vegematic
Active member
With all these speedy Pemi Loop reports flying around my interest in trail running was sparked and I decided to give it a try today. Mind you, I have never liked running. In fact I've professed a strong hatred of the activity ever since I was forced to run laps in high school gym class as a punishment for the grave sin of sucking at tennis. Nevertheless, today I would run, and I would do it on my own terms.
On paper the Shell Pond Loop south of Evans Notch and just barely in Maine looked like a good candidate for a first run: not too long, pretty flat, and hopefully not too rocky and rooty. I drove down through Lovell and headed in via Evergreen Valley. The roads got smaller and signs were getting rarer. Soon I was in a maze of twisty passages, all alike. Finally I got onto a sound, but unsigned, dirt road that I hoped was the Deer Hill Road. There were several turnouts but no signs. I pulled into a couple and got out to start down what might have been a trail but they petered out. Finally I passed a hiker sign and saw another car parked there. Other than the hiker sign there was no trail sign but I could see something that might be a pond through the trees. Good enough. I threw my pack nn and hit the trail.
The first part of the trail was a regular foot path and I was able to run along a bit but stopped to walk in places where the treadway was obscured by wet cobbles and down logs. Shortly I met another hiker with two adorable dogs who confirmed that this was indeed the Shell Pond Loop. I chatted with him and flirted with his dogs for a good 15 minutes before setting back out. Reaching the loop junction I turned right because the dog walker said I'd be facing nice views that way. This was the easiest stretch. This branch started out as a wide old road (and current ATV route) with reasonable footing. I crossed a bridge over a small stream and scared the hell out of a duck who took off into the woods. Then I entered a mown meadow. This was lovely running and it lasted for a good half mile. As the meadow trail turned I got the views of South Baldface that I'd been told to expect. The footing was very smooth so I could run with my head up and take in the views. I came out to the Shell Pond Road and turned left for a few tenths of a mile before spotting the turn back into the woods. This section had been a little tricky as it is much better signed for hikers going in the opposite direction.
Back in the woods and on the ATV trail I started to climb. I walked more here, both because I was tired and because there was some rougher footing. As the climb eased (which wasn't really very steep to begin with) I started running more. I found it a lot easier to maintain a rhythm and make good foot placements than I had expected. That said, I really didn't notice much of my surroundings when I was running because I was so focused on my feet. This part of the trail wasn't especially beautiful anyways, so I didn't feel like I was missing much by looking down much of the time. The trail never quite skirted the shore of the pond but there were some side paths down to the shore. One was particularly good and I spent another 15 minutes or so there. The view over the pond and its surrounding hardwoods took in the Baldface Range from South Baldface over North, Eagle Crag, and Mt. Meader to Rim Junction and partway up West Royce. Through the trees I could make out some of the ledges on Blueberry Mountain. Fussing about in the bushes at water's edge was a tiny olive and yellow bird who I think was a Nashville Warbler. Leaving there I trotted along and soon came to the junction. Turning right I headed up the trail back to the road, alternating running with carefully stepping over rougher sections of trail.
All in all I ran about half the 3.5-mile loop and didn't hate it and didn't twist an ankle. I got back to my car an hour and a half after leaving it, including the two 15-minute stops I made.
-vegematic
On paper the Shell Pond Loop south of Evans Notch and just barely in Maine looked like a good candidate for a first run: not too long, pretty flat, and hopefully not too rocky and rooty. I drove down through Lovell and headed in via Evergreen Valley. The roads got smaller and signs were getting rarer. Soon I was in a maze of twisty passages, all alike. Finally I got onto a sound, but unsigned, dirt road that I hoped was the Deer Hill Road. There were several turnouts but no signs. I pulled into a couple and got out to start down what might have been a trail but they petered out. Finally I passed a hiker sign and saw another car parked there. Other than the hiker sign there was no trail sign but I could see something that might be a pond through the trees. Good enough. I threw my pack nn and hit the trail.
The first part of the trail was a regular foot path and I was able to run along a bit but stopped to walk in places where the treadway was obscured by wet cobbles and down logs. Shortly I met another hiker with two adorable dogs who confirmed that this was indeed the Shell Pond Loop. I chatted with him and flirted with his dogs for a good 15 minutes before setting back out. Reaching the loop junction I turned right because the dog walker said I'd be facing nice views that way. This was the easiest stretch. This branch started out as a wide old road (and current ATV route) with reasonable footing. I crossed a bridge over a small stream and scared the hell out of a duck who took off into the woods. Then I entered a mown meadow. This was lovely running and it lasted for a good half mile. As the meadow trail turned I got the views of South Baldface that I'd been told to expect. The footing was very smooth so I could run with my head up and take in the views. I came out to the Shell Pond Road and turned left for a few tenths of a mile before spotting the turn back into the woods. This section had been a little tricky as it is much better signed for hikers going in the opposite direction.
Back in the woods and on the ATV trail I started to climb. I walked more here, both because I was tired and because there was some rougher footing. As the climb eased (which wasn't really very steep to begin with) I started running more. I found it a lot easier to maintain a rhythm and make good foot placements than I had expected. That said, I really didn't notice much of my surroundings when I was running because I was so focused on my feet. This part of the trail wasn't especially beautiful anyways, so I didn't feel like I was missing much by looking down much of the time. The trail never quite skirted the shore of the pond but there were some side paths down to the shore. One was particularly good and I spent another 15 minutes or so there. The view over the pond and its surrounding hardwoods took in the Baldface Range from South Baldface over North, Eagle Crag, and Mt. Meader to Rim Junction and partway up West Royce. Through the trees I could make out some of the ledges on Blueberry Mountain. Fussing about in the bushes at water's edge was a tiny olive and yellow bird who I think was a Nashville Warbler. Leaving there I trotted along and soon came to the junction. Turning right I headed up the trail back to the road, alternating running with carefully stepping over rougher sections of trail.
All in all I ran about half the 3.5-mile loop and didn't hate it and didn't twist an ankle. I got back to my car an hour and a half after leaving it, including the two 15-minute stops I made.
-vegematic
