Cummins Pond, Dorchester, NH

[Dr Jo]

Received word tonight from a neighbor that "Cummins Pond was fantastic today" (Weds). 

Dorchester Road, coming from Lyme, is said to be rutted but frozen (unlike last week's early mud season).  From the Green Woodlands parking lot at the end of the road it's about a 15 minute walk (or shorter bike ride) to the pond. 

Please send a report if you go. 

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From: nhnordi...@googlegroups.com <nhnordi...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of edward.burton2010 <edward.b...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 3, 2024 1:02 PM
To: NHNordicSkating <nhnordi...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: 1/2/24 ice report: Looking back, looking ahead

 

What's the access like to Cummins this time of year? I've skied around it from one of the northern lots, but I've never come in from the Dorchester Road side before.

On Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at 11:15:37 AM UTC-5 davi...@gmail.com wrote:

I checked Reservoir Pond yesterday afternoon and am heading back again today.  As of late yesterday it was fully skimmed shore to shore with perfect thin ice. Unsupportable, but black (translucent in the shallows near shore).  Probably not skatable until later Friday or Saturday.  I'll know more after checking today.

Another one on the local list is Goose Pond.  It should be getting close and may be ready by Saturday if you can find a way down to the ice across frozen mud The pond is drained down this winter for dam repairs in the spring through summer.  Crossing the unsupportable mud was the limiter last time I checked. 

D

On Wed, Jan 3, 2024, 9:42 AM Chris Boone <cbo...@sent.com> wrote:

The latest (taken yesterday 1/2) satellite images make it look like Reservoir Pond is only partly iced over, but Cummins Pond looks like it’s probably in good shape. 

On Jan 2, 2024, at 1:34 PM, David Lysy <davi...@gmail.com> wrote:



I'll be scouting Reservoir Pond (that you reference) this afternoon.  It was open water the other day.  It should hopefully have skimmed over again, if not last night, then it will tonight.

d

On Tue, Jan 2, 2024 at 11:37 AM Cappy Nunlist <cappy....@gmail.com> wrote:

Has anyone checked the small lake just before you reach the Greens in Dorchester?  It is at a somewhat higher elevation and has had excellent skating in the past.  I am not qualified to scout, but would love to skate safely somewhere closer to Lebanon where I live.  Thanks.

Cappy Nunlist

On Tue, Jan 2, 2024 at 11:02 AM nordicskate <nordi...@gmail.com> wrote:

Happy New Year! As you know, in mid-November the skating season got off to an excellent start, only to grind to a halt in December. Now it's January, and winter is finally here. Now through Saturday is shaping up to be an excellent skating window, and I hope you can take advantage of it, in case the back-to-back snowstorms forecast to begin Sunday actually materialize.

I'll be checking Sunapee-area ice today to see if there's any potential for this weekend. As of yesterday though, the best ice was in New Hampshire's North Country and Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. 

Yesterday I skated Moore Reservoir in Littleton, NH as well as Stiles Pond just across the state line in Waterford, VT. Evan Perkins led the Moore tour, which was not for the faint of heart, as the ice thickness was down to 2" in places, but thanks to Evan's expert leadership we all stayed dry and had a great time, on a surface of textured black ice with no open cracks or pressure ridges. If it doesn't get snowed on, Moore will continue to improve as the week progresses.

In contrast, Stiles Pond was the ideal spot for a self-guided tour. Stiles has zero hazards, aside from the obvious - the dam at the north end and a few small stream inflows at the south end. Stiles is larger than it appears on the map; I skated the entire shoreline and recorded two and a half miles on my GPS. The surface is smooth medium to dark gray ice, with occasional (and easily avoidable) crusty spots toward the south end.

I also heard reports from Miles Pond in Concord, VT, where I've never been. A bit further north than Stiles, Miles is bigger and reportedly more scenic, but it picked up a half-inch to an inch of snow yesterday. Skating on snow-covered ice can be a magical experience, but if you prefer being able to see what you're skating on, Stiles is a better choice.

Ice scouting will continue today and Wednesday, and I hope we can get together for the first guided tours of 2024 on Thursday, Friday and/or Saturday. Possibly a Nordic skating and ice safety workshop as well. Stay tuned for an announcement late Wednesday about guided tours. In the meantime, if you'd like to join me on a Wednesday scouting adventure, send me a private email...please don't email all 300 members of our group!

Happy skating,

Jamie

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[Dr Jo]

Have heard from two sources that as of today, Reservoir Pond, which one passes on the way to Cummins Pond, is not ready.  Parking for Reservoir Pond is also extremely limited. 

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From: vtnordi...@googlegroups.com <vtnordi...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Dr Jo <dr...@hotmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 4, 2024 1:12 AM
To: edward.burton2010 <edward.b...@gmail.com>; NHNordicSkating <nhnordi...@googlegroups.com>; vtnordicskating@googlegroups com <vtnordi...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [vtnordicskating] Cummins Pond, Dorchester, NH

 

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[Kara Toms]

I'm thinking about heading out to Cummins after work today which means I will get to the Greens parking by 3:40 and the pond by 4:00. Will anyone be there or is anyone interested in joining me? Cell service is spotty up there so we would need to connect ahead of time.

Kara

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[Kara Toms]

3 of us headed out to Cummins Pond this afternoon/evening - it was the perfect after work gift.

There is plenty of parking at the Green Woodlands lot on Dorchester Rd in Lyme. There's even a port-a-potty 😃 The residents have requested that people drive slowly and courteously.

The hike is on a double track ski trail (without snow now) and takes less than 20 minutes to reach the pond. I wore nano spikes, but one of the skaters with us barebooted the hike and seemed fine (I was happy with the nanos). Once at the pond, we found gorgeous black and gray smooth ice with small drifts of snow. We didn't skate the entire pond as daylight limited us, but where we did skate, we found 7-8 poke ice and very few, but obvious hazards.

If you make the trek out to this pond, you will be treated to beautiful ice and sweet views of Smarts and the surrounding mountains. Happy skating.

Kara