On a cold and fairly windy day I snowshoe-bushwhacked to a pair of destinations on the north side of Mt. Pemigewasset: frozen Mud Pond, a remote, boggy water body nestled beneath a rugged southeastern spur of South Kinsman, and an officially nameless 2614-ft. peak that bears an impressive ledge slab on its eastern face.
My approach was a mile and a half spike-hike up the Mt. Pemigewasset Trail, which was way too bony for snowshoes.
At ~2400 ft. I strapped the snowshoes on and headed north into the forest.
There's nothing quite like breaking trail in pristine powder.
There was plenty of snow in these open woods.
The boundary between Franconia Notch State Park and the White Mountain National Forest.
Consistently open woods, though infested with hobblebush in places.
There were a number of blowdown booby traps hidden under the snow. I gave this area a wide berth.
Farther along, this one got me pretty good, as I unexpectedly plunged in to my hip.
Though I have been to Mud Pond a number of times over the years, finding it in a confusing terrain of rolls and dips is always a bit of a challenge, even with navigation aids. I'm always happy when it comes into view.
Emerging on the SE shore, with the spur of South Kinsman looming across, giving the place a wild and secluded feel. Early maps of the WMNF (1910s and 1920s) label this spur as Black Mountain, but I have not seen this name applied on any other maps.
I crossed the well-frozen pond to an upthrust ledge on the west shore.
From the SW corner, on a clear day, there is a gorgeous view of Mt. Lafayette, Mt. Lincoln and Little Haystack. They were not to be seen this day behind a veil of wind fog.
Looking back from the NE corner of the pond.
Parting shot.
Heading across a wild plateau to the cliff on the 2614-ft. peak north of Mt. Pemigewasset.
I was surprised to come upon a tiny white pine in an extensive forest of spruce, fir and birch. White pine thrives in openings and disturbed areas, and I have found them on many slides, but this location was out of character.
It's easy to get a little lost out here.
The first of several encounters with wandering moose tracks.
Open woods ascending to the peak.
I crested the ridge and descended steeply to the clifftop. I hadn't been here for more than twenty years and couldn't remember how accessible it was at the edge.
I came down to a nice safe shelf where I could peer over the steep snowy ledge face, which is prominent from Mt. Liberty and other viewpoints to the east. I noticed a low-lying, sprawling white pine near the bottom of the ledge.
Looking left.
Looking right for a long view over the Pemigewasset River valley to Big Coolidge Mountain, Scar Ridge, Loon Mountain and the Mt. Tecumseh range.
The prize view is across the valley to the southern Franconia Range, including Mt. Liberty, Mt. Flume and Hardwood Ridge.
There's a great look into the Flume Brook valley, where I had wandered on several recent hikes.
Zoom on Liberty and Flume. Facing east, this spot was out of the wind, so I was able to linger for 45 minutes.
I climbed back to the ridgecrest and headed south towards the 2614-ft. high point, cutting through some sizeable drifts.
More than three feet deep here.
A delightful ridge for snowshoeing.
Though it lacks 200-ft. prominence, this peak is on at least one list. The only other entry in the register was my friend JR Stockwell, master bushwhacker, who was here last July.
A park-like glade.
Heading into the late afternoon sun.
Eventually I rejoined my inbound tracks and saw that the moose had crossed them while I was at the pond or the peak.
Descending the Mt. Pemigewasset Trail, I had a peek at the peak I had looped over.
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