North of Three Ponds

 

The long northern section of the Three Ponds Trail, starting from a trailhead off NH 118, is remote and very lightly traveled. At times over the years it has been notoriously overgrown and difficult to follow. When I checked it for the current (2022) edition of the AMC White Mountain Guide in 2020, it was well-cleared and could be followed with care. But recent reports suggested that was no longer the case, and with a new edition due in 2027, it was time for a re-check. I set off late morning on a fine spring day.

The first section follows a wide snowmobile trail. No problem following the trail here!

A sign marks where the trail splits off to the left.

Most of this trail section passes through hardwood forest, so there was a Trout Lily feast this day.

One of only a handful of old yellow blazes seen in several miles.

This sign marking the crossing of an old logging road has seen better days.

 

Starting at this crossing, the trail becomes harder to follow in the open hardwoods. As the saying goes, "follow with care." It took me a minute to figure out that the trail goes to the left of the dead tree.

 

A gorgeous hardwood forest it is.

A faint footway.

When the leaves come out, this spot will be overgrown.

 

 

 Catskill-like glade.

Farther up, I spotted a small mountain meadow off-trail, and discovered a view of Mount Moosilauke and its South Peak.

Closer look.

 

A meadow-y stretch of trail.

A nice cluster of Trout Lilies.

Plenty of blowdowns along this route.

And more.

 

A wild stretch along the west side of Whitcher Hill, passing by some boggy terrain.

Moose!

Crossing a snowmobile trail after descending an obscure section of trail off the flank of Whitcher Hill.
 

 

 

Attractive headwater of Brown Brook.

 

Wild spruce forest on the approach to the Foxglove Pond bog.

The trail is much easier to follow through here.

 

The trail skirts the edge of the Foxglove Pond bog. With its long vista of the Carr Mountain ridge, it's perhaps my favorite spot in the Three Ponds area.

Wider view.

Pitcher Plants.

 

I bushwhacked through the woods to visit the chain of beaver meadows west of Foxglove Pond bog.

 

Plenty o' hobblebush to push through.

Approaching the westernmost meadow, tucked in against the north ridge of Carr Mountain.

 

Shelves.

Meandering stream. 

 

 

A wonderful remote spot, and there was even a spot to sit at the shore for a while. I noticed several small white pines populating the meadow.

From the meadows I bushwhacked back towards Whitcher Hill through hardwoods.

Now that is a balanced rock!

I continued bushwhacking up towards Whitcher Hill, crossing Three Ponds Trail and the snowmobile trail, then passed a few interesting ledges.

I made my way up to a meadow-like opening I had spotted on Google Earth. There was no view, but it was a pleasant spot. 

Gorgeous hardwoods as I made my way up to another meadow I have visited several times in the past.

Another nice spot.

Years ago this had a view of Carr Mountain and Foxglove Pond. Now all you can see are the tops of Carr and one of its northern bumps.

 

I decided to bushwhack up over the summit of Whitcher Hill, traveling in the same direction as the parallel Three Ponds Trail. Hardwoods continued steeply well up towards the summit.

Into the conifers.

 

A beautiful mossy spruce forest on the summit plateau.

 

 

This little bump is considered the summit. To my surprise, there was a register. This 2565-ft. hill does not have enough prominence to make it onto regular peakbagging lists. The register was placed by avid bushwhackers in 2022, and mine was only the second entry since then.

 

I bushwhacked 3/4 mile down the gentle NW ridge of Whitcher Hill. I lucked out in that the woods were mostly open the whole way.

I was happy to find good going, as I was running a little late.

The last part of the whack was through hardwoods. But when I reached the location of Three Ponds Trail in one of its obscure sections, I couldn't find it, even with my GPS track from the way up. It was 7:15 pm with two miles to descend and I was getting a little anxious.

By chance I wandered to the meadow with the Moosilauke view that I had discovered on the way up, and from there I knew exactly where to find the trail. Whew! I did lose it briefly one more time on the way down but was able to follow it the rest of the way and made it out before dark. It's always an adventure on the north side of Three Ponds Trail!