Quick takeaways:
- Putnam Pond Campground parking will be closed for road maintenance. Parking is at Lost Pond trailhead instead.
- Trails from campground to Treadway are dry and clear, one or two large pieces of blowdown, easily climbed over.
- Trails around Rock and Heart ponds are very wet in spots, but clear.
- Leaves are still green.
Went with a hiking partner into the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness for the first time, and I can't believe I didn't do it sooner. This place is gorgeous. Getting a late start and pulling into the Putnam Pond Campground around 1pm, we decided to do Treadway and then explore the ponds if time allowed. Ended up exploring a lot more.
There were a few other cars and while we were getting ready, another couple was fixing some big packs and said they also were first timers and were spending a few nights. The register listed a couple from NYC who were staying for six nights! Not sure it was them. The register also said that the road into the campground was closing on 9/6 and all vehicles should park at the Lost Pond Trailhead, I'm guessing the work actually starts today (Monday).
The trail around Putnam Pond to Treadway is clear, dry, and easy going. There were one or two spots of blowdown heading up Treadway but nothing difficult to get over. This is one of those "bang for the buck" hikes with amazing views in all directions after about 3.5 miles of hiking (one way) and less than 1,000 feet of elevation gain. As we neared the summit we ran into a trio from Vermont who were in very high spirits, it was great to spend a few minutes up there with them. Aside from them, the folks at the parking lot, and two who were coming down as we were going up, we didn't see another soul all day.
After a few minutes taking in the views, we modified our plan. It was about 3:30, and instead of heading back down the trail and to the ponds, we decided to bushwhack N/NE to meet the trail between Rock and Lilypad Ponds and make a loop. I've been trying to improve my orienteering skills and this seemed like a good opportunity; as long as we headed in any northerly direction we'd eventually hit the trail. I made a goal of hitting the drainage between Peaked and Big Clear Pond Mountains thinking it would be an easy handrail, and set a compass bearing of 32 degrees. In retrospect I should have made the goal to hit the peaks of one or both of them instead, but the hiking turned out not to be very difficult, and a better bushwhacker than I would have absolutely no trouble. Most of it is open woods, though we got caught in one spruce thicket and ran into a couple boggy areas. The terrain kept pushing us northward, and I hit one spot of confusion as a ridge came up in front of us and on both sides, but looking more closely at the topo I realized we had gone almost due north and hit the tip of the ridge that extends SW off of Peaked. A course correction and a few minutes later we exactly hit the spring that feeds the brook between the two hills. Following it was more difficult than expected, and staying to the higher ground is much better, and before long we hit the red trail just east of Rock Pond around 5:30pm. 1.5 miles in about two hours. Next time I'd like to either try climbing the trailless hills or shoot straight for Lilypad Pond.
Since the sun would be below the trees around 7:00, we hustled toward the car, stopping for a bit at Rock Pond -- I can't say how amazing the ponds in the area are. Instead of heading south past Little Clear, we headed around the north side of Putnam Pond to get to the (closed) campground, and got back to the parking lot just as the sun was setting. The trails between Rock Pond and the campground are very wet in spots, and we ended up in a wallow over our boots at one point.
I almost hesitate to write up this report, as I'm getting that slightly jealous feeling that makes me want to keep this paradise to myself. After nine miles and a little over 2,000 feet of elevation gain, sitting on a panoramic peak, venturing off trail, and skirting stunningly beautiful ponds, I can't wait to go back and spend a few nights.
- Putnam Pond Campground parking will be closed for road maintenance. Parking is at Lost Pond trailhead instead.
- Trails from campground to Treadway are dry and clear, one or two large pieces of blowdown, easily climbed over.
- Trails around Rock and Heart ponds are very wet in spots, but clear.
- Leaves are still green.
Went with a hiking partner into the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness for the first time, and I can't believe I didn't do it sooner. This place is gorgeous. Getting a late start and pulling into the Putnam Pond Campground around 1pm, we decided to do Treadway and then explore the ponds if time allowed. Ended up exploring a lot more.
There were a few other cars and while we were getting ready, another couple was fixing some big packs and said they also were first timers and were spending a few nights. The register listed a couple from NYC who were staying for six nights! Not sure it was them. The register also said that the road into the campground was closing on 9/6 and all vehicles should park at the Lost Pond Trailhead, I'm guessing the work actually starts today (Monday).
The trail around Putnam Pond to Treadway is clear, dry, and easy going. There were one or two spots of blowdown heading up Treadway but nothing difficult to get over. This is one of those "bang for the buck" hikes with amazing views in all directions after about 3.5 miles of hiking (one way) and less than 1,000 feet of elevation gain. As we neared the summit we ran into a trio from Vermont who were in very high spirits, it was great to spend a few minutes up there with them. Aside from them, the folks at the parking lot, and two who were coming down as we were going up, we didn't see another soul all day.
After a few minutes taking in the views, we modified our plan. It was about 3:30, and instead of heading back down the trail and to the ponds, we decided to bushwhack N/NE to meet the trail between Rock and Lilypad Ponds and make a loop. I've been trying to improve my orienteering skills and this seemed like a good opportunity; as long as we headed in any northerly direction we'd eventually hit the trail. I made a goal of hitting the drainage between Peaked and Big Clear Pond Mountains thinking it would be an easy handrail, and set a compass bearing of 32 degrees. In retrospect I should have made the goal to hit the peaks of one or both of them instead, but the hiking turned out not to be very difficult, and a better bushwhacker than I would have absolutely no trouble. Most of it is open woods, though we got caught in one spruce thicket and ran into a couple boggy areas. The terrain kept pushing us northward, and I hit one spot of confusion as a ridge came up in front of us and on both sides, but looking more closely at the topo I realized we had gone almost due north and hit the tip of the ridge that extends SW off of Peaked. A course correction and a few minutes later we exactly hit the spring that feeds the brook between the two hills. Following it was more difficult than expected, and staying to the higher ground is much better, and before long we hit the red trail just east of Rock Pond around 5:30pm. 1.5 miles in about two hours. Next time I'd like to either try climbing the trailless hills or shoot straight for Lilypad Pond.
Since the sun would be below the trees around 7:00, we hustled toward the car, stopping for a bit at Rock Pond -- I can't say how amazing the ponds in the area are. Instead of heading south past Little Clear, we headed around the north side of Putnam Pond to get to the (closed) campground, and got back to the parking lot just as the sun was setting. The trails between Rock Pond and the campground are very wet in spots, and we ended up in a wallow over our boots at one point.
I almost hesitate to write up this report, as I'm getting that slightly jealous feeling that makes me want to keep this paradise to myself. After nine miles and a little over 2,000 feet of elevation gain, sitting on a panoramic peak, venturing off trail, and skirting stunningly beautiful ponds, I can't wait to go back and spend a few nights.
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