A snowshoe bushwhack on a cloudy afternoon to a longtime winter favorite: little Mud Pond, tucked into a wild basin at the foot of South Kinsman's massive southeastern spur. In addition to its sense of remoteness, this unobtrusive water body offers a fine view of the high peaks of Franconia Ridge.
I approached with a spike hike up the snowy sidewalk of the Mount Pemigewasset Trail.
At the crest of the ridge, where the trail swings south towards the summit of Mt. Pemigewasset, I strapped on my snowshoes and headed north through open woods.
The breaking was fairly heavy, especially in hobblebush areas, where the snow was deep and soft.
Up and over.
Making fresh tracks through the forest is a deep winter pleasure, a very different experience compared to spiking up hard-packed snowy sidewalks. On this trek I experienced both ends of the winter hiking spectrum.
Open woods predominate on this 3/4 mile whack, with some prickly conifers near the end to keep things honest. The biggest challenge is finding the pond in a broad and confusing area of gently rolling terrain. I've paid a number of winter visits to Mud Pond over the years, and each time I have a little navigational uncertainty on the final approach.
There it is!
A wild, trailless spur of South Kinsman looms above the pond to the west.
A couple of times I've made steep bushwhacks to ledges on that spur for a bird's eye view of the pond. Not in the cards for today.
Looking north along the pond, with a glimpse of Cannon Mountain in the distance. The shores of this pond are very boggy in summer.
There were deep but mostly firm drifts around the edge of the pond.
Testing the ice along the way, I crossed to the west side of the pond.
At the SW corner is the prize view from Mud Pond: Lafayette, Lincoln and Little Haystack, with several slides and Shining Rock Cliff visible.
A little closer look. Great spot for a late lunch break.
No navigation necessary on the return trip to the trail.
Back through that pesky hobblebush.
The Mount Pemigewasset Trail, approaching the summit.
Late day view down the Pemigewasset valley.
South Kinsman spur ridges.
The sprawling ridges of Mt. Moosilauke behind Mt. Wolf and the Wolf Cub.
Scar Ridge and the Osceolas off to the east.
A zoomed look at Mt. Liberty from the eastern summit ledge. It was nice to contemplate the slide I had visited two days earlier.
Streaky sky behind Mt. Wolf.
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