Three Ponds with Jane, Andy & Ruby
Where: Three Ponds
When: 8/29/01 - 8/30/01
With: Jane, Andy, Ruby
When: 8/29/01 - 8/30/01
With: Jane, Andy, Ruby
I'd long promised (threatened?) Jane that I'd take her backpacking sometime, and that time had come. We had a week vacation and I watched the weather forecasts to find two nice days to spend in the woods. For a destination I selected a spot I'd taken Andy previously, a relatively short, level (more on that later) walk to a nice secluded pond in the southern Whites. Not too far a drive, not too hard a walk. There was even a shelter there, just in case we needed it.
I had the supplies all assembled and we packed up the gear the morning of the big day. I had the bulk of the equipment (tent, two sleeping bags, cooking gear, etc.) in my big Lowe Contour pack, Andy's pack had mostly his clothes and some toys & books, and the rest of the stuff went into a never-used sky blue external frame pack I'd bought for Jane years ago. We loaded everything and everyone into the car and left the driveway around 11:30. We made a rest stop in Concord, then stopped briefly just south of Plymouth to purchase a White Mountain Parking Pass. From there it was a short drive over to Rumney and up the road past Stinson Lake to the trailhead.
We shoved the last of our supplies into the packs, loaded the packs on our shoulders, locked up the car and hit the trail. We took our time as we walked, taking pictures and getting used to walking with a dog on a leash and a new pack for Jane. Her pack was heavier than I would've liked and though I tried to adjust it several times, I couldn't get it to fit right. It was riding too low so she was carrying too much of the weight on her shoulders rather than her hips. She was a trooper though and kept plugging along.
We made our way through the first section of trail just fine and soon crossed the bridge just before making the sharp turn onto the old road part of the route. We stopped for a few pictures on the bridge before continuing. After a short while we reached the bypass, where the trail left the old road and followed along the stream. When it rejoined the road I figured we were close to the Ponds but I was wrong and the hike went on for a good while longer. About this time I began to hear complaints from Jane about my concept of the term "flat trail." Compared to some of the mountain hikes I've done, this trail was indeed quite "flat", but not the high school running track flat Jane had expected. Fortunately Andy & Ruby both kept our pace slow, but it was still some significant work to get where we were going.
At last we made the final stream crossings and we were at the first Pond after about 2 hours of walking. Not a moment too soon for Jane, though she wouldn't be happy until we actually reached the campsite. We passed by the shelter (didn't go up to check it) and continued along the Pond's edge to reach the far end and the beaver dam which would take us across to the second Pond, where I thought we'd camp. Alas, the trail ended at open water...the old beaver dam was gone. A second dam had been built a short ways away, but it meant pushing through brush and jumping across marsh to get to it, so I suggested we head back to the shelter. To my surprise, Jane said we should try to get across. Maybe she just didn't feel like backtracking. I dropped my pack, did a little exploring and quickly found a feasible route to the new dam. I made a few trips for gear, dog, boy and Jane, but soon we were all across. Our first obstacle and we'd conquered it successfully! I was very proud of my family.
On the other side, we made our way back to the trail and soon were at the site that the Stupids had used years earlier. It still looked good and Jane was all for not going further so we dropped our gear there and called it a campsite. It was about 5PM. I made a quick run up the trail to the other pond/campsite; just to be sure it wasn't a better choice, but was disappointed when I arrived. The site was nice, but littered with broken glass and pretty much trashed. I decided we were fine where we were and ran back to rejoin the family.
Since we were staying, it was time to set up camp. Ruby got tied to a tree to keep her out from underfoot (but close by), a hiking chair was set up for Jane and then the tent went up. I'd brought the big (14 pound!) family tent, and finding an opening big enough for it was a bit of a challenge, but I managed to get it in okay. I faced the main door toward the Pond so we could get some views in the morning. Getting water proved to be interesting. The drought had the water levels in the Pond so low that mud flats extended far out from shore. Given my experience with leaches at that spot before, I decided not to walk out into the mud. Instead I filtered water from the pool behind the beaver dam. It was colored with tannin but fine. Dinner was soon started and I gathered wood for a fire while our tortellini cooked.
Things got interesting after dinner. I had returned to the pool to wash up the dinner pots & dishes when a series of spine-tingling howls began in the woods nearby. A pack of coyotes had decided to start their evening chorus. "John," called Jane, "come back here." "Okay, I'll be right there," I responded. "Come back here NOW!," was her reply. I decided the dishes could wait and hurried back to the tent. Andy didn't seem too concerned, but Jane & I were both pretty spooked. The sound is fairly chilling, especially when you're several miles back in the woods. Jane said Ruby had gone very, very still when the sound started...I don't blame her.
I did my best to reassure everyone that we had nothing to worry about and the howling stopped after a little while. We tidied up the site, hanging the food, etc., and then got a fire going. We began to feel a bit more comfortable and around 8:00 everyone headed to the tent. This was our first time using it as a family and the size was just right. Andy slept in the middle between Jane & I and Ruby curled up on a fleece blanket at our feet. Stinky boots and other gear went out in the vestibule.
