Zealand/Bonds Traverse 9-23-20
Zealand Mountain 4260’, West Bond 4540’, Mount Bond 4698’ and Bondcliff 4265’
19.8 Miles 4100’ Elevation gain
Zealand Trail/Twinway/Bondcliff Trail/Wilderness Trail
Kevin, Judy and Wicket
Twenty plus years have passed since I first set foot on the Zealand Trail to undertake a Zealand-Bonds Traverse. There has been a lot of water under the bridge since then.
My two oldest boys were both in their early twenties. They have both since left this world, leaving their younger brother and I to founder in the wake.
In those days I was a newbie to hiking in the White Mountains, and I was seldom able to talk Judy into joining me. It was in the days before Emma came into our lives.
Emma changed everything, and her willingness to face whatever mountains that were put in front of her made Judy and I all the more willing to venture into them.
Over the years we crossed these hills two more times with Emma in the lead. I visited Bondcliff with a friend for an overnight and she led us then as well.
On that first trip twenty years ago I joined members of Judy's extended family. One of her brothers, a sister and her husband and their two teenage children.
It was hot, humid and buggy, but it was also wonderful, and gave me the confidence to venture more and more into the White Hills.
I owe much to them for including me and helping me get the "hiking bug". When Emma came along it became Judy, Emma and I on every hike.
I had my patch for completing the 48 4000 Footers already, but Judy and Emma earned theirs together on Bondcliff on their first Traverse.
I will never forget that hike. The fog was thick and it off and on drizzled through the whole hike. I wanted to postpone for a better day, but Judy was psyched up and wanted to get it over with and not wait until spring, so off we went.
The next time we crossed together we were all in the prime of our hiking days, all before old age and injury had worked into Emma's bones, before Judy went through changes which made even thinking of hiking difficult, and before my injured hip fused and made standing, let alone walking extremely painful.
In 2012 on my 54th birthday I made the trek again, this time working towards finishing the 4000 Footers in winter. On this hike I arrived at the parking area on 302 across from Zealand Road around 5am.
Judy and Emma were with me, but were not going to join me. It was snowing lightly and when Emma jumped out of the car she took one look around and jumped back in.
I was glad she did, as I did not want to make her cross that traverse not really knowing what we were in store for.
I will never forget arriving on Mount Bond to rejoin the hiking party I was in later in the day as they broke into a round of "Happy Birthday to You!"
My hip was beginning to become a serious problem in those days and I knew something would have to be done sooner or later, so I was all the more determined to finish my winter list as soon as possible. I finished later that winter on Mount Madison.
In November of 2015 I had a total hip replacement of my right hip. Eight weeks to the day I hiked again up the White Trail of Gunstock Mountain, 1400' in 1.1 mile. I was on my way back.
It took a good year to feel "right" again. I had compensated for my hip for so many years it took a long time to get everything back in alignment again.
In October of 2016 Wicket came into our lives and we knew we had another 48 to do. This was a good thing as our hiking forays had slacked off significantly.
Over the first year of her life we slowly introduced her to hiking, choosing gentle hikes and not rushing her into anything. We wanted her bone structure to mature before we introduced her to the mountains, something we had not done with Emma, who suffered greatly with arthritis later in life.
In September of 2017 after hiking several smaller peaks, Wicket started her 4000 Footers on Mount Jackson. We had a glorious day and she did great. We knew we were off to a good start.
Over the next two years she hiked like an all-star over all the rest, becoming strong and confident on the trail. The bonding between us became more evident with each hike. Now and then in little ways we would see some of Emma in her.
We could never replace Emma, but this dog joined her in our hearts in her own way, and that served us all well, replacing an emptiness we had felt along the trail without Emma.
We worked on the list and wound it down to the point where in October of 2019 we had but one hike left to do, the Zealand-Bonds Traverse.
We were in good shape and ready to go to finish the list and earn Wicket her patch when I had some problems I have been dealing with for years come back with a vengeance.
I knew I could just not face the long trek, so I held us up, and we didn't get it done before winter set in as we had planned. Winter passed, then spring.
Summer came around and we didn't want to make the arduous trek in the heat, humidity and bugs we knew we would have to face.
July came and my middle son passed away. Everything went back on hold as I learned to deal with this new trauma in my life. Grief is a process, and you never "work through it.' It stays with you the rest of your life. I learned this when I buried my oldest son in 2006.
I did not, and I still cannot, believe that I am going through this nightmare again. It is why I do not believe in the Heaven and Hell described in the Bible. I believe we experience both heaven and hell right here on earth. Where we go when we die I do not know, nor will I until that day comes...
As this September rolled around I knew we had to think about getting this trek over with before another year had passed us by.
We built ourselves up on long hikes with our friend Cath who we owe a great deal of gratitude for her patience, understanding and encouragement.
Finally the day came when we decided it was time, and once the decision was made as to the where and the when the anxiety I had before facing the hike disappeared, just as it did when I finally made the decision to have a hip-replacement.
