East Pond to Little East Pond

[grouseking]

I heard that the trail between the two ponds was littered with blowdowns. I wanted to take a trip up there Saturday. Anybody been there lately and cleared them up or have seen any improvements on the trail. I want a leisurely hike, not a tree dodging one.

grouseking

 

[grouseking]

Bring your bucksaw just in case. Might be a little slow going in, but you should cruise on the way out.

(I know, I know - I'm being a smartass. But someone's got to clear blowdowns. Your mother doesn't live near the trail anymore).

Hey I was just asking a question. I'm bringing someone who rarely hikes and I know she wont want to climb up and around trees all day. Does anyone know?

grouseking

 

[Waumbek]

A trail report from Nov. 6. Unsigned, not mine.

[start quote]Trail: East Pond Loop
Date Hiked: 11/6/2005

Conditions: Hiked loop from parking lot to little east pond, over to big pond and back to lot. Trails from parking lot to either pond are fine, just a blowdown here and there. Trail between the ponds HORRIBLE! Blowdowns every few feet - we had to crawl under in many spots or bushwack around them. Hard to find the trail in some spots. It took 4.5 hours to do the loop! An afternoon "stroll in the woods" turned into a major ordeal! Bring a saw if you hike this trail! Other than the blowdowns the trail was in good shape, just wet in spots. [end quote]

After last night's wind storm, it's likely to be worse now.

 

[redcloud]

I haven't been a member here for very long, and I am not a veteran hiker, nor do I claim to be.
I have seen with this board as well as probably any other board involving any other subject matter the same problem. Newer and less experienced people being smartmouthed by the more senior members who have got a superiority problem. I am sick of it.
The guy who made the crack about someone elses mother was out of line, in my opinion.
This is why some would shy away from posting and trying to contribute. Myself included.
Peace, Eric

 

[HAMTERO]

You can't see smiles on the internet

I have noticed that sometimes something that would be said with a smile doesn't come across the same in an e-mail or a internet board.

 

[jjmcgo]

Redcloud

Click on Kevin's name, then View Public Profile, then All Posts by Kevin.
You'll see he is one of the most helpful and supportive people on the site and that he often mixes in some humor.
I believe he's out West but he took the time to give an answer that was consistent with a recent trip report, bring a saw. That answer was helpful.
I've you've been lurking for awhile, I believe you'd have to agree that the helpful answers vastly outweight the useless or bothersome ones.
Percentage goes up when I'm inactive.

 

[grouseking]

No harm done whatsoever

I understand there was humor in Kevin's response. I was definitely having a terrible day...don't we all sometimes? I look back and read it now and realize it actually was quite funny .

It is amazing how easily one can misinterperet words...because that is all you see...words. You dont know the emotion the person is trying to show and then many people (well I know I do) get defensive. But this has nothing to do with hiking...

This is the last you will hear from me about this...until i show my detailed trip report from the East Pond Loop. Wish I had brought the saw....

and my mother!

grouseking

What a weekend it was.

 

[Waumbek]

I have always appreciated Kevin's humor (the dog's name, for starters, et tu?), and yours now too, grouseking. Look forward to your East Pond report.

As for wishing one's mother lived near a trail, it sounds like we'll need the whole family near the Long Trail after the October storm damage that won't get cleared until spring.

 

[DougPaul]

Yes, sometimes humor is tough to convey on bb's.

My experience with humor is that no matter how obvious you think it may be, someone will take it seriously or be offended and raise an objection. Same with anything subtle. I frequently explictly mark my humor to "protect" the humor-challanged...

Doug

 

[sardog1]

Ah, memories of East Pond and its environs. Faded just a little now, but then I look down at the scars on my shins and forearms, and remember all too well ....

Looking forward to reading the trip report.

 

[Mattl]

Yeah me and grouseking had a small challenge managing through the blowdowns. I have never seen anything like it! There were hundreds of large balsams down all over the trail and a nice coating of snow. Was a very pretty hike though. -Matt L

 

[grouseking]

I have always appreciated Kevin's humor (the dog's name, for starters, et tu?), and yours now too, grouseking. Look forward to your East Pond report.

As for wishing one's mother lived near a trail, it sounds like we'll need the whole family near the Long Trail after the October storm damage that won't get cleared until spring.

Yeah I'd like to think I have a pretty good sense of humor. I mean honestly, who in their right mind would ever name themself GROUSEKING?!?!

me

 

[Dennis C.]

I had a line of humor that came to mind with Kevin's "Bring your bucksaw just in case."

>> "Somethin' a bit more heavy duty may be in order if you AXE me." <<

I like to use an axe on blowdowns, a saw on smaller trees, and beside anything that could possibly be taken the wrong way on VFTT.