Once we got settled in, we read some books and chatted a bit until 8:30 or so, when Andy crashed. The rest of us were somewhat restless and slept on and off. Ruby insisted on sleeping as close to Jane as possible and Andy kept rolling Jane's way as well, so she spent much of the night trying to reclaim her space. The coyotes offered a couple of encores during the night as well, which didn't help us sleep (though Andy snored his way right through them). Despite all this, it really wasn't that bad a night and we all managed to get some needed rest.
The next morning, Andy & I were awake at 5:30. We relaxed a bit, listened as the coyotes presented one final chorus of their song, then left the tent at 6. Jane was up and out soon afterwards and we got breakfast going. Coffee, milk and bagels were on the menu. We took our time that morning, enjoying the area and taking pictures before packing up our gear to depart. We wished the site (and the coyotes) goodbye, re-crossed the beaver dam and headed back down the trail
At the shelter we met up with a man who'd come in late the previous evening and stayed at the shelter overnight. He'd apparently tried to cross to our site as well, but was stymied by the missing dam. He was glad to hear that a crossing was possible. It turned out he was up there for a remembrance weekend for his son, who had passed away recently. He & his son had visited the area many times over the years and it was a favorite place of theirs, so it seemed an appropriate spot to gather in his memory. He'd come up early and the rest of the group (including his ex-wife) were due up over the next few days. We wished him well and left him to his solitude.
We had a much easier walk out than the previous day's hike. I'd taken one more shot at adjusting Jane's backpack at the campsite and had gotten it right, so she was much more comfortable. In short order we were back at the bridge then back at the car and heading home. We made a few quick stops along the way at a log-house firm in Rumney, then a Dunkin' Donuts, and finally an LL Bean outlet in Concord.
Notes & Thoughts
Excuse me, but coyotes? I finally get my wife out backpacking and a pack of coyotes has to do choir practice next to our campsite? Years of hiking and camping, including two previous visits to this same spot and this just happens to be the first time I ever hear coyotes? Give me a break!
Despite that, this was a wonderful time out for everyone. Even Jane managed to block out the memories of the painful hike in, the names she called me under her breath as continued to climb up the "level" trail, and the trauma of coyote chorus to proclaim that she'd enjoyed it and wanted to go out again soon.
Having Ruby along was interesting. It was her first backpacking trip as well and she did fine, though I wish she hadn't pulled on her leash ALL the way along the trail. I would have let her run free, but I've encountered far too many worried dog owners at trailheads asking if anyone had seen their pet. And in hindsight, having her tied up while the coyotes were singing was a very good thing, though she was probably as freaked as we were. I'm guessing she was thinking something along the lines of, "Oh crap...I'm in the middle of someone else's territory and there's a lot of them and they're bigger than me." She slept well in the tent, though I wonder if she could have stayed out in the vestibule. Something to try for another time.
More pictures
I had the supplies all assembled and we packed up the gear the morning of the big day. I had the bulk of the equipment (tent, two sleeping bags, cooking gear, etc.) in my big Lowe Contour pack, Andy's pack had mostly his clothes and some toys & books, and the rest of the stuff went into a never-used sky blue external frame pack I'd bought for Jane years ago. We loaded everything and everyone into the car and left the driveway around 11:30. We made a rest stop in Concord, then stopped briefly just south of Plymouth to purchase a White Mountain Parking Pass. From there it was a short drive over to Rumney and up the road past Stinson Lake to the trailhead.
We shoved the last of our supplies into the packs, loaded the packs on our shoulders, locked up the car and hit the trail. We took our time as we walked, taking pictures and getting used to walking with a dog on a leash and a new pack for Jane. Her pack was heavier than I would've liked and though I tried to adjust it several times, I couldn't get it to fit right. It was riding too low so she was carrying too much of the weight on her shoulders rather than her hips. She was a trooper though and kept plugging along.
We made our way through the first section of trail just fine and soon crossed the bridge just before making the sharp turn onto the old road part of the route. We stopped for a few pictures on the bridge before continuing. After a short while we reached the bypass, where the trail left the old road and followed along the stream. When it rejoined the road I figured we were close to the Ponds but I was wrong and the hike went on for a good while longer. About this time I began to hear complaints from Jane about my concept of the term "flat trail." Compared to some of the mountain hikes I've done, this trail was indeed quite "flat", but not the high school running track flat Jane had expected. Fortunately Andy & Ruby both kept our pace slow, but it was still some significant work to get where we were going.
At last we made the final stream crossings and we were at the first Pond after about 2 hours of walking. Not a moment too soon for Jane, though she wouldn't be happy until we actually reached the campsite. We passed by the shelter (didn't go up to check it) and continued along the Pond's edge to reach the far end and the beaver dam which would take us across to the second Pond, where I thought we'd camp. Alas, the trail ended at open water...the old beaver dam was gone. A second dam had been built a short ways away, but it meant pushing through brush and jumping across marsh to get to it, so I suggested we head back to the shelter. To my surprise, Jane said we should try to get across. Maybe she just didn't feel like backtracking. I dropped my pack, did a little exploring and quickly found a feasible route to the new dam. I made a few trips for gear, dog, boy and Jane, but soon we were all across. Our first obstacle and we'd conquered it successfully! I was very proud of my family.
