A Trek to Ethan Pond: But Wait, There's More!

You've heard TV ads which say stuff like: "You can have this product for this very low price, but wait, there's more!"  Before setting forth on a trek to Ethan Pond on a windy 29th day of April, I couldn't help thinking of the phrase: "but wait, there's more"!

As often stated in my Blog reports, for each of my treks I try to visit a location that is new to me, or at least visit a familiar location via a route that I've never traveled.  And so, for this visit to Ethan Pond, I needed to come up with an "add-on" that would be new and different for me.  My decision was to explore the branch of the North Fork brook that is located in a valley just a bit northwesterly of Ethan Pond.  That location would be new for me!

I'll "cut to the chase" and say that the North Fork continues well beyond where I ended my exploration, but in the short segment that I travelled, there were many picturesque cascades.  The following photos will perhaps provide some idea of what I saw.  These images are the best that could be produced by me and my $97 point & shoot Casio camera!  Oh!  If you think you're seeing patches of snow in a couple of these images, you're right!  It's not just frothy water, nor is it fuzziness resulting from my low quality images!

From the top of one of the cascades, there was a bonus!  Off in the distance was a view of Mt. Carrigain (next photo).

Okay, now that you've seen the outcome of my North Fork trek, here are a few details. First of all, it was an easy bushwhack from the Ethan Pond Trail over to the North Fork.   Actually, there was little need to whack any bushes!  The woods were very open.  At one point, I was even able to incorporate an old logging road into my route (photo below).

Also, perhaps a Google Earth image and a topographic map might be useful details to include.  In both images shown below, the general area of my exploration is circled in pink. (Click on images to enlarge.)

Speaking of maps, there is a map entitled "Exploring New Hampshire's White Mountains" which is published by The Wilderness Map Company.  This map actually has a label of "Ethan Cascades" associated with the area that I explored.  It's the only map that I've seen with this identifier.  If you want a copy of this map, here are suggestions for two retailers where it can be purchased: The Mountain Wanderer Map & Book Store, and Bondcliff Books.

Before continuing with this report, it should be known that my intent is not to glorify this hike as some extraordinary feat.  Although this destination was new to me, it's highly likely that others have visited this location and have seen the cascades along this segment of the North Fork.  And, I'd venture to say that some have even followed the North Fork northward well beyond the point where I ended my trek.

Okay, with the above disclaimer having been said, I'll continue with the rest of the report which will provide snapshots and a few details about my journey en route to the cascades on the North Fork.

On the day of this hike, some winter leftovers still existed in the high country around Ethan Pond (see below).

And speaking of Ethan Pond, of course I had to stop to take a few snapshots of this magnificent body of water, especially since I was already in the neighborhood.  As you might be able to tell from the turbulence on the pond (next photo), it was a very windy day!

I also did a short bushwhack to an unnamed little pond that I've visited many times.  It's located about a half-mile east of Ethan Pond.  I call it Little Ethan Pond, but I've heard it referred to as Lucy Pond in remembrance of Lucy Crawford who was the wife of Ethan (for whom Ethan Pond was named).  The next photo was taken from the shore of this miniature pond.  Looming in the background is a portion of Mt. Willey.

At the beginning of my trek, I took a trailside photo of Kedron Flume from the Kedron Flume Trail.  Also, at this point in the journey, I did something else that was new for me.  For whatever reason, I had never taken the time to wander up the pathway on the north side of  the brook that feeds Kedron Flume.  Now, I know the reason for the path!  There's more "fluming" going on up above the view that you see from the trail!  The next photo collage compares the trailside view with the other view that can be had by a 5 minute traipse up this little pathway.

And lastly, I took the following snapshot of Webster Cliffs on my descent as I approached the trailhead parking lot.  This was done jokingly to commemorate Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day.  But, I kid you not, 29-April was an official  date for this event (click HERE).

To sum it up, I'm not always successful in finding a new destination or a new route for each hike that I do.  However, it is often surprising how much "new" there is to do, even within a relatively small area.  Just in the vicinity of Ethan Pond alone, many new adventures have been launched (click HERE for a link to one of them).

It's fully realized that not everyone enjoys this type of hiking.  But for those of us who do, it's fun to approach each hike with an attitude of: "But wait, there's more!"