Covalent Bonds - 7/6/08 - Views From The Top

David Metsky · 07-08-2008, 03:36 PM

After the fun on the Southern Presidentials and watching people climb while I drank cold beer I headed to Sugarloaf Campground to set up my tent, then to Lincoln Woods to car spot. I ran into Jeanne, Jessica, and Sean at the supermarket and then again at the trailhead. In a few minutes we had Pete and Eddie, and then the other Jean and we were ready for dinner at the Station. They dropped us off at Sugarloaf and the final car with Robyn, Yvonne, and Mardi arrived around 10:00 PM. To bed, for tomorrow is another day!

We woke up at 4:00, broke camp and collected the cars and were on the trail at 5:25. The group set a fast pace, I quickly found myself leading from the rear but I told myself I was taking pictures so that explained things. We were at the hut by 6:30 and took our first break. Upward and onward, the climbing started as we ascended Zeacliff and we had our first real views (and real chocolate) on the ledges. It looked like it was going to be an adequate day.

On to Zealand amid talk of Hobbit Steps and My Precious. We gathered around the sign and took pictures, Robyn got a nice panoramic from the summit itself. We left just after 8:30, our first 4K of the day. The next stretch is my favorite part of the trip, the summits of Guyot. Our little band of hikers had the place to ourselves as we marched across the veld.

On to the Bonds! We had plenty of water so no one needed to drop down to the shelter. Most of us dropped pack at the West Bond junction and we celebrated our first Bond at around 10:30. We decided Bond would be the lunch spot so back into the woods and up again, hitting the top around 11:30 and settling in for a well deserved rest. It felt great to pull out the Crazy Creek chair, the chicken hat, and chocolate, in that order. This was the highpoint of the day, and it still wasn't noon. We felt like we were on schedule.

Then it was the final down and up to Bondcliff, where we spent a good long time taking pictures of people on the cliff. Yoga poses were assumed, feet were dangled, bowels were clenched. We ate our summit cookies and drank a good amount of water as we knew a water source was fairly close by on the Bondcliff trail. We took off around 1:00 PM, well aware of what was waiting us. 8 miles of mind and feet numbing descent. Oh well, it's the price you pay.

Out to Lincoln Woods before 5:00 PM, so our time was around 11:30. My feet were toast but otherwise I felt fine. We had to drive back to Zealand to pick up cars, and there we said goodbye to Ed and Pete, and then to Jean. The rest of us headed to Woodstock station where we cranked down Cokes and ate some yummy sweet potato fries and calamari. Then the long drive home, ending a wonderful Fourth.

The rest of the photos are HERE

mookie · 07-08-2008, 04:00 PM

nice report/photos dave.
seems as though everyone had some pretty cool hikes going on on the holiday weekend!

bikehikeskifish · 07-08-2008, 05:19 PM

Nice photos, Dave. I didn't see anyone sharing electrons though.

Tim

gooly · 07-08-2008, 08:00 PM

Awesome pics and report Dave

MattC · 07-09-2008, 05:39 AM

That range was my first hike in the Whites-what a mindblower. Your pics are great, thanks. Love the cliff yoga. I also agree that Guyot is marvelous.

Matt

Seeker · 07-09-2008, 12:55 PM

LOL! I always enjoy your write-ups! Looks like a fine day to be in the moutains!

giggy · 07-09-2008, 01:01 PM

looks great dave!

Gris · 07-09-2008, 01:12 PM

that is the best pic of the cliff i've seen yet...

Darl58 · 07-09-2008, 02:06 PM

Great Tr & pics Dave. Looks like you had a fun group of strong hikers. Glad the weather was picture perfect for you!!

Great weekend for everyone!!!

giggy · 07-09-2008, 02:10 PM

ya know gris - I was thinking the same thing.

leaf · 07-09-2008, 02:30 PM

I third that thought. Makes me nervous looking at it! (Even though I did the same thing on that same cliff). EEeeggaDDss!

David Metsky · 07-09-2008, 08:36 PM

It was a great day indeed. The last time I did this trip is was 50 degrees and raining; this was a welcome change. The group was together all day except for the inevitable spread out on the Wilderness Trail at the end.

I ended up with a blister on the ball of one foot which has left me hobbled a bit but I'm healing up now.

I've got some video from the day as well that I'll put together someday.

Mimi · 07-09-2008, 10:31 PM

Great TR Dave & the pics are sooooooooo good! Worth leading the back steps!

