KenC
Member
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2003
- Messages
- 189
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Great weekend backpack with HarryK, Swamp and Bob....
Heading out early Sat AM under mostly sunny skies and warm temps our hope was for the conditions to continue. A nice roadwalk along Zealand, the river at an easy flow, great little "Brook Stops" along the way. Plenty of moose hoofprints but no mooses today!
ON up to the hut, which had pretty much emptied with a quick stop to check the falls. Not much action there today just a trickle really. On up the twinway stepping across the major crossing above the hut. First time on this trail for me but that is quite a neat water pump gadget thay have rigged just off trail past the hut.
The weather continued to hold, with some nice, albiet hazy views from Zeacliff. A snack and some pics at Zeacliff and over to Zealand. Trails were pretty typical as far as conditions but once near Zealand where we started to get our first views south, we saw Guyot and beyond shrouded in fog and couds. The closer and higher we got the thicker it got. An occasional break would reveal quick glimpses of the valley below but as HarryK said, no VFTT today! Decending from the North Peak of Guyot there were some more brief brakes into the Valley below but the word of the day from then on was FOG and CLOUDS.
We got into Guyot Campsite, hung out a but and got camp set up. Around 3ish we decided to head over to visit Bond, Bondcliff and hit west bond on the way back. By the time we got to Bond conditions had deteriorated even more with T-storms comming in later. We decided on balance that Bondcliff was going to be left for a better day. That would have been HarryK's 48th. We decended and hit West Bond on the way back with pics and some time spent there with the group from the shelter.
We finished dinner just in time as the skies opened up setting the stage for an evening of T- storms, heavy wind, and plenty of rain. It would have been a great light show to watch! The group in the shelter had a front row seat as the lightning lit up the skies! T storms are just so cool!!
Morning brought continued rain and fog and not the conditions we wanted for Bondcliff. We had breakfast and packed up our gear to head out. Gear packed up we retraced our steps out. The heavy rain overnight and am had turned the trails into running streams, ponds and mudpits on the hike out. The crossing above the hut we stepped over on the way in, was really running today and while not difficult did take a minute to plan for my short legs. A quick stop at the hut for a group photo we headed back to the trailhead.
Great weekend with great people!!
Good luck this comming weekend harry, i hope the weather gods treat you well!!
Heading out early Sat AM under mostly sunny skies and warm temps our hope was for the conditions to continue. A nice roadwalk along Zealand, the river at an easy flow, great little "Brook Stops" along the way. Plenty of moose hoofprints but no mooses today!
ON up to the hut, which had pretty much emptied with a quick stop to check the falls. Not much action there today just a trickle really. On up the twinway stepping across the major crossing above the hut. First time on this trail for me but that is quite a neat water pump gadget thay have rigged just off trail past the hut.
The weather continued to hold, with some nice, albiet hazy views from Zeacliff. A snack and some pics at Zeacliff and over to Zealand. Trails were pretty typical as far as conditions but once near Zealand where we started to get our first views south, we saw Guyot and beyond shrouded in fog and couds. The closer and higher we got the thicker it got. An occasional break would reveal quick glimpses of the valley below but as HarryK said, no VFTT today! Decending from the North Peak of Guyot there were some more brief brakes into the Valley below but the word of the day from then on was FOG and CLOUDS.
We got into Guyot Campsite, hung out a but and got camp set up. Around 3ish we decided to head over to visit Bond, Bondcliff and hit west bond on the way back. By the time we got to Bond conditions had deteriorated even more with T-storms comming in later. We decided on balance that Bondcliff was going to be left for a better day. That would have been HarryK's 48th. We decended and hit West Bond on the way back with pics and some time spent there with the group from the shelter.
We finished dinner just in time as the skies opened up setting the stage for an evening of T- storms, heavy wind, and plenty of rain. It would have been a great light show to watch! The group in the shelter had a front row seat as the lightning lit up the skies! T storms are just so cool!!
Morning brought continued rain and fog and not the conditions we wanted for Bondcliff. We had breakfast and packed up our gear to head out. Gear packed up we retraced our steps out. The heavy rain overnight and am had turned the trails into running streams, ponds and mudpits on the hike out. The crossing above the hut we stepped over on the way in, was really running today and while not difficult did take a minute to plan for my short legs. A quick stop at the hut for a group photo we headed back to the trailhead.
Great weekend with great people!!
Good luck this comming weekend harry, i hope the weather gods treat you well!!
