blaze
Active member
My first winter Bonds attempt, in March 2008, ended badly. We were ascending the Bondcliff Trail, at ~3,500’, when I collided with a blowdown that I not only failed to negotiate, but failed to see entirely. A sharp, protruding “spike,” on the underside of the blowdown, raked across the right side of my head. The result was a 6” laceration, which immediately began to bleed profusely.
My friend Foster was brilliant that day, and kept a level head under duress. She did her best to get the bleeding under control, miles from the road, using everything at her disposal. And folks, I do mean everything.
And so I emerged from the woods wearing some gauze, bandages, medical tape, and a common, self-adhesive sanitary product not typically worn by a guy, and definitely not on his head. All artfully concealed beneath a blood-soaked bandanna. But on the bright side, I felt as fresh and feminine as an April morning after a spring rain shower.
We hiked and skied back out as quickly as we could. Back at Lincoln Woods early to mid afternoon. After a fruitless stop at the Loon Mountain medical clinic, we motored back over Kancamagus Pass with all due dispatch, and proceeded forthwith to the North Conway emergency room.
The on-call nurse had a look, and paged the on-call physician. The on-call physician had a look, and paged the on-call surgeon.
Eventually the on-call surgeon showed up. Without having had his look, he proclaimed that he’d “put in a few stitches and have me out of there in no time.” Then he did have a look, and then there was no more talk of a few stitches, and certainly no more talk about “in no time.” He booked an operating room and informed me that I’d be going under sedation.
Several additional hours later, I emerged from the North Conway emergency room, with fifteen staples in my head, and a scar that I carry “to this day,” as the saying goes. Most of which is, for the moment at least, concealed by my little remaining hair.
And so as we fast forward back to March 2010, it was with some trepidation that I strapped on my pack, at 5:00 AM Friday morning 3/19, for “The Bonds II – The Sequel.” After having completed all of my other winter 48, only Bondcliff, Bond, and West Bond remained. The forecast called for another outstanding day, so Tim and I decided to burn a vacation day and get it done. I believe Tim just wanted to look after me, and shout WATCH YOUR HEAD, whenever low-hanging obstacles presented themselves.
We had a fantastic day. I won’t give you a blow-by-blow description. Perhaps good trips are inherently less interesting than bad ones. And this return trip was most definitely good. I will provide a few highlights and observations:
* Snowshoes and high gaiters are absolutely required. There is still a lot of snow out there. You’re walking 5-6’ off the ground. You’ll be fending off face-high “whipper snappers” all day, and inevitably, some will penetrate your defenses. No major injuries were sustained this time, but I do have some minor war wounds to show for it.
* Over the course of our twelve hour and twenty minute hike, you could almost see and hear the conditions changing. As I said, there is a lot of snow, and it’s starting to turn to water, and the rate of changeover is accelerating. Conditions are getting messy and they’re going to get a lot messier.
* It was nice running into three Pemi Loopers at the Lincoln Woods trailhead. Our groups played leapfrog for a while, until about two thirds of the way up Bondcliff, after which they vanished ahead of us. Guys, I hope you had as enjoyable a day as we did.
* We bushwhacked up (and down) a stream bed on Bondcliff. Snow cover in the stream bed is getting soft. We did not hear running water underneath.
* No difficulties with stream crossings further down Bondcliff.
* We lingered on West Bond for 45 minutes, enjoying the stunning Bonds views that are perhaps the finest in the Whites. A small container of bourbon fell out of my pack – hey, how’d that get in there? – and we drank several toasts. To my final winter peak, to life in general, and to absent friends. You know who you are.
* We left a small snow man on the summit of Bond, and a slightly larger snow woman on Bondcliff. It was I who decided to make her a snow woman… but I cannot claim credit, or blame, for the placement of those two red M&Ms.
* Thanks to the lady who turned the lights back on and unlocked the door for me, at the Lincoln liquor store, at 6:02 PM on Thursday evening. Talk about trail magic!
* Thanks also to Tim, and to Foster. It is humbling and profound to quite possibly owe your life to somebody. If you are not a total loser, you must try to live a life worth saving.
