Abbott's Grant and Meetinghouse Park 10/8/10

Abbott's Grant (pictures)

With such a wet, crummy weak and not able to get out and enjoy the foliage today's fabulous weather had me itching to find some woods to disappear in. I printed out a bunch of State, town, fish and game, and NHFS PDF's with plenty of spots in my area to find. I headed down Old Bay Road in Farmington headed to check out Coldrain Pond in New Durham. I spotted a sign I have passed before and had yet to check out. I stopped, sign read "Abbott's Grant, Farmington Town Forest". So I parked in the very small parking area with another sign that read "Waldron's Woods". This area seems to have an identity crisis or something! After scratching my head in confusion off I went down the gated logging road!

The trail travels through the woods and to the Northern most tip of Waldron Pond and Cocheco River. It then passes a small marsh and continues through the woods passing a camping area on the right. Once past this you come to another marsh along Cocheco River. The trail follows back from the marsh and narrows where there are orange tape markers. I assume this marks the property line, but perhaps not. You enter an area that has been logged within the past couple years with skidder roads going every which way. I would say it was 1/2 a mile to this spot.

Not sure if I was still on town property and not wanting to get lost I made my way back, noticing on my left just past the campsite a stone cellar hole. Back to the truck I decided to walk back down the road to the bridge to view the pond from there. On the way back I noticed a logging road across the street, a cable across it and yellow signs reading "Absolutely no ATV's". I took this as meaning walkers are welcome so off I went. The road brings you to the edge of another marsh of Cocheco River and I could see an old dam on the far South end. I continued down the road and noticed a narrow path to the left. This must be a path to the dam, I figured. Sure enough after winding around a hill I arrived at the old dam. It was an interesting structure, the middle knocked out and a nice cascade. After investigating this spot I continued on the path which ended at another camp area with a fire pit and tree platform next to a cascade.

"Meetinghouse Park" (pictures)

Back on the road I decided to can my trip to Coldrain Pond and stop up the road at the Meetinghouse Park. Another place I had often passed by and was unaware of what was there. Besides the 1772 meetinghouse, there are a cattle pound structure, a pauper's grave (the oldest in New Durham) a vernal pond and 3 loop trails. The trails were small and were not in any sensible order but it was a nice short walk in the woods, something that would be great for kids or older folk who don't get out much. The trails were very easy to follow and well taken care of. I went around in circles in order to walk each loop! Would be a nice little walk in the winter too. Not sure o distance but it is less than 1/2 a mile. That wrapped up the day. Glad to get out in the woods and explore some more spots near home. And got the foliage views I wanted. Hoping to get up to the Belknaps and Whites this Columbus Day weekend! :)

Stone House Pond 7/29/10

See the pics HERE

Upon reading an article about Stone House Pond in Barrington, NH and seeing the picture of the large chunk of granite that sits on the pond's bank, I was eager to check it out. I had my monthly lunch with my Grandmother in Epsom and decided to take the US 202/NH 9 route home. This would bring me right by there! I passed the road once, noting an unmarked dirt road next to a white house. Upon back tracking I noticed a fallin' apart wooden sign that read Stone House Pond. Turned around again and headed down this road. You immediately pass an open gate and down a pleasant woods road reaching the parking lot along some large boulders. There is a NH Fish and Game sign here that only gives boat launching directions and nothing else.

I walked around the large chunk of granite and to the lakes shore and looking across could see the magnificent tower of ledge. There was a kayaker fishing off to the Western side of the pond. The trail was easily seen to the left (clock-wise)across the lakes outlet stream. The only method of crossing is by a difficult rock hop or a tricky jump across the small dam structure. The trail was surprisingly well worn and easy to follow. It curves around the lake shore to another slab of rock with a wonderful view directly across the lake to the ledge.

Continuing on the trail breaks away from the pond and becomes somewhat steep and loose as it climbs the banking. It then drops back down to the shore and follows it rather closely. It was somewhere on or after the steep section that a well defined trail broke left. I almost took this thinking it might be the way to the ledge. I opted to stay right which turned out to be the correct way. I am not sure where the other "trail" went, perhaps to a boulder or something? I didn't see it connect back to the main trail either further down, so something I will have to explore next time.

Back to the main trail now, again you follow the shoreline until you reach the bottom of the ledge. You then climb along side it up a steep, loose trail and around the back and easily up over to the top of the Stone House Ledge, about 150 ft. Such an amazing feeling for such little effort. You stand majestically over the pond, the ledge dropping steeply in front of you. You can see a few area hills, Blue Job and I'm guessing Parker Mt. Also there is a cell tower "disguised" as a tree, but looks more like a cruddy old artificial Christmas tree! It's the thought that counts I guess! Oh, and I was surprised to see Jack pine's atop this area too.

I went back down the way I came since the trail around the Western side of the lake was barely visible and I had read that it could be very wet. I easily made my way back stopping to capture a picture of a butterfly and a large "wood" moth who showed off a pretty orange under his wings when flying from tree to tree. Over all I believe this was half a mile with 160 ft. elevation gain round trip. Nestled discretely around the larger areas of Pawtuckaway State Park, Nippo Lake and Scrutton Pond it would appear this pond stays rather quite. Not a single speck of litter was to be found, a little graffiti on the rocks looked faded and despite the well worn trail, the top of the ledge looked to have been grown in where beaten paths once existed. Thank you to the Trust for Public Land for purchasing this land and making it a permanently protected area!!

See the pics HERE