The Bonds are a gaggle of three peaks – Bondcliff, Mt Bond, and West Bond – 11 miles from the closest highway in the course of the White Mountains Pemigewasset Wilderness. They’re spectacular mountains to climb with breathtaking views. With daylight in brief provide, I made a decision to backpack out to the Bonds on a 1-night journey as an alternative of making an attempt to do an out and again in a single day which I’ve accomplished in summer time when the times are for much longer.
We now have been having an unusually heat and dry November and I’ve been benefiting from it by climbing a few of the more durable peaks that I’ve remaining on the Grid spreadsheet. The Grid is the uber peak checklist of the White Mountains and requires mountain climbing all 48 of the White Mountain 4000 footers in every calendar month of the yr for a complete of 576 summits (most individuals take 4 years or extra to complete the checklist). This journey counted as my ninth month out to the Bonds, that are often hiked as a gaggle. I nonetheless have to hike them in December, February, and April, which will likely be rather more difficult as a result of winter climate and path situations.
All three of the Bonds have above-treeline publicity so it’s vital to select protected climate (not too chilly, not too windy, no lightning) to hike them. For this journey, I used to be anticipating temperatures within the 40’s with wind speeds as much as 30 mph on the hike in, nighttime temps within the excessive 20’s with 40 mph winds (at elevation), and temperatures within the excessive 50’s when mountain climbing out with 30 mph winds.
Given the wind forecast, I made a decision to sleep on the Guyot Campsite, which is about 400′ beneath the summit of Mt Bond (4600′) and properly protected against the prevailing northwestern winds. It has picket platforms, so I introduced a semi-freestanding tent which is simpler to arrange on them than a trekking pole tent. I additionally made some extent to convey a heat hat and gloves, a heat sleeping bag, excessive R-value sleeping pad, and an isobutane range with me along with my common 3-season gear. I haven’t used a few of this gear shortly (see beneath), so it was enjoyable to rediscover why I purchased it within the first place! It actually is excellent.
For this journey, I did an out-and-back from Lincoln Woods, simply exterior of Lincoln, NH. The primary a part of this hike is a 6-mile stroll alongside the Lincoln Woods Path to the purpose the place the Bondcliff Path begins to climb to the Bonds. It goes quick, like properly beneath 2 hours, however I’ve hiked this one phase so many occasions that I form of dread it now. If there’s a hell, it could be having to hike this path again and again for the remainder of eternity! I do know many White Mountain hikers who would agree.
The following 4.6 miles climb to Bondcliff (4265′) gaining 2750′ of elevation. Components of it are steep, however on the entire, it’s a pleasing grade, though the path is kind of rocky. I used to be feeling fairly sturdy although on the way in which up and made it to the summit of Bondcliff in 2.5 hours, stopping solely at 3100′ (final water) to filter some water.
Essentially the most difficult part of the path was up subsequent, working from the Bondcliff summit to the summit of Mt Bond. Whereas it’s solely 0.8 miles and 750′ of elevation achieve, the path is totally uncovered to the climate and full of huge boulders, requiring cautious footwork to ascend. I’ve fallen backward among the many rocks on this ascent previously and remained miraculously unhurt, however it has my utmost respect in consequence. A lot of my mates really feel the identical means.
As soon as on the summit of Mt Bond, it’s a fairly simple descent to the West Bond Spur and a brief hike out to that summit. As soon as on the prime, I dropped my gear and sat dealing with Bondcliff which has an aesthetically pleasing curved profile that I by no means get uninterested in viewing. I don’t consider in a better energy, but when there’s one, they absolutely had a hand in forming Bondcliff.
I backtracked from West Bond and hiked right down to the Guyot Campsite, which has a sequence of picket platforms perched on the east aspect of Mt Bond. The place is totally overrun in summer time when it’s packed to the gills with campers, however there have been solely three of us that evening. I grabbed one of many platforms with an open view of the sky hoping to observe the celebs at evening. Whereas it was very clear that evening, the moon was additionally very vibrant, obscuring the milky means above. Guess I’ll have to return on the market once more someday (twisting my arm).
I obtained all arrange by 3:30, cooked a easy dinner, and was in my sleeping bag by 4:30. It was fairly chilly out (the forecast was for 29), so I turned all my bottles (huge mouth) the wrong way up so the lids wouldn’t freeze and slept with my water filter in my sleeping bag to stop it from freezing. I’d introduced a sleeping bag that I haven’t used a lot lately, a Western Mountaineering Ultralite 20, and slid into it to remain heat. I’ve owned this bag since 2006 and it’s nonetheless in excellent situation, though the highest material is a bit pale. By 5:00 pm, I used to be gone and quick asleep till 7:00 am the subsequent morning. God, I really like sleeping exterior!
The following day I solely had about 750′ of elevation achieve from reclimbing to the summits of Mt Bond and Bondcliff on the way in which again to Lincoln Woods. There was some wind once I was strolling within the open on Mt Bond and the wind was pushy though solely when it gusted. As soon as I dipped beneath treeline once more on the south finish of Bondcliff, I adopted the path all the way in which again to Lincoln Woods, retracing my steps from yesterday.
This was an amazing journey and I worry the final time I’ll get to make use of 3-season gear on an in a single day this yr. Winter is true across the bend.
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