SummitPost.org

Thanks Nartreb! Never even knew this site existed; its a great resource.

mmcguigan - I know it's been a couple of weeks, but just curious how your trip went.

AlexeyD - sorry it took so long to respond, been away on some family stuff. Our first attempt got me very close to the top of Bond but the binding on my snowshoe broke and I had to posthole all the way back - 17 miles round trip - mostly in the dark (we left at 10:00 pm). We were breaking trail all the way up. Went back two weeks later with some other friends and did the whole loop in 18.5 hours (left at 1:00 am this time topped out on the Bond just before sunrise). The hardest thing I ever did! The Bonds were ok going up, but had some real trouble finding the route to Galehead! Glad I had my GPS - at least I knew what direction to go in. We sank past our hips in a couple of places - even with snowshoes. Once up the the ridge the going got a little better and the trail after had been lightly tavelled. After Lafayette the hike was very nice except that we were pretty much members of the walking dead. Coming down the Flume was a bit sketchy since we were soooooo tired. I was VERY happy that the walkout was not that five mile slog to the base of the Bonds. I went back a week later with the original group but had to turn around because one member started to get serious blisters. The two who went on to the top of Bond said the snow was really soft and that there was no trace of my previous trip - it had all melted away. They also turned back. After all is said and done I'll say - once is enough for that loop! I'm still healing and limping.

Congratulations - a one-day winter Pemi Loop is quite an achievement! I can see why it's not something you'd care to repeat...