H
HikerBob
Guest
A big, BIG thank you to Poison Ivy and MEB for allowing themselves to be talked into doing a Bonds Traverse from Zealand to Lincoln Woods so I could pick up Zealand, West Bond and Bond for my 48. Numbers 43-45 - I can't believe I'm nearly done.
As usual I will have many more words than will fit here so I'll leave the brave souls who wish to read all the gory details to find them on my web site when they are done.
We had planned this trip for Saturday but because of the forecast pushed it back to Sunday, a good decision!
Ivy and I took a trip up to Arethusa Falls on Saturday. The trail was very muddy but trail crews are out putting in a lot of hard work, thanks guys. The falls were running very strong and it was a great little warm up, as opposed to our Hale 'warm up' last winter! I had one close 'AGE' (Avatar Generating Event) when I nearly did a face plant in six inches of oozing mud but miraculously recovered in time.
Ivy was sharing a camp site with Sherpa John that night so we swung by there after the falls and hung out for a while chatting, swatting mosquitos and sheltering from the rain under a tarp. The weather not being condusive to camp cooking I suggested we hit a local eatery so we headed to the Mooseland Grill where we had good food and great conversation.
Saturday, the main event! A long, tiring but fullfilling day in great company. Cloudy and cool for the main climb up to Zealand and Guyot which even I managed to do in book time! Must be the magic shirt
The clouds started to break as we rested at the Bondcliff junction and they just got better from there on. By the time we were all on Bond most everything was clear and Ivy was able to take in the glorious views she was denied on her previous trip. This is a very special spot.
We were all starting to feel it by the time we got down to the Wilderness trail. A change of socks helped sooth aching feet for a while but those 4.7 miles of old railroad grade take a toll. The mosquitoes were also out in force and seemed to delight in getting in eyes, ears and nostrils! I'm still finding bites as I write this!
Just shy of 7pm we arrived at the bridge and wondered if we still had the energy to ascend the steps in front of the ranger station. They did seem awful steep!
Five summits over 4,000ft, 19.5 miles in a shade under 14 hours. Not a bad day for an old sluggard like me. MEB says this is her favorite hike and would do it every weekend
A grand day out!
Bob
(I'll post when pics are up)
As usual I will have many more words than will fit here so I'll leave the brave souls who wish to read all the gory details to find them on my web site when they are done.
We had planned this trip for Saturday but because of the forecast pushed it back to Sunday, a good decision!
Ivy and I took a trip up to Arethusa Falls on Saturday. The trail was very muddy but trail crews are out putting in a lot of hard work, thanks guys. The falls were running very strong and it was a great little warm up, as opposed to our Hale 'warm up' last winter! I had one close 'AGE' (Avatar Generating Event) when I nearly did a face plant in six inches of oozing mud but miraculously recovered in time.
Ivy was sharing a camp site with Sherpa John that night so we swung by there after the falls and hung out for a while chatting, swatting mosquitos and sheltering from the rain under a tarp. The weather not being condusive to camp cooking I suggested we hit a local eatery so we headed to the Mooseland Grill where we had good food and great conversation.
Saturday, the main event! A long, tiring but fullfilling day in great company. Cloudy and cool for the main climb up to Zealand and Guyot which even I managed to do in book time! Must be the magic shirt
The clouds started to break as we rested at the Bondcliff junction and they just got better from there on. By the time we were all on Bond most everything was clear and Ivy was able to take in the glorious views she was denied on her previous trip. This is a very special spot.
We were all starting to feel it by the time we got down to the Wilderness trail. A change of socks helped sooth aching feet for a while but those 4.7 miles of old railroad grade take a toll. The mosquitoes were also out in force and seemed to delight in getting in eyes, ears and nostrils! I'm still finding bites as I write this!
Just shy of 7pm we arrived at the bridge and wondered if we still had the energy to ascend the steps in front of the ranger station. They did seem awful steep!
Five summits over 4,000ft, 19.5 miles in a shade under 14 hours. Not a bad day for an old sluggard like me. MEB says this is her favorite hike and would do it every weekend
A grand day out!
Bob
(I'll post when pics are up)
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