This report is about those mountain peaks that we happen to know as “the Bonds.” But even more, it’s about the bonds that link us together, sometimes inextricably, and how our lives are enriched by those bonds. I know I am repeating myself… but I feel very fortunate.
Photos will be posted soon.
My friend Foster was brilliant that day, and kept a level head under duress. She did her best to get the bleeding under control, miles from the road, using everything at her disposal. And folks, I do mean everything.
And so I emerged from the woods wearing some gauze, bandages, medical tape, and a common, self-adhesive sanitary product not typically worn by a guy, and definitely not on his head. All artfully concealed beneath a blood-soaked bandanna. But on the bright side, I felt as fresh and feminine as an April morning after a spring rain shower.
We hiked and skied back out as quickly as we could. Back at Lincoln Woods early to mid afternoon. After a fruitless stop at the Loon Mountain medical clinic, we motored back over Kancamagus Pass with all due dispatch, and proceeded forthwith to the North Conway emergency room.
The on-call nurse had a look, and paged the on-call physician. The on-call physician had a look, and paged the on-call surgeon.
Eventually the on-call surgeon showed up. Without having had his look, he proclaimed that he’d “put in a few stitches and have me out of there in no time.” Then he did have a look, and then there was no more talk of a few stitches, and certainly no more talk about “in no time.” He booked an operating room and informed me that I’d be going under sedation.
Several additional hours later, I emerged from the North Conway emergency room, with fifteen staples in my head, and a scar that I carry “to this day,” as the saying goes. Most of which is, for the moment at least, concealed by my little remaining hair.
And so as we fast forward back to March 2010, it was with some trepidation that I strapped on my pack, at 5:00 AM Friday morning 3/19, for “The Bonds II – The Sequel.” After having completed all of my other winter 48, only Bondcliff, Bond, and West Bond remained. The forecast called for another outstanding day, so Tim and I decided to burn a vacation day and get it done. I believe Tim just wanted to look after me, and shout WATCH YOUR HEAD, whenever low-hanging obstacles presented themselves.
We had a fantastic day. I won’t give you a blow-by-blow description. Perhaps good trips are inherently less interesting than bad ones. And this return trip was most definitely good. I will provide a few highlights and observations:
* Snowshoes and high gaiters are absolutely required. There is still a lot of snow out there. You’re walking 5-6’ off the ground. You’ll be fending off face-high “whipper snappers” all day, and inevitably, some will penetrate your defenses. No major injuries were sustained this time, but I do have some minor war wounds to show for it.
* Over the course of our twelve hour and twenty minute hike, you could almost see and hear the conditions changing. As I said, there is a lot of snow, and it’s starting to turn to water, and the rate of changeover is accelerating. Conditions are getting messy and they’re going to get a lot messier.
* It was nice running into three Pemi Loopers at the Lincoln Woods trailhead. Our groups played leapfrog for a while, until about two thirds of the way up Bondcliff, after which they vanished ahead of us. Guys, I hope you had as enjoyable a day as we did.
* We bushwhacked up (and down) a stream bed on Bondcliff. Snow cover in the stream bed is getting soft. We did not hear running water underneath.
* No difficulties with stream crossings further down Bondcliff.
* We lingered on West Bond for 45 minutes, enjoying the stunning Bonds views that are perhaps the finest in the Whites. A small container of bourbon fell out of my pack – hey, how’d that get in there? – and we drank several toasts. To my final winter peak, to life in general, and to absent friends. You know who you are.
* We left a small snow man on the summit of Bond, and a slightly larger snow woman on Bondcliff. It was I who decided to make her a snow woman… but I cannot claim credit, or blame, for the placement of those two red M&Ms.
* Thanks to the lady who turned the lights back on and unlocked the door for me, at the Lincoln liquor store, at 6:02 PM on Thursday evening. Talk about trail magic!
* Thanks also to Tim, and to Foster. It is humbling and profound to quite possibly owe your life to somebody. If you are not a total loser, you must try to live a life worth saving.
This report is about those mountain peaks that we happen to know as “the Bonds.” But even more, it’s about the bonds that link us together, sometimes inextricably, and how our lives are enriched by those bonds. I know I am repeating myself… but I feel very fortunate.
Photos will be posted soon.
Last edited:
Whatever works!