On the other side, we made our way back to the trail and soon were at the site that the Stupids had used years earlier. It still looked good and Jane was all for not going further so we dropped our gear there and called it a campsite. It was about 5PM. I made a quick run up the trail to the other pond/campsite; just to be sure it wasn't a better choice, but was disappointed when I arrived. The site was nice, but littered with broken glass and pretty much trashed. I decided we were fine where we were and ran back to rejoin the family.
Since we were staying, it was time to set up camp. Ruby got tied to a tree to keep her out from underfoot (but close by), a hiking chair was set up for Jane and then the tent went up. I'd brought the big (14 pound!) family tent, and finding an opening big enough for it was a bit of a challenge, but I managed to get it in okay. I faced the main door toward the Pond so we could get some views in the morning. Getting water proved to be interesting. The drought had the water levels in the Pond so low that mud flats extended far out from shore. Given my experience with leaches at that spot before, I decided not to walk out into the mud. Instead I filtered water from the pool behind the beaver dam. It was colored with tannin but fine. Dinner was soon started and I gathered wood for a fire while our tortellini cooked.
Things got interesting after dinner. I had returned to the pool to wash up the dinner pots & dishes when a series of spine-tingling howls began in the woods nearby. A pack of coyotes had decided to start their evening chorus. "John," called Jane, "come back here." "Okay, I'll be right there," I responded. "Come back here NOW!," was her reply. I decided the dishes could wait and hurried back to the tent. Andy didn't seem too concerned, but Jane & I were both pretty spooked. The sound is fairly chilling, especially when you're several miles back in the woods. Jane said Ruby had gone very, very still when the sound started...I don't blame her.
I did my best to reassure everyone that we had nothing to worry about and the howling stopped after a little while. We tidied up the site, hanging the food, etc., and then got a fire going. We began to feel a bit more comfortable and around 8:00 everyone headed to the tent. This was our first time using it as a family and the size was just right. Andy slept in the middle between Jane & I and Ruby curled up on a fleece blanket at our feet. Stinky boots and other gear went out in the vestibule.
Once we got settled in, we read some books and chatted a bit until 8:30 or so, when Andy crashed. The rest of us were somewhat restless and slept on and off. Ruby insisted on sleeping as close to Jane as possible and Andy kept rolling Jane's way as well, so she spent much of the night trying to reclaim her space. The coyotes offered a couple of encores during the night as well, which didn't help us sleep (though Andy snored his way right through them). Despite all this, it really wasn't that bad a night and we all managed to get some needed rest.
The next morning, Andy & I were awake at 5:30. We relaxed a bit, listened as the coyotes presented one final chorus of their song, then left the tent at 6. Jane was up and out soon afterwards and we got breakfast going. Coffee, milk and bagels were on the menu. We took our time that morning, enjoying the area and taking pictures before packing up our gear to depart. We wished the site (and the coyotes) goodbye, re-crossed the beaver dam and headed back down the trail
At the shelter we met up with a man who'd come in late the previous evening and stayed at the shelter overnight. He'd apparently tried to cross to our site as well, but was stymied by the missing dam. He was glad to hear that a crossing was possible. It turned out he was up there for a remembrance weekend for his son, who had passed away recently. He & his son had visited the area many times over the years and it was a favorite place of theirs, so it seemed an appropriate spot to gather in his memory. He'd come up early and the rest of the group (including his ex-wife) were due up over the next few days. We wished him well and left him to his solitude.
We had a much easier walk out than the previous day's hike. I'd taken one more shot at adjusting Jane's backpack at the campsite and had gotten it right, so she was much more comfortable. In short order we were back at the bridge then back at the car and heading home. We made a few quick stops along the way at a log-house firm in Rumney, then a Dunkin' Donuts, and finally an LL Bean outlet in Concord.
Notes & Thoughts
Excuse me, but coyotes? I finally get my wife out backpacking and a pack of coyotes has to do choir practice next to our campsite? Years of hiking and camping, including two previous visits to this same spot and this just happens to be the first time I ever hear coyotes? Give me a break!
Despite that, this was a wonderful time out for everyone. Even Jane managed to block out the memories of the painful hike in, the names she called me under her breath as continued to climb up the "level" trail, and the trauma of coyote chorus to proclaim that she'd enjoyed it and wanted to go out again soon.
Having Ruby along was interesting. It was her first backpacking trip as well and she did fine, though I wish she hadn't pulled on her leash ALL the way along the trail. I would have let her run free, but I've encountered far too many worried dog owners at trailheads asking if anyone had seen their pet. And in hindsight, having her tied up while the coyotes were singing was a very good thing, though she was probably as freaked as we were. I'm guessing she was thinking something along the lines of, "Oh crap...I'm in the middle of someone else's territory and there's a lot of them and they're bigger than me." She slept well in the tent, though I wonder if she could have stayed out in the vestibule. Something to try for another time.
More pictures
