Mountaineering a Z-Bonds Traverse in December

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Hiking a ZBonds Traverse in December

A ZBonds Traverse is likely one of the tougher hikes you are able to do in winter within the White Mountains. It’s even longer than a Presidential Traverse and way more distant. It requires mountain climbing throughout the breadth of the Pemigewasset Wilderness for 23.3 miles from Rt 302 close to Twin Mountain, NH to the Lincoln Woods Trailhead exterior of Lincoln, NH. It’s difficult by the actual fact the forest service street to the northern trailhead is gated shut, so you need to stroll it, which provides about 3 miles to the size of the route. In all, you’ll be able to count on to spend 12-14 hours mountain climbing from one finish to a different except you need to break path in deep snow, which makes the hike way more time-consuming.

The route plan:

  1. Zealand Rd – 3.5 miles
  2. Zealand Path – 2.5 miles
  3. Twinway 4.4: miles
  4. Zeland Mtn Spur – 0.2 miles
  5. Bondcliff Path: 8.7 miles
  6. West Bond Spur:1.0 mile
  7. Lincoln Woods Path: 2.9 miles

The route climbs 4 mountains on the Appalachian Mountain Membership’s 4000-footer checklist:

  • Zealand Mountain – 4264′
  • West Bond – 4518′
  • Mt Bond – 4696′
  • Bondcliff – 4263′

My common mountain climbing companions weren’t out there for this hike, so I attached with a crew that I’d by no means met in particular person earlier than. There was a climate window that was too good to move up, with low wind and little snow cowl. I wanted all 4 peaks for December on the White Mountain 4000 Footer Grid peak checklist and I used to be psyched to hike them early within the month. The Grid requires mountain climbing all 48 4 thousand footers in every month of the 12 months for a complete of 576 summits. It takes most individuals a number of years to complete the 12 full rounds of the 4 thousand footers required to complete.

Sunrise on the Zealand Trail
Dawn on the Zealand Path

This was a particular hike as a result of it was the final hike that one of many hikers, Jamie Brunt, wanted to finish his Grid. He’d been engaged on the height checklist for 11 years and he was psyched that he’d end on Bondcliff, which is likely one of the most picturesque peaks within the White Mountains. You couldn’t ask for a greater day too, with beautiful climate and wonderful path circumstances.

This was additionally a particular hike for me. Certainly one of my “huge” targets for this 12 months was to succeed in 500 summits on the street to the 576 summits required to complete the Grid. Bagging these 4 peaks would carry my depend to 498/576, placing me only one or two hikes from reaching that objective with a couple of weeks left within the 12 months. After all, mountain climbing means extra to me than simply filling in a listing. I really like these mountains and being a member of the closely-knit White Mountains mountain climbing neighborhood.

The day of the hike I awakened at 3:00 am so I might meet the crew at 5:00 on the Zealand Lot on Rt 302, close to the Mt Washington auto street. It normally takes me about 75 minutes to get out the door for a winter hike within the morning. I ate, drank a number of espresso, boiled 3 liters of consuming water for the hike so it wouldn’t freeze in the course of the day, and packed the meals I hadn’t packed the evening earlier than. The important thing to those lengthy winter hikes is to eat and drink very incessantly to maintain up your vitality stage.

Zeacliff in the distance - our first climb
Zeacliff within the distance – our first climb

Essentially the most harmful a part of these winter hikes is driving to the trailhead at nighttime after which residence at nighttime afterward. I hate driving within the Nationwide Forest at evening as a result of there are such a lot of animals crossing the street. I’ve had a number of shut calls up to now with moose, deer, and bears and most of my pals have too.

Jamie arrived, coming from the trailhead on the finish of the hike with the entire different hikers in our crew: Alex, Molly, Donna, and Jeremy. I couldn’t see any of their faces or what they actually appeared like standing at nighttime, regardless of our headlamps.

We crossed the freeway and began up Zealand Highway, passing the closed gate. The street was coated with a lightweight coating of snow however there wasn’t any ice and we have been capable of naked boot it. Give it a month and it will likely be coated in ice, rotten snow, and snowmobile tracks which might be a lot more durable to stroll on.

It was 3.5 miles to the traditional 3-season trailhead. The women took off and the boys tried to maintain up. I knew this was going to be a quick group and the miles glided by shortly within the gentle of our headlamps.

Taking a short break at Zealand Hut
Taking a brief break at Zealand Hut

We got here to the three-season trailhead after an hour and had a brief break earlier than heading up the Zealand Path to the Zealand Hut, an AMC cabin staffed by a caretaker which is open in winter. The charges are decreased if you wish to sleep there, however the cabin is unheated so you should haul in a heavy sleeping bag, pad, and meals if you wish to spend the evening. I stayed there earlier than on a winter Bonds Traverse in 2014 and I don’t suppose it’s actually value it. It doesn’t prevent that a lot time the following day and you need to haul heavier gear all day consequently.

