Weather conditions today were looking favorable for one of the epic winter hikes in the White Mountains. I would be joining Jill, Amy, Mark and Jim for the long trek deep into the Pemigewasset Wilderness to Bondcliff (4,265'), Mount Bond (4,698') and West Bond (4,540'). Our route would take us on the Lincoln Woods Trail to the Bondcliff Trail and onto the West Bond Spur. The return trip to Lincoln Woods on the Kancamagus Highway would go back over Mount Bond and Bondcliff for a 22.6 mile round trip hike.
There had been recent rain this past week and little to no snow. The temperatures had been cold enough to firm up the snowpack on the trails. Today the forecast was calling for temperatures to rise above the freezing mark. When we all arrived at the Lincoln Woods parking lot we decided to leave the snowshoes behind and just wear microspikes. We crossed the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River at 7:04 AM and were estimating a 12 hour hiking time.
It was a cold, brisk morning but felt much better than the previous hikes earlier this month with subzero temps. The trail was firm and solid and the microspikes were proving to be the perfect traction. We were hoping the temps would not get too warm today which would soften the trail snow and cause snow to ball up on the microspikes. There was not a lot of snow along this section of trail.
Soon after we started fellow hikers Andrew and Nate passed by on their way to doing a Pemi Loop. Nate's dog Piper was with them and had a huge stick in his mouth. Must have been his hiking stick. We could see far down the trail and watched them as they turned off onto the Osseo Trail which would take them up to Mount Flume and the Franconia ridge.
After almost two hours of flat hiking we made the turn on the Bondcliff Trail that started the long climb up. There were several water crossings along the way. We had no problem crossing any of them although the ice beneath our feet sounded very hollow at times and we quick stepped across hoping not to break through. It was shallow water under the ice but no one wants a wet boot when there are many more miles of hiking ahead.
It was during the long steady grind to the top of Bondcliff that Jill said she had hit the wall and might not be going all the way to West Bond. We stopped at the bottom of the Hillary Step to layer up. The Hillary Step is a small ledge that is a straight up climb without snow. With snow it was surprisingly easier. There was a steady wind blowing and it would be increasing as we got up onto the exposed terrain.
We stopped for some photos on Bondcliff. It was a brief stop and we continued on to Mount Bond. A short dip down the ridgeline then it was up again. Across the ridge there was lots of ice and exposed rock. As the trail got up into the trees there was plenty of snow but the trail was well packed and we had no problem with the microspikes.
On top of Mount Bond we decided to drop the backpacks for the hike over to West Bond. We waited for Amy and Jill. Amy arrived but no Jill and we thought she had decided to go with her plan of not going to West Bond and would be waiting on Mount Bond until we returned. We set out for West Bond and it felt great not to have the pack on my back. The snow was much deeper and softer between Mount Bond and West Bond but the microspikes were still doing the job without postholing.
We reached the summit of West Bond and had it to ourselves. Moments later Mark said,"here comes Amy and Jill." Jill had taken a short break for something to eat. Arriving at Mount Bond she felt better, dropped her pack and ran over to West Bond in order to catch up with us. We all took a short break on the summit before starting the 11.3 miles back to Lincoln Woods.
We dropped back down off of West Bond and hiked back up to Mount Bond. We took a few minutes to get something to eat. A few photos then it was time to put the pack back on, it felt heavier than before. It was a nice descent off of Mount Bond on our way over to Bondcliff. The western sky looked amazing. As I was making my way up Bondcliff the muscles in my legs started to cramp. I slowed down just a bit and drank some more water and Gatorade. The cramps eased up and I didn't have a problem with them again.
Back on Bondcliff we took another brief break and then started our final descent to Lincoln Woods. The hike went smoothly on the way down and over the numerous water and ice crossings. Even though the temperature went above freezing the trail stayed solid. Just around dusk a light precipitation started to fall. We put our headlamps on and continued in the dark.
We came to the Bondcliff sign that earlier in the day had taken us one hour and fifty minutes to get to. I can't speak for anyone else but I was getting very tired and had to reach down deep inside myself to pull out some inner strength in order to get through the next several miles ahead of us. It was a dark, monotonous, mind-numbing hike from here that took some mental fortitude to keep my exhausted bones and muscles moving. It was good to be hiking with others as that helped a lot with the mental aspect.
We reached the Franconia Brook bridge and still had another three more miles to go. Those miles did not get easier but we pushed through and arrived at the suspension bridge over the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River. There has been many hikes that I have returned from and been very happy to see that bridge, this was no exception. We were crossing back over this bridge after 12 hours from when we crossed it this morning almost to the minute. It was 7:04 AM we crossed and back over it at 7:06 PM!
This was the longest hike I have ever done in one day. I don't mind saying I had some trepidation before setting out on this hike. I really did not know if I could complete such a long hike with a lot of elevation gain. It was very rewarding to complete this hike! I'm quite sure the rest of my fellow hikers felt the same way. I have done the traverse from Zealand Road to Lincoln Woods several times and I have to admit that I prefer the traverse over the out and back.
The weather and trail conditions were much better than I expected. I consider it to have been a perfect day for a hike to the Bonds with an awesome group of hiking friends!
Enjoy the pics and videos!
Hike starts here at the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River
Early morning along the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River
Ice
Piper carries a big stick with Nate and Andrew beginning a Pemi Loop
Icy brook
Passing by the Osseo Trail
More icy brook
Black Pond Trail starts here
For those that want to pace themselves
End of measured pace but a lot more hike ahead
Bridge over the Franconia Brook
Franconia Brook
Bondcliff Trail starts here
Walking carefully on ice over a water crossing
Mark following a long white path deep into the Pemigewasset Wilderness
One hour and fifty minutes to this sign then the gradual up begins
Trail snow was washed out in recent rain
Mushrooms on a dead tree
Open area in the ice
Thin ice surrounding rocks in a brook
Ice formations
Jim checking the ice on another water crossing
Jim offering advice on crossing the ice
Another ice crossing
...and another ice crossing
Log icicles
Looking up at Bondcliff
A closer look at Bondcliff
One final water and ice crossing
Mark heading up the Hillary Step
Amy pausing on the Hillary Step
Amy and Jill climbing the Hillary Step
Coming up onto the summit of Bondcliff
Looking past Owl's Head to the Franconia Ridge
Mount Washington
Mark with the flag over Bondcliff
Jim flies the flag on Bondcliff
I'm on the Bondcliff perch
Looking back at Bondcliff
The near peak of West Bond to the right is our final destination
Gray jays visiting on Mount Bond
Jim climbs toward the sun on West Bond
Bondcliff from West Bond
Bondcliff
Amy and Jill coming up to the summit of West Bond
View from West Bond
On the summit of West Bond and 11.3 miles back to Lincoln Woods
Back on the Bondcliff Trail
On the summit of Mount Bond
Starting the descent from Mount Bond
On our way back to Bondcliff
Bondcliff up ahead
A long drop from the top of Bondcliff
Mark and Jim on Bondcliff
The slides on West Bond
Looking down beside the Bondcliff perch
Starting our final descent on Bondcliff
Mark and Jim descending the Hillary Step
Crossing the Franconia Brook Bridge in the dark with headlamps
The end of the hike after 22.6 miles and 12 hours
Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!
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