INTRODUCTION:
In mid-June 2018, I
did a trek that involved hiking to Gentian Pond by traveling the entire length
of the Austin Brook Trail, plus an additional hike eastward from the pond for
about a 0.5 mile on the Mahoosuc Trail (part of the Appalachian Trail). The purpose of the additional half-mile
segment along the Mahoosuc Trail was to gain access to some ledges overlooking
Gentian Pond and the surrounding area.
The round-trip journey was about 8 miles with about an 1,800 ft elevation
gain.
Just as
point of interest, Gentian Pond is a tarn
situated at 2,165 feet along a ridgeline in the Mahoosuc mountain range. It was discovered in 1876 by Eugene B.
Cook and Lucia and Marian Pychowska who explored this region of New
Hampshire during the 1870s. Along the pond’s shoreline, these early adventurers came upon wildflowers
known as Bottle Gentian, and thus decided to confer the name of Gentian Pond to
this body of water.
My route of travel for this hike is highlighted in pink on this map. |
PHOTOS:
A view from inside the Gentian Pond Shelter looking toward mountains in the Evans Notch area of Maine |
Gentian Pond as viewed from a point along its south shoreline |
While en route to the ledges above the pond, I paused to snap a quick photo of one of the white blazes along this segment of the Appalachian Trail (locally assigned name is the Mahoosuc Trail) |
Highly-zoomed image of Mt. Washington and Boott Spur, as viewed from an off-trail ledge located a short distance off the Mahoosuc Trail |
TO SUM IT UP:
This
was yet another of my adventures that I sometimes refer to as “peak-less
hikes”. Hiking to the top of mountains
can be very enjoyable. But as I and
others have discovered, hikes to “peak-less” destinations can also bring great joy
and satisfaction. :-)
2 comments:
Once again, great photos and story, John! I love the view from the Gentian Pond Shelter—what a wonderful place to spend a night. I also enjoyed the little things found along this trail, especially that lone mushroom. And finally, that turnstile is a wonderful device for keeping out those destructive ATVs. Great post!
Hi Rita,
Glad you enjoyed the photo collage showing some of the little things seen during this hike. And to think that the photo collage only captures the little things that can be seen. As I know you know, there are many other little things that can only be captured in-person, such as fragrances and sounds, or the woods when they are silent and peaceful.
John
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