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  1. #1
    Senior Member brambor's Avatar
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    Scouting the Ethan Allen Pond Trail

    During the planning of backcountry ski trips I thought about a trip up the Ethan Allen Trail to the pond shelter for an overnighter and then continue on the trail to Zealand Trail and down to rt302. The area in this report is in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The unresolved question for me was the topography of the trail to the shelter. Whether it could be skied up, skinned up, or if I needed to carry my skis on a backpack was the question.

    I had Saturday and early Sunday off. This was an ideal situation for a scouting trip.

    I started hiking around 9:00 AM. The trail was steady going up. Not too steep but if I was skiing I would keep my skins on until after a junction to Mt.Willey. Then it could be skied all the way to the shelter via a pretty level trail connected via a set of ground bridges.



    I met a thru hiker named Sherpa Chief. He is going Southbound!Not only is this guy doing the AT in the winter, he is also bagging all 4000 peaks along the way. Awesome Dude. We parted ways at the junction to Mt.Willey. He would rejoin me at the shelter for the night.

    I reached the pond around 11:30. It was only partially frozen.



    It was only a few more feet up the hill to the shelter. I set my pack down and looked around a little bit.



    One of the tent platforms had nicely spaced trees to put me right at the edge of the platform and leaving enough space for Sherpa Chief should he want to pitch a tent. I set up my hammock and set up the tarp in porch style. I set up my underquilts. My new Mt.Washington 3 and Winter Yeti stacked up.






    I poked around a bit more and then tried to rest in the hammock. It was a little breezy. I was comfortable but not necessarily cozy. I decided to redo the tarp, draw it down and added my end beakers to cut down the wind.



    The sun started setting shortly after 4PM. I grabbed my foam piece, tea thermos and sat at the pond to watch the sunset. Sitting on the foam and sipping on hot tea I enjoyed the rest of the day.



    I returned to the tent platform and started making diner. Sherpa Chief arrived as well. He set up right next to me. We shared stories and then went to bed.

    The temps went to teens during the night. I was somewhat cold in the beginning but then steadily found the right spot for warmth and fell asleep. I woke up around 1AM pretty much boiling. Overheated I had to unzip my sleeping bag, unzip my top a little bit and take my hat off. I fell asleep soonafter and pretty much slept until about 7AM. There was frost on the underside of my tarp.

    I packed up, made breakfast and wished Sherpa Chief a great trip on the Appalachian Trail.

    Last edited by brambor; 11-18-2012 at 19:48.
    Swinging in the air with a flair.

  2. #2
    Senior Member sunshower's Avatar
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    nice! we backpacked very close to you to Sawyer Pond Campsite.. nice 9 mile roundtrip Friday and Saturday. it got cold but didn't realize it was in the teens but you were at a higher elevation than we were. did it get super windy Friday night with strong gusts? i though our tarps were going to shred.
    Megan
    In the depths of winter I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer. [Albert Camus]

  3. #3
    Senior Member 2ply's Avatar
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    Looks like a great scouting trip. Thanks for sharing the adventure, liked the photos of your set up.
    Everyone ought to believe in something....I believe I'll go set up the hammock!

  4. #4
    New Member mrvanhan's Avatar
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    Sounds like a perfect couple of days. Great shots too!

    thanks for sharing

  5. #5
    Senior Member Mountnman's Avatar
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    Looks like some beautiful country!!
    "I love not man the less, but Nature more."
    Byron

  6. #6
    Senior Member MAD777's Avatar
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    I love that area of the Whites.
    Your setup looks toasty warm.
    Mike
    "Life is a Project!"

  7. #7
    Senior Member blaktee's Avatar
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    sweet trip, that set up looks dang warm. and that pond looked dang cold

  8. #8
    Senior Member affreeman's Avatar
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    Isn't it called Ethan Pond, or have I had it wrong all along?
    ~
    "Home is where I hang my food bag."

    Monkeywrench
    Allen Freeman
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  9. #9
    Senior Member brambor's Avatar
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    you are probably right

    You are right. I just double checked. The dude that the trail it was named after was called Ethan Allen, but the trail and the pond is only called Ethan Pond.
    Swinging in the air with a flair.

  10. #10
    Senior Member mbiraman's Avatar
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    Thanks. Great shot of the pond. Its beautiful no matter what the name. I admire Sherpa's vision. Wish him the best.


    bill
    " The mind creates the abyss, the heart crosses it."

    “The measure of your life will not be in what you accumulate, but in what you give away.” ~Wayne Dyer

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