Looking forward to be out there very, very soon

07-08-2008, 03:36 PM	#1
David Metsky Moderator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Somerville, MA Avatar: Chicken Boy Posts: 3,928	Covalent Bonds - 7/6/08 After the fun on the Southern Presidentials and watching people climb while I drank cold beer I headed to Sugarloaf Campground to set up my tent, then to Lincoln Woods to car spot. I ran into Jeanne, Jessica, and Sean at the supermarket and then again at the trailhead. In a few minutes we had Pete and Eddie, and then the other Jean and we were ready for dinner at the Station. They dropped us off at Sugarloaf and the final car with Robyn, Yvonne, and Mardi arrived around 10:00 PM. To bed, for tomorrow is another day! We woke up at 4:00, broke camp and collected the cars and were on the trail at 5:25. The group set a fast pace, I quickly found myself leading from the rear but I told myself I was taking pictures so that explained things. We were at the hut by 6:30 and took our first break. Upward and onward, the climbing started as we ascended Zeacliff and we had our first real views (and real chocolate) on the ledges. It looked like it was going to be an adequate day. On to Zealand amid talk of Hobbit Steps and My Precious. We gathered around the sign and took pictures, Robyn got a nice panoramic from the summit itself. We left just after 8:30, our first 4K of the day. The next stretch is my favorite part of the trip, the summits of Guyot. Our little band of hikers had the place to ourselves as we marched across the veld. On to the Bonds! We had plenty of water so no one needed to drop down to the shelter. Most of us dropped pack at the West Bond junction and we celebrated our first Bond at around 10:30. We decided Bond would be the lunch spot so back into the woods and up again, hitting the top around 11:30 and settling in for a well deserved rest. It felt great to pull out the Crazy Creek chair, the chicken hat, and chocolate, in that order. This was the highpoint of the day, and it still wasn't noon. We felt like we were on schedule. Then it was the final down and up to Bondcliff, where we spent a good long time taking pictures of people on the cliff. Yoga poses were assumed, feet were dangled, bowels were clenched. We ate our summit cookies and drank a good amount of water as we knew a water source was fairly close by on the Bondcliff trail. We took off around 1:00 PM, well aware of what was waiting us. 8 miles of mind and feet numbing descent. Oh well, it's the price you pay. Out to Lincoln Woods before 5:00 PM, so our time was around 11:30. My feet were toast but otherwise I felt fine. We had to drive back to Zealand to pick up cars, and there we said goodbye to Ed and Pete, and then to Jean. The rest of us headed to Woodstock station where we cranked down Cokes and ate some yummy sweet potato fries and calamari. Then the long drive home, ending a wonderful Fourth. The rest of the photos are HERE __________________ You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose. -- Dr. Seuss Last edited by David Metsky; 07-08-2008 at 04:03 PM.

07-08-2008, 05:19 PM	#3
bikehikeskifish Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 2,715	Nice photos, Dave. I didn't see anyone sharing electrons though. Tim __________________ Bike, Hike, Ski, Sleep. Eat, Fish, Repeat. Working on: NE67, NEHH Last edited by bikehikeskifish; 07-10-2008 at 07:11 AM.

07-08-2008, 08:00 PM	#4
gooly Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Templeton, MA Posts: 130	Awesome pics and report Dave __________________ "Wet leaves are like ice!" Diane Mathewson

07-09-2008, 05:39 AM	#5
MattC Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: New Paltz, NY Avatar: Chapel Pond From Giant Mt. Posts: 1,032	That range was my first hike in the Whites-what a mindblower. Your pics are great, thanks. Love the cliff yoga. I also agree that Guyot is marvelous. Matt __________________ "...a man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone." - Henry David Thoreau

07-09-2008, 12:55 PM	#6
Seeker Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston Posts: 534	LOL! I always enjoy your write-ups! Looks like a fine day to be in the moutains! __________________ "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, Champagne in one hand - strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming WOO HOO - What a Ride!"

07-08-2008, 04:00 PM	#2
mookie Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: south burlington, VT Posts: 848	nice report/photos dave. seems as though everyone had some pretty cool hikes going on on the holiday weekend!

07-09-2008, 01:01 PM	#7
giggy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hikin' the scree on Shasta.... Posts: 2,593	looks great dave!

07-09-2008, 01:12 PM	#8
Gris Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Flyin Thru The Night :-) Posts: 1,241	i do believe that is the best pic of the cliff i've seen yet... __________________ Buy my new book 'Zen and the Art of Pessimisim,' or not. I guess it doesn't really matter if you read it.

07-09-2008, 02:06 PM	#9
Darl58 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: The Matterhorn Posts: 657	Great Tr & pics Dave. Looks like you had a fun group of strong hikers. Glad the weather was picture perfect for you!! Great weekend for everyone!!! __________________ You need special shoes for hiking - and a bit of a special soul as well. ~Emme Woodhull-Bäche "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." -Gandhi

07-09-2008, 02:10 PM	#10
giggy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hikin' the scree on Shasta.... Posts: 2,593	ya know gris - I was thinking the same thing.

07-09-2008, 02:30 PM	#11
leaf Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Taxachusetts Avatar: Sturdy as a Mountain Goat! Posts: 752	I third that thought. Makes me nervous looking at it! (Even though I did the same thing on that same cliff). EEeeggaDDss!

07-09-2008, 08:36 PM	#12
David Metsky Moderator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Somerville, MA Avatar: Chicken Boy Posts: 3,928	It was a great day indeed. The last time I did this trip is was 50 degrees and raining; this was a welcome change. The group was together all day except for the inevitable spread out on the Wilderness Trail at the end. I ended up with a blister on the ball of one foot which has left me hobbled a bit but I'm healing up now. I've got some video from the day as well that I'll put together someday. __________________ You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose. -- Dr. Seuss

07-09-2008, 10:31 PM	#13
Mimi Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Montreal, Qc, Canada Posts: 70	Great TR Dave & the pics are sooooooooo good! Worth leading the back steps! Looking forward to be out there very, very soon __________________ Faith will move mountains. 19th century proverb Mountains will transform faith. me

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode