Zealand Bonds Traverse - Mount Zealand (4,260), West Bond (4,517), Mount Bond (4,698), Bondcliff (4,265)

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HOW TREES GROW ON ROCKS

With only decay
as an anchor,
a tiny, winged seed,
bewildered
by wind's disregard,
shimmies
root-hairs down
humid cracks,
slowly becoming
so strong,
it’s the rock
that breaks,
making space
for ease.
This curved back,
a gentle fist.

 



 
Summit of Mount Zealand (sign credits Jonah Kiok-Kirshenbaum)


 
 
Summit of West Bond (sign credits Jonah Kiok-Kirshenbaum)
 



 
 
Summit of Mount Bond (sign credits Jonah Kiok-Kirshenbaum)







Summit of Bondcliff (sign credits Seth Kiok-Kirshenbaum)
 


 
 
Hike level: Moderate to Hard
Location: Lincoln, NH
Driving distance from Boston: About 2 1/2 hours
Cost: FREE to hike; backpacking options include backcountry camping (free), Guyot Shelter ($ 15 p/p, AMC Zealand Falls Hut ($140+ p/p)
Description: We decided to take 3 days and 2 nights to do this traverse, spending time finding ease and enjoying the views. On the first day, we drove to Lincoln Woods Visitor Center to take the White Mountain Hiker Shuttle (making reservations ahead of time; members cost $20 p/p, o/w) to Zealand Trail. We hiked past Zealand Falls Hut to Zeacliff and setting up our tent for the night (the hut crew assured us this followed the backcountry camping rules). First day: ~4.0 miles, ~1,700 ft elevation gain). On the second day, we continued on the Twinway to the Mount Zealand Spur, and after hiking Mount Zealand, continued over Mount Guyot and down to the Guyot Shelter (see above for link). After setting up camp, we hiked to see the sunset and have dinner on West Bond. Second day: ~5.7 miles, ~2,270 ft elevation gain. On the last day, we hiked over Mount Bond to Bondcliff where we had breakfast before continuing down to the Lincoln Woods Trailhead. Third day: 11.2 miles, ~750 ft of elevation gain. I found the breakdown of mileage and elevation gain very helpful on this site.

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