The weather report for the day we had picked looked great. We spotted a car at Lincoln Woods. The next morning dawned bright and crisp.
Cath met us and made the trek to Zealand Road with us in order to drive our car back to an agreed upon spot nearer our camp so that we would not have to return to Zealand to get it, then drive back in the dark. Many thanks are deserved for this.
We started along the trail with Cath and Hank who would join us to Zealand Hut before turning around. Wicket was overjoyed that her boyfriend Hank was joining us for at least part of the trek.
We stopped at the hut to fuel up before beginning to gain altitude on our way to Zealand Mountain. Taking the short side trail to Zeacliff we ran into friends with three other dogs in tow, all of whom would also earn their patches on Bondcliff we were later to find out.
We stopped to fuel up again at the treeless summit of Zealand and we had it to ourselves. A few miles later we were stepping out of the trees onto the first bump of Guyot.
Winds here were strong, and we put on heavier shirts. Crossing the windswept open double summits of Guyot were often blown off trail, or had to stop to brace ourselves to keep from being knocked down. I estimate the gusts to have been in the 40-45mph range.
We were glad to drop back down into the trees on the other side. The winds diminished somewhat as we crossed the next few miles. We dropped the packs at the junction and made our way along the half mile trail to the summit of West Bond. This we had to ourselves as well.
We returned and donned the packs once again and began the ascent to Mount Bond. We had passed several other hikers along the way, but once again had the summit to ourselves.
A quick drink and snack and we were on our way again, making the descent to the col, and then the ascent to Bondcliff. The winds had died down enough that I was able to amble out onto the edge of the cliff for the classic Bondcliff photo. Judy and Wicket abstained.
Again we were amazed to have the summit to ourselves, at least for a good while before another couple joined us. We laughed about the friends we had seen earlier, thinking they were probably out at Lincoln Woods already.
I looked at Wicket and told her, "Well, there it is. You've done it. You have now done all 48 4000 Footers in NH." I realized then that I had also now done a complete round on an artificial hip.
We started thinking and soon realized it was also a third round completion for Jude. Then the reality set in, "OK, we are now half way through this hike. Time to get going if we want to be out of the woods before dark."
We left Bondcliff around 2pm and finished in Lincoln Woods around 5:30pm burning up the last 9.5 miles in about three and a half hours. Not bad for sixty somethings...
We were all thrilled to be done and able to sit down for the ride back across the Kanc towards our camp. Cath met us with the car and would have joined us for pizza to celebrate, but we were both "all in" and ready for hot showers and warm blankets...
Read More19.8 Miles 4100’ Elevation gain
Zealand Trail/Twinway/Bondcliff Trail/Wilderness Trail
Kevin, Judy and Wicket
Twenty plus years have passed since I first set foot on the Zealand Trail to undertake a Zealand-Bonds Traverse. There has been a lot of water under the bridge since then.
My two oldest boys were both in their early twenties. They have both since left this world, leaving their younger brother and I to founder in the wake.
In those days I was a newbie to hiking in the White Mountains, and I was seldom able to talk Judy into joining me. It was in the days before Emma came into our lives.
Emma changed everything, and her willingness to face whatever mountains that were put in front of her made Judy and I all the more willing to venture into them.
Over the years we crossed these hills two more times with Emma in the lead. I visited Bondcliff with a friend for an overnight and she led us then as well.
On that first trip twenty years ago I joined members of Judy's extended family. One of her brothers, a sister and her husband and their two teenage children.
It was hot, humid and buggy, but it was also wonderful, and gave me the confidence to venture more and more into the White Hills.
I owe much to them for including me and helping me get the "hiking bug". When Emma came along it became Judy, Emma and I on every hike.
I had my patch for completing the 48 4000 Footers already, but Judy and Emma earned theirs together on Bondcliff on their first Traverse.
I will never forget that hike. The fog was thick and it off and on drizzled through the whole hike. I wanted to postpone for a better day, but Judy was psyched up and wanted to get it over with and not wait until spring, so off we went.
The next time we crossed together we were all in the prime of our hiking days, all before old age and injury had worked into Emma's bones, before Judy went through changes which made even thinking of hiking difficult, and before my injured hip fused and made standing, let alone walking extremely painful.
In 2012 on my 54th birthday I made the trek again, this time working towards finishing the 4000 Footers in winter. On this hike I arrived at the parking area on 302 across from Zealand Road around 5am.
Judy and Emma were with me, but were not going to join me. It was snowing lightly and when Emma jumped out of the car she took one look around and jumped back in.
I was glad she did, as I did not want to make her cross that traverse not really knowing what we were in store for.
I will never forget arriving on Mount Bond to rejoin the hiking party I was in later in the day as they broke into a round of "Happy Birthday to You!"
My hip was beginning to become a serious problem in those days and I knew something would have to be done sooner or later, so I was all the more determined to finish my winter list as soon as possible. I finished later that winter on Mount Madison.
