles with 4100 vertical and saves about 3 miles and 500 feet of vertical. I Also ran into a few fellow VFTT'rs along the way

As Roy pointed out, it may or may not be the fastest route for some people due to the bushwhack, which is long but relatively easy...

Another cool loop yet to be mentioned is parking at the Zealand parking lot, take the Zealand/Ethan Pond/Thoreau Falls/Wilderness Trails and head up the Bondcliff Trail over the Bonds/Zealand and back to the parking lot. It's long, but quite scenic...

 

[spongebob]

Or you can do them from Lincoln Woods, and then going up the Redrock Brook to the Redrock Pond, and then up the slide to the Twinway trail; over to Guyot to hike the three bonds. Of course seeing a NY Yankees fan near the West Bond summit will ruin the day.
At least the other VFTT person didn't make me puke.

And then the "Clambake" effect on the Wilderness trail that Arm talks about, and that I understand.

Getting out in that area is fun no matter what way.

Does the Bushwhack down from West Bond go down that last slide you can see from Bondcliff towards the Hellgate Brook?

 

[Frodo]

The whack route that I like to take down from West Bond avoids all slides. I follow the ridge between Hellgate Brook and Redrock Brook, leaning on the Hellgate Brook side, being carefull not to be drawn down into it... The 1st mile is fairly thick, but after that it's mostly open woods...

Nice running into you (again) Last time was when Stinkyfeet and myself were breaking out the Valley Way after a HUGE snowstorm a few winters ago. You were a much welcomed addition

Now myself and NH_MTN_HIKER really have to stop running into each other

Also nice meeting Christina and her friend who I hope enjoyed Bondcliff as much as I do...

 

[RoySwkr]

The whack route that I like to take down from West Bond avoids all slides. I follow the ridge between Hellgate Brook and Redrock Brook, leaning on the Hellgate Brook side, being carefull not to be drawn down into it... The 1st mile is fairly thick, but after that it's mostly open woods...

It is longer but the woods are more open to just follow Hellgate Brook down from the col

For yet another Zealand route, one time I went up Gale River Trail and down Zeacliff/Ethan Pond. This was particularly notable because about 10 minutes after I left Zealand I met Gene Daniell and his older son who were on their way to put a sign on the summit. I went back and we wandered awhile but found noplace higher than the cairn so that's where he put the sign.

 

[sapblatt]

Another cool loop yet to be mentioned is parking at the Zealand parking lot, take the Zealand/Ethan Pond/Thoreau Falls/Wilderness Trails and head up the Bondcliff Trail over the Bonds/Zealand and back to the parking lot. It's long, but quite scenic...

Curiousity got me last night...I mapped out the route Frodo described...

26.6 miles
3800 feet of elevation, of which almost all of it is on the Bondcliff Trail...

I say it is a day trip...lighter pack...summer solstice anyone?

 

[Mike P.]

If I was going solo this time I would have considered the Twin Brook loop to match up with my Spring trip over Franconia, via Osseo, over Garfield & Galehead & down Twin Brook, about a mile or two longer than the Bonds & South Twin half of the Pemi Loop.

That said, it was not my intention to plan or hit all the trips that many of the readers here have done or are thinking about. IMO compared to the other New England hiking bbs' this one has the most experienced readership.

My intention was to cover most of the routes up to the Bonds that people who might ask for help would find useful. I'm thinking that Frodo, Roy, Chicken Man, Kevin, other VFTT/WMNF veterans or anyone who uses the "lost" Fire Warden Trail, or any of the "usual" bushwhacks doesn't really need my help planning their Bonds Trip. (or any other trip they are thinking about.)

Now if any of you need help finding the Air Line Rail Trail near my house in CT I'm glad to help.

 

[Eric Savage]

Downhill "book" times

I took the six ways I would consider doing them & broke out distance, elevation gain, book time where provided (guessed on downhill parts not shown in the book, the Twinway which is listed in both directions is book time either way) & guessed on my time based on my current perceived level of fitness. I later went back & added four more options, a couple of these are just reversing direction of a couple of the first six. I did not get all the book times on the last four

I found slightly different times for some of the sections in your spreadsheet. Not hugely different but enough to get me curious about where you got time to so many decimal places (the guide rounds to the nearest 5 mins.).
I have a formula for downhill times which I developed as a result of disappointment with book estimates of several downhill sections (I first noticed the problem descending from East Osceola to Greeley Ponds Trail) and an adjustment to uphill times. They're not quite as simple as the 1 mile = 1000 feet = 30 minutes formula in the guide but I've found them to be quite useful. (Maybe if there's interest, I'll start a thread).

 

[skibones]

Hike to the bonds and enjoy the beautiful forested mountains from different trails in different seasons. You'll enjoy each hike.

Start early at Lincoln Woods and bike to the wilderness boundary. Stash the bike and enjoy the trails. Mornings have been nice and cool. Don't fuss over elevation gain and mileage comparisons. Just hike and love it all!

Happy Trails

Since you mentioned that one hiker in your group needs this for the peakbagger list, biking Lincoln Woods would not be a good idea since he won't be able to count it since it wasn't all on foot.

 

[Mad Townie]

I have a formula for downhill times . . .

Last week I found that backpacking down to Zealand Road from Guyot Campsite actually took us longer than going in/up. Probably because we were tired from the day before and had already put in 4 miles before leaving Guyot, but still. (TR to follow when I can get it done. )

That's one rough, rocky trail on which every step must be chosen with some care. You can't get a good rhythm going. Of course, that doesn't include the railbed near the road!

 

[Mike P.]

Uphill sections for book time should be from WMG. I did use both the 26th & 27th edition & found an error in the 26th. (it's been a couple of weeks but I think it was on the total elevation gain - 3350 vs. 3550 for some reason rings a bell)