The Bonds are an enduring love affair of anticipated joy!  At Christmas I spent a few nights at Zealand Hut with Andy and we had a blast and a brilliant adventure on the trail to Mt. Guyot.  The twinway charms you with the flirtation of pine tree branches in a delicately molded path through the wilderness to emerge onto the most amazing ridge granting views of the entire Franconia Ridge, South Twin, The Bonds, and at its center, Owl’s head.  If you read that member trip report - I am returning as promised.

Join me Friday at 4pm for a hike into Zealand Hut.  We will hike with our packs at their heaviest with our supplies for the weekend.  The hike into Zealand is a short 6 mile hike.  The first 3 miles are a relatively modest grade of uphill to the trail head with the final 3 miles an equally modest grade until the short but steep jaunt up to the hut (I’m guessing 400 feet of ascent).

On Saturday we will hike through the most remote portion of the wilderness.   Along the way we will tag Mt. Zealand (4,260’), Mt. Guyot (4,580’), Mt. Bond (4,698’) and Bondcliff (4,265’).  Time permitting we will summit West Bond (4,540’).  We will be treated to phenomenal winter views and with a high degree of hope – beautiful winter weather.

Lodging:  We'll be staying Friday and Saturday night at the Zealand Falls Hut.  Each participant will need to make their own reservation for January 25 and 26th.  The hut fills up fast.  As of this evening there are still spaces but my gut says they won’t last.  I tried scheduling this trip for February and the hut is fully booked for all the weekends.  Reservations can be made online at https://www.outdoors.org/lodging-camping/huts/zealand or through their Reservations Department at 603-466-2727.
 

PLEASE MAKE THIS RESERVATION BEFORE SIGNING UP!

Food:  This time of year the hut is SELF-SERVICE.  The caretaker usually heats the common room in the evening, but be prepared for unheated sleeping bunks.  The hut is fully stocked with all the essentials for cooking including pots, pans, stove top, oven, knives and all utensils needed for eating.  Depending on group size and interest, we can plan a common meal for Saturday evening.

The Plan:  Friday evening we’ll claim our bunks, store our food, kick back, read the map, make dinner and enjoy some fun and relaxation by the wood stove.  We hit the sack by 9:30pm for a 5:30am rise.  We’ll have breakfast and hit the trail for 6:30am.  Headlamps maybe needed for a short ½ hour as the sun rises over the horizon (I’m being very hopeful for the sun will rise and we’ll have a brilliant day!!).  We’ll hike along the Twinway all the way to Mt. Guyot (4,580’) then carry on the Bondcliff Trail to Mt. Bond, then Bondcliff.  Time permitting; we can tag West Bond on the way back and tag Mt. Zealand.  Total mileage on this day is a robust 13.2 miles, adding 1 mile for tagging West Bond.

Gear:  A backpack that can accommodate your sleeping bag; a change of clothes (for the hut), extra socks, extra gloves, face mask, goggles, plenty of layers and two liters of water, Breakfast for Saturday and Sunday, dinner for Friday and Saturday and lunch for Saturday and snacks.  Microspikes and snow shoes a must.  A thermos to carry a hot drink is always nice.

Weather:  As always I will monitor for weather conditions.  Inclement weather cancels the trip.

We will meet at the Zealand Road parking off of Route 302 which is adjacent to Zealand Campground.  Route 302 is accessible from routes 93 North or South and route 16 from Conway.  Googlemaps highlights Zealand Campground quite well and you will be able to plan your route from your point of origin.  I will be driving a dark gray Honda CRV.