Double Bow
New member
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2005
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Getting an early start to what would be a long, beautiful holiday weekend for me, I met up with Barbarossa at the Nancy Pond trail head on this morning. Neither of us had been into this area before and so we knew that it was going to be a unique experience for us both.
The morning was cool and comfortable and we moved quickly through open woods, passing side trails to an in and people's backyards. Much of the early part of this trail is on an old railroad grade and so, we were able to walk side-by-side. Part way in, we saw the remnents of some old broken down brick facility of some sort. We examined it but, couldn't quite tell what function it once served. Near it was also a rusted out large metal "thing".
I was blown away by how beautiful and open this area is! Soon we were climbing steeply and reached Nancy Cascade which was amazing. It was flowing very forcfully and was quite spectacular to see. We stopped near the top of the cascade and I took a couple of pictures. Continuing up, we soon reached the height of land which is very unique because you're over 3000' but, it feels like you are much lower. Here, we went past Nancy and Norcross ponds with our eyes fixated on their beauty. I commented that there were other peaks that I wanted to bushwhack in this area and that I would not be sorry to return this way again and again.
At the end of Norcross Pond, we crossed a natural granite dam and followed the trail further looking for the logging road I had heard was there and would lead us easily up Anderson. From there, we were going to go over to Lowell and then go back the way we came.
We went down the trail a ways but did not find any trace of a logging road. Instead, we turned into the woods following some run off in an area that had some fairly open birch woods and headed for the ridge. We were able to gain some elevation in this area with little trouble but, soon we were in the spruce. The last 300'-400' elev were through some really thick stuff with the occasional ledge offering a view. Needless to say, we were very relieved to reach the cannister!
At the cannister, we took a break and read the names of the other people foolish enough to climb up here. We saw no sign of any logging road here either. Here, we reevaluated our plan. Getting up here had been tougher and had taken longer than we had expected. We were both wanting to get back at a reasonable time and we knew that the going back and forth to and from Lowell and the climb down would be no easier than what we had just gone through. That being said, we decided to go back and be satisfied with reaching the summit of this difficult peak.
If we had thought that the spruce coming up was as merciless and thick as it could get, we were in for a suprise on the way down. It was even harder and thicker to get through. Our loss of elevation was painfully slow and it made me wonder how Scar Ridge could possibly be much worse! We were very happy when we finally got back out to the trail. I said that I wasn't sure which I was happier about, reaching the cannister or being back on the trail!
Though my knee was giving me a little bit of trouble, the hike back out past all the beautiful scenery made it pass quite comfortably and helped me to soon forget just how hard it was to get off that mountain.
The morning was cool and comfortable and we moved quickly through open woods, passing side trails to an in and people's backyards. Much of the early part of this trail is on an old railroad grade and so, we were able to walk side-by-side. Part way in, we saw the remnents of some old broken down brick facility of some sort. We examined it but, couldn't quite tell what function it once served. Near it was also a rusted out large metal "thing".
I was blown away by how beautiful and open this area is! Soon we were climbing steeply and reached Nancy Cascade which was amazing. It was flowing very forcfully and was quite spectacular to see. We stopped near the top of the cascade and I took a couple of pictures. Continuing up, we soon reached the height of land which is very unique because you're over 3000' but, it feels like you are much lower. Here, we went past Nancy and Norcross ponds with our eyes fixated on their beauty. I commented that there were other peaks that I wanted to bushwhack in this area and that I would not be sorry to return this way again and again.
At the end of Norcross Pond, we crossed a natural granite dam and followed the trail further looking for the logging road I had heard was there and would lead us easily up Anderson. From there, we were going to go over to Lowell and then go back the way we came.
We went down the trail a ways but did not find any trace of a logging road. Instead, we turned into the woods following some run off in an area that had some fairly open birch woods and headed for the ridge. We were able to gain some elevation in this area with little trouble but, soon we were in the spruce. The last 300'-400' elev were through some really thick stuff with the occasional ledge offering a view. Needless to say, we were very relieved to reach the cannister!
At the cannister, we took a break and read the names of the other people foolish enough to climb up here. We saw no sign of any logging road here either. Here, we reevaluated our plan. Getting up here had been tougher and had taken longer than we had expected. We were both wanting to get back at a reasonable time and we knew that the going back and forth to and from Lowell and the climb down would be no easier than what we had just gone through. That being said, we decided to go back and be satisfied with reaching the summit of this difficult peak.
If we had thought that the spruce coming up was as merciless and thick as it could get, we were in for a suprise on the way down. It was even harder and thicker to get through. Our loss of elevation was painfully slow and it made me wonder how Scar Ridge could possibly be much worse! We were very happy when we finally got back out to the trail. I said that I wasn't sure which I was happier about, reaching the cannister or being back on the trail!
Though my knee was giving me a little bit of trouble, the hike back out past all the beautiful scenery made it pass quite comfortably and helped me to soon forget just how hard it was to get off that mountain.
