Today, Tredhed and I wrapped up our 2014 hiking season with another low-key hike. This was a short jaunt to Mud and Round Pond in the Wilcox Lake Wild Forest. This would be my #5/23 in my self-imposed Mud Pond Challenge and my first "Winter Mud". Since it was a short hike, we hit the Garnet Lake Rd trailhead at a leisurely 9:00 and it turned out to be about right.
Noting the trail conditions, we left our snowshoes in the truck. Walking up Mud Pond Rd was relatively easy as the surface was well traveled and packed down by snow mobile, ATV, and snowshoes. It was, in some spots, a little icy. There were, however, plenty of wind fall trees across the road that required minor detours. We quickly covered the .7 miles to Mud Pond and arrived at the north shore via the branch trail. We had a good view across the frozen marshes to Wolf Pond Mt (Photo 1).
After soaking up the sights, we pressed ahead to the Smith estate site, just a few hundred yards up the road. While all the buildings are gone, there is still plenty of evidence of the house that used to stand here and the nice view they must have had.
We poked around the clearing for a few minutes and then headed up the trail to Round Pond. While it seemed that we were the first people on this trail since the snows of November, the conditions were fine. Even though the trail wasn't marked, we had no problem following the trace through the woods. It was very wet in some spots and crusty snow in others, but not that big of a deal (Photo 2). Again, there were plenty of wind-felled branches that required removal from the trail in order for us to pass.
Round Pond appeared twenty minutes after we left he Smith estate and again, the trail dumped us out in a swamp. We tried to cross the swamp to a beautiful rocky peninsula with no joy. Not wishing to test the ice after last weeks warm spell, we sought other adventures. Fortunately, the well maintained herd path around the NW shore of the lake brought us to some great vistas of Wolf Pond Mt. (Photo 3) and a neat little island with a few pine trees on the (Photo 4).
After a quick snack it was time to head back to Garnet Lake Rd. The trail passed quickly as we climbed the small hill between the two ponds and then walked downhill on Mud Pond Rd. Just before we got to the end of the road, we were treated to a great view of the west face of Crane Mt. (Photo 5). After about three hours in the woods, it was back to the bright lights and big city, but not before stopping at George Henry's in Warrensburg for a little nosh and Long Trail on tap.
Noting the trail conditions, we left our snowshoes in the truck. Walking up Mud Pond Rd was relatively easy as the surface was well traveled and packed down by snow mobile, ATV, and snowshoes. It was, in some spots, a little icy. There were, however, plenty of wind fall trees across the road that required minor detours. We quickly covered the .7 miles to Mud Pond and arrived at the north shore via the branch trail. We had a good view across the frozen marshes to Wolf Pond Mt (Photo 1).
After soaking up the sights, we pressed ahead to the Smith estate site, just a few hundred yards up the road. While all the buildings are gone, there is still plenty of evidence of the house that used to stand here and the nice view they must have had.
We poked around the clearing for a few minutes and then headed up the trail to Round Pond. While it seemed that we were the first people on this trail since the snows of November, the conditions were fine. Even though the trail wasn't marked, we had no problem following the trace through the woods. It was very wet in some spots and crusty snow in others, but not that big of a deal (Photo 2). Again, there were plenty of wind-felled branches that required removal from the trail in order for us to pass.
Round Pond appeared twenty minutes after we left he Smith estate and again, the trail dumped us out in a swamp. We tried to cross the swamp to a beautiful rocky peninsula with no joy. Not wishing to test the ice after last weeks warm spell, we sought other adventures. Fortunately, the well maintained herd path around the NW shore of the lake brought us to some great vistas of Wolf Pond Mt. (Photo 3) and a neat little island with a few pine trees on the (Photo 4).
After a quick snack it was time to head back to Garnet Lake Rd. The trail passed quickly as we climbed the small hill between the two ponds and then walked downhill on Mud Pond Rd. Just before we got to the end of the road, we were treated to a great view of the west face of Crane Mt. (Photo 5). After about three hours in the woods, it was back to the bright lights and big city, but not before stopping at George Henry's in Warrensburg for a little nosh and Long Trail on tap.
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