Another gorgeous spring day, ideal for a leisurely tour around beautiful Upper Hall Pond in Sandwich Notch, followed by a bushwhack to view ledges on the steep flank of East Weetamoo.
I parked 2 miles up Sandwich Notch Road and walked the steep pitch beyond (to my surprise, the gnarly paved section has been replaced with smoother gravel), then down the side road to the boat launch at Upper Hall Pond. A couple of guys were fly-fishing in float tubes.
View from former site of a private camp along the east shore, now part of the WMNF.
A beach on the SE shore.
Looking north up the pond.
Beavers have made some progress on this large white ash.
More beaver work.
Beaver lodge.
It was easy to cross at the outlet.
Weathered.
Nice spot for a lunch break.
Watery view to the two Black Mountains of Sandwich Dome.
I could have stayed here all afternoon.
Heading for some view ledges, I bushwhacked up a little hardwood valley behind the pond.
An unusual formation on this yellow birch.
The valley is drained by a pretty little stream.
Indian Poke.
A magnificent old yellow birch.
Boulders have tumbled down from a rugged slope.
Red Trillium.
I followed a hardwood swath to its end.
To access the ledges I had to thread the needle up through some very steep spruce-clad terrain.
Looking back.
I popped out on a ledgy nubble with a view to Mt. Israel and Dinsmore Mountain with Lower Hall Pond below.
Nice view of the ridges of Sandwich Dome.
Sachem Peak and Jennings Peak.
Farther up the ridge I visited a small clifftop vantage I discovered two years ago, with a fine view over Upper Hall Pond, Sandwich Notch, and distant peaks.
Mt. Tecumseh, the Osceolas, Bald Knob and Middle Acteon Peak behind the pond.
Sprawling Sandwich Dome beyond Middle Hall Pond. Lots of remote country out there.
Middle and Lower Hall Ponds.
Wild spruce forest cloaks the slopes of East Weetamoo, part of the Campton Range.
A lingering patch of snow behind the shore of Upper Hall Pond.
Not very seaworthy.
Late afternoon light on a meadow south of the pond.
Turkey tracks.
Hobblebush season is here.
Looking back at East Weetamoo.
No comments:
Post a Comment