A Return Visit to Percy Peaks (North and South), and Pond Brook Falls

INTRODUCTION:

Toward the end of May 2016 I was a bit ambivalent as to where to hike, but finally decided to visit the Nash Stream Forest area of northern New Hampshire since it has consistently provided a pleasurable hiking experience.  My previous visits to this area have been the subject of previous postings to this blog.  Below are clickable links to those previous reports.

Percy Peaks and Pond Brook Falls

Victor Head and South Percy On A Hot Summer Day

Since there is no need to repeat the textual information contained in the two reports referenced above, the purpose of this posting is primarily just to present a few photos relative to my May 2016 hike which included PERCY PEAKS (North and South), and POND BROOK FALLS.

Regarding the hike to Percy Peaks, it was a 5.0 mile "out and back" hike.  The route I took is highlighted in yellow on the map shown below. (You will also note from this map that it is possible to do this hike as a loop, but closing the loop involves either spotting a car, or doing a one-mile road walk between the two trailheads.) 

PHOTOS:

PHOTO 1: North Percy (3,430 ft.) and South Percy (3,234 ft.) are collectively known as Percy Peaks.  These symmetrical cone-shaped peaks dominate the landscape for miles around.  Shown below are two ground-level views of these peaks.

PHOTO 1

PHOTO 2: Climbing up the bare rock slabs of North Percy!

PHOTO 2

PHOTO 3: This view is looking SSE from a point near the top of North Percy. On the distant horizon, are peaks (L to R) in the Mahoosucs; Carter-Moriahs; Cresent Range; Presidential Range; Pliny-Pilot Range.  In the foreground, South Percy is prominent at far right.  Some of the other foreground features include Christine Lake; Bald Mountain; Victor Head; etc.

PHOTO 3

PHOTO 4: Although the signpost at the top of North Percy shows an elevation of 3,418 ft, I think the generally accepted elevation is now at 3,430 ft.

PHOTO 4

PHOTO 5: This shows just one segment of the wild and lush pathway that leads to South Percy.   Similar photos have been presented in my previous postings about this hike, but decided to post yet another one anyway!

PHOTO 5

PHOTO 6: I love the "in your face" view of North Percy from the top of South Percy.  Once again, a similar photo has been posted in my previous reports, but maybe one more won't hurt. :-)

PHOTO 6

After hiking to North and South Percy, I drove 3 miles further north on Nash Stream Road to the trailhead for POND BROOK FALLS.  It only takes about 5 minutes to walk from the trailhead to the lower end of these cascades, which is all I had time to do.  There are additional cascades further upstream.

 

PHOTO 7: Not a lot of water was flowing at POND BROOK FALLS on this particular visit, but it's still a very picturesque location nonetheless!

PHOTO 7

TIDBIT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

There is one tidbit of information that I just recently learned which might be of interest to some readers.  Several years ago, Robert and Mary Julyan published a book entitled "Place Names of the White Mountains".  Here are some excerpts from that book pertaining to Percy Peaks:

"The Percy Peaks . . . took their names from the nearby village of Percy . . . The village was named for Hugh Smithson, Earl Percy and First Duke of Northumberland (1715-86) . . . The English nobleman was a friend of the American colonies and argued against the policies of King George III.  The Percy Peaks and Percy Pond appeared on Philip Carrigain's map of 1816."

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