Three Ponds
Where: Three Ponds
When: Summer, 1988
With: Stupid Society
When: Summer, 1988
With: Stupid Society
Continuing our exploration of the southern White Mountains, we went west from 93 toward Rumney, past the Famous Polar Caves, on to Ellsworth road, and on to the Three Ponds trail. We packed the Stupid Suits, which came in handy in the parking lot. We discovered that if you just put on the arms and left the legs trailing, someone could grab the legs and spin you around! We got properly dizzy and hit the trail.
The hike was easy, pretty, and pleasant. We stopped on a bridge early on for a group photo, one of my favorites. In very short time (it was only 2 miles in) we were at the ponds. We passed the shelter and continued on to the end of the Middle Pond. After passing the Donkey Hill cutoff and crossing a beaver dam, we arrived at a pretty campsite overlooking the pond. We were tempted to stay, but continued on to see if there was anything better on ahead.
We went a ways, found a stream, but no better campsite, so we returned to the pond and set up camp. Chip and Dave went off back down the trail and Seth and I just relaxed. Sometime later I heard a yell from the pond and ran down to find Chip and Dave poling an old wreck of a rowboat along the shore toward the campsite. Chip was patching a leak with his foot on an old innertube and dodging a leach, but they managed to get ashore. Next we explored a bog moss mat growing out from the shore, checking out the pitcher plants. After that we all just split up. Dave and I explored around the other side of the pond and Seth communed with nature at the beaver dam.
Finally we settled in for dinner and a campfire. A round of tequila and grapefruit set the mood nicely. That led to the usual foolishness. At one point I did a headstand against a tree, took a hit upside down, and then did headstand pushups! Silly. At a later, much calmer moment, I took another picture by firelight, another favorite. The next morning we relaxed a good while before breaking camp and heading out.
More pictures
The hike was easy, pretty, and pleasant. We stopped on a bridge early on for a group photo, one of my favorites. In very short time (it was only 2 miles in) we were at the ponds. We passed the shelter and continued on to the end of the Middle Pond. After passing the Donkey Hill cutoff and crossing a beaver dam, we arrived at a pretty campsite overlooking the pond. We were tempted to stay, but continued on to see if there was anything better on ahead.
We went a ways, found a stream, but no better campsite, so we returned to the pond and set up camp. Chip and Dave went off back down the trail and Seth and I just relaxed. Sometime later I heard a yell from the pond and ran down to find Chip and Dave poling an old wreck of a rowboat along the shore toward the campsite. Chip was patching a leak with his foot on an old innertube and dodging a leach, but they managed to get ashore. Next we explored a bog moss mat growing out from the shore, checking out the pitcher plants. After that we all just split up. Dave and I explored around the other side of the pond and Seth communed with nature at the beaver dam.
Finally we settled in for dinner and a campfire. A round of tequila and grapefruit set the mood nicely. That led to the usual foolishness. At one point I did a headstand against a tree, took a hit upside down, and then did headstand pushups! Silly. At a later, much calmer moment, I took another picture by firelight, another favorite. The next morning we relaxed a good while before breaking camp and heading out.
More pictures
