Brutal with every step, diabolical in places, but spectacular views and very well worth it!
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stars
Did this hike as a 1-night backpack in late June. We went the opposite direction, starting at Gale River and ending at Lincoln Woods, camping at Guyot Shelter. Beautiful and challenging hike! Our biggest challenge was the weather, and we did not get to enjoy any views. Now I just need to go back!
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Unbelievable hike. Add the 2 loops and it makes the perfect blend of river crossings, bushwhacks, cascading waterfalls, slide scrambles, and jogging through abandoned railroad beds.
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This was an awesome hike. It was 19 miles. 13 hours. Next time take more water (4 liters). With Matt and Eileen. We car spotted Matt’s car at Lincoln woods and took Eileen’s car up to the Zealand trail. We hiked up to Zealand hut, cliff and Zealand peak. Then onto bondcliff trail hitting guyot, west bond and bond. A d finally bondcliff
Start 7:30
Zealand Hut 9:
Zealand Cliff 10
Zealand Peak 11:16
Guoyt 12:34
west Bond 1:50
bond 2:40
bond cliff 4pm
Lincoln trail head 8 ish
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Rained off and on during the hike. This made the trail muddy in spots. Took Blackpond bushwhack up and back. Had to remove hiking boots to make last river crossing. As many hikers report, flat most of the way until you get to last 0.9 miles before summit. Then 1600 ft of elevation with rock scramble. No views at the top. Took Brutus bushwhack down which was slippery in the mud. Camped out for the night before hiking out. Using GPS to navigate thru bushwhacks was very helpful. Nice to check this one off the list.
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This was not an easy hike, I spent 3 nights and 3.5 days on it. I intended on finishing on the third day and only spending two nights but when I got to mount bond the view was finally so clear and so beautiful that I decided to stay for sunset and wake up and hit Bondcliff for sunrise, the rest of my summits had been pretty foggy. This was the best decision because I saw some of the most beautiful views.
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Hike to West Bond completed my 2nd round of the NH 48 4K’s. My second round was completed in my 60’s. We chose to do this from Zealand Rd. & back because we did not want to spot a second car in Lincoln Woods, & it was about 3 miles shorter. The elevation gain was more doubling back but we didn’t mind.
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Started on trailhead at 5:57 am with cool & very comfortable weather (a few sprinkles & some drops off the trees. Took the two major bushwacks (Black Pond & Brutus), Trail wet & muddy in some spots, but everything easily passable including the water crossings.
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Long day but enjoyable. Black pond bushwhack was not the usual track but was well broken out. Had several views of Franconia ridge and bonds was a bonus.
Just wish more people creating bushes is would use a switchback method more often
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Incredible experience. Absolutely brutal ascensions with full packs. We planned on the 13 miles from liberty tent site to guyot on day 2 and got humbled. Recommend this as a 3 nighter if you want to enjoy it a bit more. Suffer fest for sure but damn those views are so worth it !
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Brutally tough ascents with packs, but with equally epic views. Garfield is a fucking slog.
Plan on a mile per hour through most sections, with the exception of the finish if doing the trail clockwise. Recommend 3 nights, first at liberty, second at Garfield, third at guyot but we did it in 2 nights.
Not for the inexperienced or out of shape!
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I went out on this route and was glad I had the track for both the black pond and Brutus bushwhack. Both were pretty well worn and easy to follow. On return I went the long way around on Lincoln brook just to mix it up.
I found the hike along the river very enjoyable however the 6 miles or so on the Lincoln Brook trail at the beginning and end pretty boring. Summit is a complete bust I didn’t even stop!
I will say you can make great time on this hike. Mine was 18 miles exactly and I did it in 6 hours with a 15 minute lunch.
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This is an awesome hike. Slow grade for most of it, really only one mile of climbing. There was one section where they have added a ladder. My dog was able to navigate it, but it may be too much on the way down for a senior dog.
Black flies were brutal in early June, but it’s New Hampshire—- what else can you expect?
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