Hemenway State Forest and Duck Pond

[chinooktrail]

I have been dog sitting for almost a week now, and walking every night. Tonight we opted for Hemenway and Duck Pond, one of us even went in for a dip. I was surprised at the amount of snow and ice still around, and even more amazed I managed to pull my leg out of the many mud sinkholes I found!
There were a few blowdowns, which did surprise me because it was not too long back there were still people snowmobiling on these same trails.
Sadie Lou walks very nicely on a leash, which I am NOT used to, and is very well behaved off leash, which I can not imagine, being a former Husky owner.
She happily runs ahead, finds something to sniff, pee on, eat, whatever, and then runs back to see what is taking me so long. She has been nothing but a joy to have around and to remind me that walking every night is not optional, but MANDATORY!
I had to keep asking myself tonight, 'why am I waiting to get another dog?' I mean, life is just life, it will keep throwing garbage at you no matter what, why not go through it with a faithful companion who actually loves you? Hum... Off to the Husky Rescue League sites!
Tomorrow night I think we will hit the fire tower and maybe head over to Great Hill Pond for another dip! I may even pack dinner up so we can dine 'al fresco!' Sunday is coming too soon...

 

[rocket21]

Not sure if tomorrow night will be good for the fire tower due to the forecasted rain...nonetheless, I broke trail there last week from Great Hill Road, so it should be barebootable, especially after the melting. Great views on a nice day up there!

 

[chinooktrail]

Good to know from the Fire Tower down is broken! I always head up from 113A, actually, I walk to the trailhead from home, across the river, up to the tower, then usually onto the XC trails and around Duck Pond to Great Hill Pond, back on the XC trails to Hemenway Road and home. I don't mind rain, and if Mother Nature throws in a light show, all the better!
Sadie Lou likes to swim, so she probably likes the rain too???
We shall see.
Tupperware should keep dinner nice and dry.

Getting out there is the key to staying sane.

 

[rocket21]

I should emphasize that I broke it out last week...who knows what it looks like now! The deepest snow was the short stretch between the first road over to the pines, about two feet deep then.

 

[chinooktrail]

No worries! Just looking to tire out the dog so she sleeps and doesn't keep poking me during the night to see if I want to go for a walk!
Muddy walk in the rain, sounds like just the ticket!
The way my snow is dissapearing in my back yard I can't imagine it will be around in the woods down here much longer.

 

[kltilton]

I ran from the gate on Rt. 113A at the Fowler's Mill Rd. intersection out to Locke Falls Rd. in Wonalancet last night. There are some great trails in that forest.

 

[Tim Seaver]

I love that area - the view in the autumn of the Sandwich Range from the fire tower on Great Hill is really amazing when the colors are at their peak. I am sure the spring foliage is something to behold as well!

 

[una_dogger]

Speaking of foliage, the understory in the Vermont woods is starting to leaf out -- spring is here!

 

[chinooktrail]

kltilton "I ran from the gate on Rt. 113A at the Fowler's Mill Rd. intersection out to Locke Falls Rd. in Wonalancet last night. There are some great trails in that forest."

Did you go past teh Boy Scout Camp? they just built those 2 new bridges out there which are great to sit and ponder on. Do you drive a little silver car? With a cool license plate? If so I saw it when I walked the 'borrowed dog' last night at 7ish.

I have lived out here for 11 years and I am still finding new trails to explore on foot or mountain bike.

Tim, not only is the Spring foliage amazing, chlorophyl green, but now they have photos up on each side inside the tower identifying the mountains, always neat.

At the other end of Fowlers Mill Road, near Lake Chocorua, there is a chunk of Conservation land with a lot of trails, it is a great place to spend a few hours. There is a pond that is worth exploring, and some eskers and if you can find the height of land there are some decent views.

The trails are pretty well marked, and there are usually maps in the kiosk.

happy Trails!

 

[rocket21]

I love that area - the view in the autumn of the Sandwich Range from the fire tower on Great Hill is really amazing when the colors are at their peak. I am sure the spring foliage is something to behold as well!

What an amazing photo!

 

[chinooktrail]

Yeah Tim, that is an amazing phots!

We are so fortunate to be living in such a beautiful part of this planet.