The Bonds

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First I apologize on posting this trip with not enough time for anyone who would have liked to sign up.

I was told that overnight trips usually need more advance notice and one member said he would like to but had already made other plans.  But I needed to do these as early this year as I could.

John wrote in the day before and wanted to go.  He thought I was doing Lafayette and when informed it was Bonds via Zealand he thought he could go partway.  I suggested he could maybe bag Z summit but I was going on to Bonds.  So that was the plan.

The day started ominously as soon after I left Shapleigh it started to rain.  The prediction was “isolated T-storms”  The 1st lasted maybe 5 minutes.

I met John at the trailhead and we started up at about 830.  In an hour we reached Z hut and it started to rain again.  We waited it out for a half hour where the Z volunteers informed us that the weather for the next day was supposed to be a lot better.

We reached the Zeacliff outlook and started to lunching but the rains started again.  So we started to summit.  Shortly after Zealand trail John who did not bring along any rain gear thought it would not ease up so he decided to turn back at that point.  A wise choice.

You can see from the pics that the view and weather changed dramatically from  Guyot to South Twin.  Just about 5 minutes shy of S Twin the sky’s opened again and I waited it out in a small alcove.

And when starting up again I ran into a couple and the woman after a while mentioned that her hands were getting cold.  She did reach Galehead later.  The views at South Twin were non existent but having been there before and would be again tomorrow NBD.  On I slogged to the hut and just before there I overtook another couple where one said it was the longest 8/10’s of a mile ever hiked.  I agreed!  Wet and rocky.

The next day was uphill and seemed much better.

At the hut Hans & Franz were there to entertain and to “pump us up” they did a great job at both.  I wound up in the top bunk of a 3 stooges 3 tier bunkbed.  Which was fine as it was probably quieter up there.

Got an early start the next day at 8am and now the weather was cooperating it was a marvelous day.  I reached West Bond a small peak which could hold maybe a dozen hikers comfortablly.  I continued on to Mt. Bond where two gents from the hut just arrived behind me.  I have been saying for a while to myself while holding my arm out that the completion of my NH 4000’s were right there.  And there it was Bondcliff.  Literally right there.

So onward & upward (with a slight downhill :-)

What a sense of accomplishment & a great satisfactory feeling doing 48 peaks. 

Forty four peaks in 2 years and one week.  36 solo.  Now I just had to get down.

The funniest thing is atop Bondcliff those two gents from the hut is one was from my old home town in RI.  One square mile 200 miles away, 20 mile hike and he graduated 1 year before my brother.  His sister graduated with my brother.

So I started to descend and by the time I reached Z hut again a lot of people from Galehead  were at the Z hut.  I rested up a bit and went to trailhead

Tremendously glad to have gotten these three done they were starting to feel like Everest  or my white whale.  It was my 3^rd attempt at them.  Last year I bailed out after not seeing the trail across the river after losing a trail for a few minutes atop new Owl’s Head.

Now on to the Maine Peaks…………all scheduled I just have to write them up.

D

This will be my 1st "official" led hike for the group.  I am mostly a solo hiker or lead with 1 or 2 friends.        So I apologize if I screw up any part of description.

The plan now is going up Zealand Trail, passing Z Hut. which should be around 2 hrs. and up the Twinway to Zealand Mtn.another 2.5 hours  continuing on to set up camp at Guyot campsite. another hour or two.

NOTE CHANGE IN ITINERARY...

DUE TO LTD RESPONSE I HAVE CHANGED THE OVERNIGHT TO GALEHEAD HUT.

So I would do the Bonds on the next day and then return via the same way as the ascent.

I kind of think right now setting up camp at that time and then go to Bond & Bondcliff & then the next day leave camp early leaving full packs at camp and then bag West Bond return to Guyot pick up packs & return out via the same way.

I attempted to do the Bonds which are my final of the 48 last week but I lost my glasses and contact lenses between Liberty and Garfield. 

Here's hoping some fireworks views may be sigted the night of the 3rd but deep in the Pemi probably not.