Jamie and I naked booted for some time longer till the path turned too icy to proceed. Everybody else has placed on microspikes again on the three-season trailhead. We made it to the hut in after one other hour and took a brief break to loosen up on the porch. The caretaker got here exterior and chatted with us for some time after which we took off, managing the stream crossing on the backside of the Twinway Path with ease.

Early morning view of Carrigain Notch
Early morning view of Carrigain Notch

The primary mile of the Twinway shouldn’t be my pal. It climbs straight up 1000 toes in a mile. I couldn’t sustain with the tempo of the remainder of the group however I used to be solely couple of minutes behind them. This part might be the toughest a part of a Bond Traverse however it was over quickly sufficient. We met on the Zeacliff viewpoint which overlooks the japanese half of Pemigewasset Wilderness, Mt Carrigan, Mt Hancock, Mt Washington, and Mt Jefferson. It’s a wonderful viewpoint, properly value a cease.

We set off towards Zealand Mountain and I fell off the group’s quick tempo once more. We have been mountain climbing in about 4″ of unconsolidated powder. I caught up with everybody on the Zealand summit signal and instructed Jamie I wasn’t feeling so sizzling. The group was actually supportive and so they inspired me to proceed, particularly since we have been practically midway via the route. They slowed down a bit and I used to be capable of regain my composure. I think the all-out dash as much as that time had worn me out. Regardless that I hike quite a bit, I’m in a distinct age group, and I’m not the pace demon I used to be 20 years in the past.

Above treeline on Mt Guyot
Above treeline on Mt Guyot

We left Zealand Mtn and climbed into the col between Zealand and Guyot, climbing via barely deeper powder. It was simple going although after which we broke above treeline at Guyot, which is a 4000-footer within the heart of the Pemigewasset, though it’s not on the White Mountain 4000-footer checklist. Guyot is my favourite peak within the Whites. It’s named after the one who drew the primary map of the Whites, Albert Guyot, pronounced with a tough “G”, Gee-oh.

There was nearly no wind. The solar was out as we turned onto the Bondcliff Path, reaching the summit cairn on Guyot earlier than descending again into the krumholz on the south aspect. We handed the spur path to the Guyot campsite and climbed a brief distance to the West Bond Spur, the place we dropped our packs to hike out to the summit, a half mile away. We nonetheless hadn’t seen anybody all day.

Jamie is reveling in the perfect weather
Jamie is reveling within the good climate

West Bond was a simple climb and we have been quickly again on the Bondcliff Path, climbing to Mt Bond, the best peak within the group. Jamie was now at 575 peaks and the anticipation was rising. Molly had introduced some small cordial bottles to share with the group and gave Jamie his favourite, a Jameson’s.

The long decent from Mt Bond to Bondcliff.
The lengthy respectable from Mt Bond to Bondcliff.

Jamie led the way in which down the lengthy ridge that runs from Mt Bond all the way down to Bondcliff and we adopted shut behind. Whereas it’s gradual, you do should climb up the again aspect of Bondcliff to get to the well-known viewpoint overlooking the Hellgate. This can be a rocky ledge with an amazing view of Owlshead Mountain, Garfield, and the whole end-to-end size of Franconia ridge. 1000’s of individuals have stood right here for a summit picture.

Jamie and Alex head toward Bondcliff, #576
Jamie and Alex head towards Bondcliff, #576

Molly and Donna caught up with us and raced forward of Jamie to organize for his celebration. They’d purchased get together favors and glowing white wine to have fun Jamie’s end. It was good enjoyable. We blew tiny plastic horns and posed for quite a few photographs. Regardless that these have been Jamie’s good pals, I felt very welcomed by them and joined within the celebration.

Jamie brunt’s Grid finish on Bondcliff
Jamie brunt’s Grid end on Bondcliff

Jamie was consuming all of it up, however I can’t think about what he was considering. Think about engaged on peak checklist for 11 years and eventually ending it. It should be an amazing sense of accomplishment.

The hellgate.
The hellgate.

We have been quickly again at it, starting the lengthy 9 mile stroll to the Lincoln Woods Trailhead and the final 6 miles within the flats glided by quick. We’d discarded the spikes and have been again in naked boots once more. There was little or no snow on this aspect of the mountains. so we have been capable of end shortly regardless of the darkish. After we lastly arrived on the Lincoln Woods Trailhead, I used to be amazed on the quantity of people that got here out to greet us. Jamie is a highly regarded man!

After a couple of items of pizza provided by Jamie’s spouse, we ran the reverse shuttle and I drove again residence at nighttime. I used to be drained however exhilarated to be a part of such an outpouring of friendship in Jamie’s honor. Certainly one of nowadays, I hope to complete the Grid too.

Map

Zbonds in Winter

Really helpful Guidebooks and Maps:

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