Now that the milfoil removal season has ended, we are shifting towards a schedule that is heavy on trail work. I’m sad to see scuba diving days come to an end because they were my favorite days, but I look forward to exploring more of the trails.
The other day, Adel and I did trail work on the Squam Lakes Assoication’s Black Mountain Pond trail in the White Mountain National Forest. Neither one of us had hiked this trail before and we were both looking forward to the adventure. Not to mention, I’m finally getting over a pretty aggressive virus that has been making its rounds amongst the Lakes Region Conservation Corps, so I was excited to be healthy enough to hike again.
We left early in the morning to make the most of the day. As we drove closer to the trailhead, we accidentally made a wrong turn that led us to a herd of friendly cows. Of course, we couldn’t resist the urge to say a quick “hello”. Adel wielded her cow whispering skills to get the entire herd to parade up to us. It was an unexpected, but humorous turn of events that just added to the adventure of the day.
Our plan was to take the Guinea Pond trail up to the Black Mountain Pond trail. We were informed that parts of the trail were flooded, so we both donned a pair of waterproof boots and carried an extra pair of hiking boots and socks in addition to our tools. We didn’t have many expectations, but once we arrived at the trailhead it was obvious that this trail was unique to the other trails the Squam Lakes Association maintains. It was so beautiful and peaceful as we passed through the brilliant fall plumage and hiked through open fields and past small ponds on the Guinea Pond trail. It has been amazing to see the vibrant fall colors that paint the New England landscape, especially because I grew up in Texas where the trees show little color in the fall.
The Black Mountain Pond trail was as pleasant as the Guinea Pond trail. It’s slightly more forested and has a couple of little creeks that are fun to hop through using stepping stones. There wasn’t a great deal of work that needed to be done. Our day primarily consisted of taking care of blowdowns and clearing a couple of water bars to prevent water erosion. We did happen upon a large blow-down that took a long two hours to fix with the hand saws, but it was all worth the sweat when we made it the Black Mountain Pond. It was one of the most gorgeous sites to see the forest open up to a crystal clear pond looking out on Black Mountain. The base of the mountain was splotched with the vivid reds, oranges, and yellows of the deciduous trees and gradually changed into the lush, green of coniferous forests closer to the summit. I am grateful we were able to make it to the pond and experience this incredible view. We wanted to stay longer, but the day was coming to an end and it was time to turn back.
So far, this was my favorite trail work day. The sights were surreal and it was fun to hike this wilderness trail. In the coming weeks, I look forward to revisiting the trail to compete the rest of the Black Mountain Pond trail.
Heather is a half-year member with the Lakes Region Conservation Corps, serving with the Squam Lakes Association. She is known for her strong work ethic, quiet follow-through, and quality of work. You can read more about Heather here.