June 22, 2013
With Clement Wagner and Thomas Dixcy
#7 Zealand (4,260 ft.)
We had hiked up to the hut via Zealand and the Twinway the day before. I had a large blister on my foot from training hikes, and I had worn a Glacier Gel bandage on it. The hike up was fine, and we soaked and relaxed in the falls until dinner. Running my bad foot under the cold water had loosened the adhesive on the Glacier Gel, however, which came off and got adhesive on my hands. Throughout dinner that night bits and pieces of cutlery and paper kept adhering to my fingers.
The hike the next day was decent even though I had worried for days about the hike up the Twinway. True to reputation, the summit of Zealand was lackluster, and on this occasion teeming with gnats. One flew in my eye; Clem had to dig it out with his finger while I was trying to eat a foil packet of tuna (not recommended).
June 20, 2015
#18 West Bond (4,540 ft.)
#19 Bond (4,698 ft.)
#20 Bondcliff (4,265 ft.)
With Clement Wagner
We had hiked up Gale River to the hut the night before. It was strangely peaceful evening there, listening to thrushes singing in the valley. One of the best night's I've ever spent in the huts. The next morning was perfect, weather wise, as we slowly picked our way south along the three summits and finally down to the long, long walk out to our car at the visitor's center.
