Smith Pond

[Matt Steinberg]

Hello Everyone,

Chris wrote such a great report yesterday that I don't technically have anything to add but did want to muse about my experience today. This, along with Mascoma, is my "home ice." I have hiked up here thousands of times in the past 16 years and had several beautiful skates here. Today was the finest. The ice was stunning. I was joined by Kara Toms, Dr. Jo, and David Lysey as well Peter and Martha. Don't get me wrong, this was not the flawless black ice of Mascoma or Long Pond back in December. There were some bumps, frozen tracks, drifts, and little micro cracks. The ice itself though was amazingly beautiful, almost ethereal in it's appearance and LARGE sections were silky smooth 9+. It is a clear glass layer on top of the white snow. This is a special place, very beautiful. Not dramatically like Willoughby or Beaver, more like Long Pond in Benton, NH, wild and undeveloped. There are two access routes, exit 15 off I-89 and up Smith Pond Rd to the small parking lot. It is 1. 25 miles and a 20 to 30 min walk with minimal elevation gain or my preferred way from Rt. 4a. This is 4 mile roundtrip with almost 1000 ft of elevation gain passing gorges and waterfalls. It makes this feel like a true wilderness experience. The elevation is 1700 feet,  1200 higher than the Lebanon airport so you can generally subtract 5 degrees from that in most weather conditions so it may be good until noon tomorrow. If you are not opposed to a hike, bring your hiking boots and microspikes and  don't pass up this adventure. It is fleeting with the coming forecast. The 63 acre pond is not big but packs an oversized wallop and 25 miles came much too soon. Watch out for the micro cracks, most are benign but one did put both Jo and I on our knees.

Matt

[Dr Jo]

Excellent report, Matt, thanks!

It truly is a special place, has been on my 'bucket list' to skate for years but never had a scout until Matt.  It's like a mini-Grafton Pond with islands and coves, undeveloped except for one house on the whole perimeter (owned by the person who helped preserve it's wilderness forever), or like a very-mini Squam Lake, islands and coves but without the development.

 

Most people will want microspikes for the hiking. 

---

From: vtnordi...@googlegroups.com <vtnordi...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Matt Steinberg <fios...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2023 4:59 PM
To: NHNordicSkating <nhnordi...@googlegroups.com>; VTNordicskating <vtnordi...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [vtnordicskating] Smith Pond

 

Hello Everyone,

Chris wrote such a great report yesterday that I don't technically have anything to add but did want to muse about my experience today. This, along with Mascoma, is my "home ice." I have hiked up here thousands of times in the past 16 years and had several beautiful skates here. Today was the finest. The ice was stunning. I was joined by Kara Toms, Dr. Jo, and David Lysey as well Peter and Martha. Don't get me wrong, this was not the flawless black ice of Mascoma or Long Pond back in December. There were some bumps, frozen tracks, drifts, and little micro cracks. The ice itself though was amazingly beautiful, almost ethereal in it's appearance and LARGE sections were silky smooth 9+. It is a clear glass layer on top of the white snow. This is a special place, very beautiful. Not dramatically like Willoughby or Beaver, more like Long Pond in Benton, NH, wild and undeveloped. There are two access routes, exit 15 off I-89 and up Smith Pond Rd to the small parking lot. It is 1. 25 miles and a 20 to 30 min walk with minimal elevation gain or my preferred way from Rt. 4a. This is 4 mile roundtrip with almost 1000 ft of elevation gain passing gorges and waterfalls. It makes this feel like a true wilderness experience. The elevation is 1700 feet,  1200 higher than the Lebanon airport so you can generally subtract 5 degrees from that in most weather conditions so it may be good until noon tomorrow. If you are not opposed to a hike, bring your hiking boots and microspikes and  don't pass up this adventure. It is fleeting with the coming forecast. The 63 acre pond is not big but packs an oversized wallop and 25 miles came much too soon. Watch out for the micro cracks, most are benign but one did put both Jo and I on our knees.

Matt

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