1HappyHiker
Well-known member
It was another one of those days with time limitations for hiking. Also, it was partly cloudy and there was a bitter-cold wind. So, with all that considered, I opted for a hike to Ethan Pond since I knew the lean-to shelter there would provide a nice spot for lunch that would be out of the wind. So I called ahead to reserve a table.
I was uncertain if the trail would be broken out since I didn’t recall reading any recent trail-condition reports for the Ethan Pond Trail. However, the trail was solidly broken out all the way to Ethan Pond.
Just as a side-note, when I got to the junction of the Ethan Pond Trail and Willey Range Trail, it was clear that the Willey Range Trail was also solidly broken out. From this junction, its 1.1 miles to Mt. Willey, and 1.0 miles to Ethan Pond. I had to take my right hand and grab my left leg to point it in the direction of Ethan Pond.
With the mileage being nearly the same, and both trails being broken out, it was so-o-o-o tempting to go to Mt. Willey. However, I knew that Willey wasn’t doable within my time frame since I know that all one-mile segments are not created equal. And besides (I told myself), you don’t actually know that the trail is broken out all the way to the summit of Willey. (Hmmm! “Self” wasn’t buying it! “Self” thought . . . bet it is!)
Anyway, sticking with my original game plan, I continued onward to Ethan Pond (after all, I did have a reservation). Upon my arrival, I was greeted with a bitter cold wind coming off the pond, plus there was a snow squall in progress. And because of all this weather activity, the usual good views at the west end of the pond were simply not there. Oh well! To get out of the weather, I quickly made my way up to the shelter for some lunch. My table awaiting me, and I was the only patron!
Ethan Pond Shelter
After lunch I made my way back down to stand at the end of the wind tunnel, hoping that maybe the view situation at the end of the pond might improve. After about 5 minutes of waiting, it was all I could endure, and so I snapped a few photos and started back down the trail.
Less Than Perfect View at West End of Ethan Pond
On the way back down, I did the brief off-trail excursion to Little Ethan Pond that others have also reported doing. If you pick your spot just right, it’s literally just a few hundred steps off-trail. Here, I was able to get a shot of Mt. Willey which turned out OK.
Mt. Willey from Little Ethan Pond
As mentioned above, the Ethan Pond Trail was broken-out. However, the snow is deep on the trail in the vicinity of the pond. Many of the AT white blazes are way down at about calf-level.
Calf-Level Blaze on Trail near Ethan Pond
OK . . . so there you have it! It was a relatively brief outing in the woods today, but still a good day. And I enjoyed “Eatin’ at Ethan’s” much more than having lunch at some in-town fast-food restaurant! The surroundings and ambiance are simply unbeatable!
1HappyHiker
I was uncertain if the trail would be broken out since I didn’t recall reading any recent trail-condition reports for the Ethan Pond Trail. However, the trail was solidly broken out all the way to Ethan Pond.
Just as a side-note, when I got to the junction of the Ethan Pond Trail and Willey Range Trail, it was clear that the Willey Range Trail was also solidly broken out. From this junction, its 1.1 miles to Mt. Willey, and 1.0 miles to Ethan Pond. I had to take my right hand and grab my left leg to point it in the direction of Ethan Pond.
With the mileage being nearly the same, and both trails being broken out, it was so-o-o-o tempting to go to Mt. Willey. However, I knew that Willey wasn’t doable within my time frame since I know that all one-mile segments are not created equal.
And besides (I told myself), you don’t actually know that the trail is broken out all the way to the summit of Willey. (Hmmm! “Self” wasn’t buying it! “Self” thought . . . bet it is!)Anyway, sticking with my original game plan, I continued onward to Ethan Pond (after all, I did have a reservation). Upon my arrival, I was greeted with a bitter cold wind coming off the pond, plus there was a snow squall in progress. And because of all this weather activity, the usual good views at the west end of the pond were simply not there. Oh well! To get out of the weather, I quickly made my way up to the shelter for some lunch. My table awaiting me, and I was the only patron!
Ethan Pond Shelter
After lunch I made my way back down to stand at the end of the wind tunnel, hoping that maybe the view situation at the end of the pond might improve. After about 5 minutes of waiting, it was all I could endure, and so I snapped a few photos and started back down the trail.
Less Than Perfect View at West End of Ethan Pond
On the way back down, I did the brief off-trail excursion to Little Ethan Pond that others have also reported doing. If you pick your spot just right, it’s literally just a few hundred steps off-trail. Here, I was able to get a shot of Mt. Willey which turned out OK.
Mt. Willey from Little Ethan Pond
As mentioned above, the Ethan Pond Trail was broken-out. However, the snow is deep on the trail in the vicinity of the pond. Many of the AT white blazes are way down at about calf-level.
Calf-Level Blaze on Trail near Ethan Pond
OK . . . so there you have it! It was a relatively brief outing in the woods today, but still a good day. And I enjoyed “Eatin’ at Ethan’s” much more than having lunch at some in-town fast-food restaurant! The surroundings and ambiance are simply unbeatable!
1HappyHiker
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