In November of 2015 I had a total hip replacement of my right hip. Eight weeks to the day I hiked again up the White Trail of Gunstock Mountain, 1400' in 1.1 mile. I was on my way back.
It took a good year to feel "right" again. I had compensated for my hip for so many years it took a long time to get everything back in alignment again.
In October of 2016 Wicket came into our lives and we knew we had another 48 to do. This was a good thing as our hiking forays had slacked off significantly.
Over the first year of her life we slowly introduced her to hiking, choosing gentle hikes and not rushing her into anything. We wanted her bone structure to mature before we introduced her to the mountains, something we had not done with Emma, who suffered greatly with arthritis later in life.
In September of 2017 after hiking several smaller peaks, Wicket started her 4000 Footers on Mount Jackson. We had a glorious day and she did great. We knew we were off to a good start.
Over the next two years she hiked like an all-star over all the rest, becoming strong and confident on the trail. The bonding between us became more evident with each hike. Now and then in little ways we would see some of Emma in her.
We could never replace Emma, but this dog joined her in our hearts in her own way, and that served us all well, replacing an emptiness we had felt along the trail without Emma.
We worked on the list and wound it down to the point where in October of 2019 we had but one hike left to do, the Zealand-Bonds Traverse.
We were in good shape and ready to go to finish the list and earn Wicket her patch when I had some problems I have been dealing with for years come back with a vengeance.
I knew I could just not face the long trek, so I held us up, and we didn't get it done before winter set in as we had planned. Winter passed, then spring.
Summer came around and we didn't want to make the arduous trek in the heat, humidity and bugs we knew we would have to face.
July came and my middle son passed away. Everything went back on hold as I learned to deal with this new trauma in my life. Grief is a process, and you never "work through it.' It stays with you the rest of your life. I learned this when I buried my oldest son in 2006.
I did not, and I still cannot, believe that I am going through this nightmare again. It is why I do not believe in the Heaven and Hell described in the Bible. I believe we experience both heaven and hell right here on earth. Where we go when we die I do not know, nor will I until that day comes...
As this September rolled around I knew we had to think about getting this trek over with before another year had passed us by.
We built ourselves up on long hikes with our friend Cath who we owe a great deal of gratitude for her patience, understanding and encouragement.
Finally the day came when we decided it was time, and once the decision was made as to the where and the when the anxiety I had before facing the hike disappeared, just as it did when I finally made the decision to have a hip-replacement.
The weather report for the day we had picked looked great. We spotted a car at Lincoln Woods. The next morning dawned bright and crisp.
Cath met us and made the trek to Zealand Road with us in order to drive our car back to an agreed upon spot nearer our camp so that we would not have to return to Zealand to get it, then drive back in the dark. Many thanks are deserved for this.
We started along the trail with Cath and Hank who would join us to Zealand Hut before turning around. Wicket was overjoyed that her boyfriend Hank was joining us for at least part of the trek.
We stopped at the hut to fuel up before beginning to gain altitude on our way to Zealand Mountain. Taking the short side trail to Zeacliff we ran into friends with three other dogs in tow, all of whom would also earn their patches on Bondcliff we were later to find out.
We stopped to fuel up again at the treeless summit of Zealand and we had it to ourselves. A few miles later we were stepping out of the trees onto the first bump of Guyot.
Winds here were strong, and we put on heavier shirts. Crossing the windswept open double summits of Guyot were often blown off trail, or had to stop to brace ourselves to keep from being knocked down. I estimate the gusts to have been in the 40-45mph range.
We were glad to drop back down into the trees on the other side. The winds diminished somewhat as we crossed the next few miles. We dropped the packs at the junction and made our way along the half mile trail to the summit of West Bond. This we had to ourselves as well.
We returned and donned the packs once again and began the ascent to Mount Bond. We had passed several other hikers along the way, but once again had the summit to ourselves.
A quick drink and snack and we were on our way again, making the descent to the col, and then the ascent to Bondcliff. The winds had died down enough that I was able to amble out onto the edge of the cliff for the classic Bondcliff photo. Judy and Wicket abstained.
Again we were amazed to have the summit to ourselves, at least for a good while before another couple joined us. We laughed about the friends we had seen earlier, thinking they were probably out at Lincoln Woods already.
I looked at Wicket and told her, "Well, there it is. You've done it. You have now done all 48 4000 Footers in NH." I realized then that I had also now done a complete round on an artificial hip.
We started thinking and soon realized it was also a third round completion for Jude. Then the reality set in, "OK, we are now half way through this hike. Time to get going if we want to be out of the woods before dark."
We left Bondcliff around 2pm and finished in Lincoln Woods around 5:30pm burning up the last 9.5 miles in about three and a half hours. Not bad for sixty somethings...
We were all thrilled to be done and able to sit down for the ride back across the Kanc towards our camp. Cath met us with the car and would have joined us for pizza to celebrate, but we were both "all in" and ready for hot showers and warm blankets...
