“Inspiration is something you can carry with you forever, and never weighs you down. But possessions?”
A full-day hike across Zealand, Guyot, and the Bonds—one of the most scenic ridge walks in the White Mountains, was how I planned to finish the 4000-footers. But to officially complete the 4000-footers, I needed to revisit Mount Isolation. Nonetheless, I wanted the Bonds to be the last mountains I “met” on the list, and they were certainly worth the wait.
Mount Guyot isn’t on the AMC’s 4000-footer list, but according to my trusty Peakbagger.com, there’s an argument for it. So, of course, I needed to climb it. Just in case anyone decided to change the list on me later.
First Stop: Mount Zealand
Actually, first, you reach Zeacliff, which offers views that Zealand can’t. If you’re planning on hiking Zealand, and Zealand alone, this is where you want to plan for a break. It was a moderate climb to this point and my legs were feeling pretty good, so I had a good feeling about the day.
There are a few places where you can peek at some peaks, but the top of Zealand is fairly shrouded in trees. At the summit is a cairn, where someone arranged broken strips of wood in the form of the letter Z. The creativity gave me a chuckle, and I thought of the giant cairn on Mount Hale. With no discernable views at the summit of Hale, people presumably constructed that cairn out of needing something to do, since there wasn’t much else to look at. Seemed a similar thing was going on here at Zealand.
Hiking on Mount Guyot
Yes, it’s not an official 4000-footer, but if you’re coming from Zealand, it’s really no extra effort to summit Guyot. Once of the best things about this mountain is that it gives you an incredible approach to the Bonds. After taking a short snack break behind some rocks to get out of the wind, I felt light on my feet as I made my way towards West Bond. The views just seemed to be getting bigger and better the further I went. Let’s go!
West Bond: Holy Smokes
Now I knew what all the hubbub was about. The Bonds are GLORIOUS! And the one I might like the most is actually West Bond, because it situates you in the center of this enormous mountain range. Everywhere around you are peaks and valleys, with West Bond sitting center stage to the show. West Bond was too good to quickly pass over, hellbent on making time. This spot deserved appreciation and a good pondering, even if it was blowing like crazy. My only disappointment came when after looking about for some time, I turned my eyes downward towards the stone crevices below my feet. Inside were trash rappers and cigarette butts.
I sympathize with the fact people battle addictions of all kinds, but it seemed like if there was ever a place to not rip a couple of butts, it was 9 miles deep in the wilderness on top of one of the prettiest perches I’ve ever had the privilege to sit.
“Looking up from the trash on West Bond, I tried to triangulate my position, not knowing how to actually do that. West Bond had no discernable summit marker, and I wanted to make sure I was in the right place before attempting Mount Bond (proper).”
Mount Bond to Bondcliff
View of Bondcliff, looking down from the summit of Mount Bond
I really hadn’t come across many people until I reached the summit of Mount Bond. There I met some French Canadians and a man I bumped into a few times throughout the day. They were all heading in the opposite direction, so I quickly found myself alone again as I descended the trail towards Bondcliff. I was about halfway to my mark when I looked back at the summit of Mount Bond.
There I could see a young man, aided with hiking poles, gaining on me at an incredible clip. The soon-to-be-forty-year-old in me wanted to compete for the sake of older men everywhere, and I took off at a sprint. Well, sprinting as much as one can with a full-loaded pack. Despite the increased velocity, the whippersnapper still cut the distance to me by a considerable amount, but I’m glad to say that he wasn’t able to catch me by the time I reached Bondcliff. It was a victory for all of us!
The day was a long one, but a total success. And really, quite magical. To be out in such a remote beautiful landscape made me feel like I wasn’t coming to the end of my journey, but the beginning. Hey, I think I’m starting to get good at this.
“Finally. Almost at the end of my journey, my route planning, pack preparations, and understanding of my limits and the terrain were all spot on.”
🥾 Ascent Details: Zealand → Guyot → West Bond → Bond → Bondcliff (Out-and-Back)
- Trailhead: Zealand Trailhead off Zealand Road (seasonally closed in winter)
- Route: Zealand Trail → Twinway → Bondcliff Trail → West Bond Spur (and back)
- Total Distance: ~19.5 miles
- Total Elevation Gain: ~4,700 feet
- Time Estimate: 10–12 hours depending on pace and stops
🗺️ Segment Breakdown:
- Zealand Trailhead to Zealand Falls Hut
- Distance: ~2.8 miles
- Elevation Gain: ~650 ft
- Easy, mostly flat. Old rail bed, gradual incline.
- Zealand Falls Hut to Zealand Summit (via Twinway)
- Distance: ~1.3 miles
- Elevation Gain: ~1,100 ft
- Steeper, but short. Summit is wooded and signed.
- Zealand to Mount Guyot
- Distance: ~1.3 miles
- Elevation Gain: ~600 ft
- Exposed ridge walking begins. Guyot itself is unmarked but obvious.
- Guyot to West Bond (via Bondcliff Trail + West Bond Spur)
- Distance (one way): ~1.6 miles
- Elevation Gain: ~500 ft
- Short, steep spur to one of the best views in the Whites.
- West Bond to Mount Bond
- Distance: ~0.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: ~200 ft
- Moderate climb—open summit with panoramic views.
- Mount Bond to Bondcliff
- Distance: ~1.2 miles
- Elevation Loss: ~400 ft
- Drops into the col then climbs gently—beautiful open ridge walk.
- Bondcliff to Trailhead (Return Trip)
- Retrace your steps—plan time and energy accordingly!
🧭 Peakbagging Resources for Zealand, Guyot & the Bonds
If you’re planning to hike Zealand, Guyot, and the Bonds as an out-and-back or traverse, these resources can help with trip planning, trail conditions, and route details:
- 4000Footers.com – Bonds Traverse – Route descriptions, elevation profiles, and summit details.
- New England Trail Conditions – Bonds / Zealand Region – Recent trail reports from hikers.
- Peakbagger – Mount Bond, Bondcliff, Zealand – Ascent stats, GPS tracks, and climber logs.
- White Mountain Guide Online – Official trail mileage and elevation data via AMC.
Dispatches From the North
If you like reading about mountains, the 4000-footers, and the ups and downs of getting “out there,” you can find more stories at 4000s by 40.
Looking for photos of more 4000-footers? Head back to the 4000s by 40 Visual Companion to explore the other peaks.