After the past few weeks of some low-key historical exploring, Tredhed and I decided for a little stretch of the legs in this weeks hike. The Pharaoh Lake Wilderness Area has always beckoned us with it's beauty and diversity, so off we went. Arriving at the Putnam Pond Boat Launch early this morning, we were immediately serenaded by several warblers high in the trees. Their fluty song accompanied us throughout the day; good company to have.
The 1.5 miles on the Swing Trail went by quickly. Trail conditions were pretty good considering the rain this weekend and a full trail register of hikers headed into the interior. There was a little mud about, but with all the rocks in the trail it was no big deal. We enjoyed the outlet of Berrymill Pond as it poured out of the hills and raced to Putnam Pond.
At the Grizzle Ocean Outlet bridge, we turned off the yellow disked Swing Trail on to the blue disked Clear Pond Trail. The contrast between the two trails was remarkable. While the Swing Trail was well worn, the Clear pond Trail had barely a foot tread on it. The mile or so to Clear Pond went by quickly, but we didn't miss the beautiful outlet of Mud Pond or the pond itself.
Arriving at Clear Pond, we were greeted by a couple fishing from a canoe as well as two very vocal loons. It was early, but the calling loons convinced us to set up shop at the lean-to for lunch and do a little fishing. In our trip planning, I boasted to Tredhed that we would "eat the trout I caught" for lunch, so there was no need to pack any food. After he stopped laughing, he threw some venison backstrap and chicken soup in the pack. Good thing he did as the only ones having trout for lunch were the loons.
As we were eating, the couple fishing from the canoe packed it in and headed down the hill to Putman Pond after being skunked. After finishing lunch we did a quick hike over the saddle between Big and Little Clear Pond Mt. arriving at Rock Pond. In our planning, we decided that if we were feeling up to it, we would hike the loop. Of course, we were up to it! Silly question. We did the the 1.6 mile loop clockwise from the trail junction and it took a little longer than we planned. I imagine it was due to our exploring the fantastic designated campsites, looking at the loons that called Rock Pond their home and the slow going on the rough talus slopes of the north shore.
After paying tribute to the graphite mine, we headed back to the storied Campsite 38 in the Putnam Pond State Campground and a quickly walked back to the boat launch. We spent a little over five hours in the woods, covered about six and a half miles of some neat country and saw five loons and dozens of brightly colored warblers. Not a bad way to spend a day in the woods.
The 1.5 miles on the Swing Trail went by quickly. Trail conditions were pretty good considering the rain this weekend and a full trail register of hikers headed into the interior. There was a little mud about, but with all the rocks in the trail it was no big deal. We enjoyed the outlet of Berrymill Pond as it poured out of the hills and raced to Putnam Pond.
At the Grizzle Ocean Outlet bridge, we turned off the yellow disked Swing Trail on to the blue disked Clear Pond Trail. The contrast between the two trails was remarkable. While the Swing Trail was well worn, the Clear pond Trail had barely a foot tread on it. The mile or so to Clear Pond went by quickly, but we didn't miss the beautiful outlet of Mud Pond or the pond itself.
Arriving at Clear Pond, we were greeted by a couple fishing from a canoe as well as two very vocal loons. It was early, but the calling loons convinced us to set up shop at the lean-to for lunch and do a little fishing. In our trip planning, I boasted to Tredhed that we would "eat the trout I caught" for lunch, so there was no need to pack any food. After he stopped laughing, he threw some venison backstrap and chicken soup in the pack. Good thing he did as the only ones having trout for lunch were the loons.
As we were eating, the couple fishing from the canoe packed it in and headed down the hill to Putman Pond after being skunked. After finishing lunch we did a quick hike over the saddle between Big and Little Clear Pond Mt. arriving at Rock Pond. In our planning, we decided that if we were feeling up to it, we would hike the loop. Of course, we were up to it! Silly question. We did the the 1.6 mile loop clockwise from the trail junction and it took a little longer than we planned. I imagine it was due to our exploring the fantastic designated campsites, looking at the loons that called Rock Pond their home and the slow going on the rough talus slopes of the north shore.
After paying tribute to the graphite mine, we headed back to the storied Campsite 38 in the Putnam Pond State Campground and a quickly walked back to the boat launch. We spent a little over five hours in the woods, covered about six and a half miles of some neat country and saw five loons and dozens of brightly colored warblers. Not a bad way to spend a day in the woods.
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