Oncoman
Active member
Arrived on Tripoli Rd at 21h15 on Fri. Ranger wanted to charge me 20$ to car sleep at Tecumseh trailhead. So I slept in my car at ski center parking lot. Started on trail next AM at 05h45. Summited on Tecumseh 1h45 later. Nice clear views of nearby pks. Calibrated my watch altimeter on summit before turning back. Very enjoyable quiet morning hike.
On way back noticed 3 bumps at 3770’ by my altimeter that could qualify for West Tecumseh, all 3 slightly off trail, but the most westernly one with side trail of about 100’ to right on way up freshly improved seemed to be the highest pk by about 5' (different than one shown on TopoZone map). Had noticed 2 cairns on right side of trail on way up at 2530' & 2990', likely indicating starting point for bushwhack to 3156' pk. I choose to start my bwk at height of land indicated by 2990' cairn. Very easy bwk. Took only 35 min. to & from summit identified by moss covered cairn but no canister. Is this a NH100 or NH200 pk? (Only has 120’ of clean prominence).
Was back to my car by 10h30 & then drove off to Nancy Pond trailhead via Kanc. highway & Bear Notch Rd. Beautiful landscape with leaves all coloured up. Drove very slowly to stretch out pleasure to the fullest. Started on Nancy Pond trail at 12h15. Passed by many hikers on my way up to Nancy Pond. Greatly appreciated the views from beaver dam at end of Norcross Pond. What a great camping spot this could be, but forbidden I gather.
After a short rest I headed up the steep herd path, in reality a well trotted trail, towards Nancy, my NE100. Reached the summit in barely 20 min. No champagne to celebrate but had the pleasant surprise of having Gin & Tonic instead, alias Elaine & John, who had completed their NE76 on Nancy. We chatted for a while, admired the northern pks & then parted. I was back to Nancy Pond by 15h30. Too early to call it a day. So I decided to do bushwhack up Duck Pond Mtn following eastern part of Nancy Pond.
Not too bad initially, but as you near summit it gets very thick with numerous blowdown making for slow rough going. Found old trail near summit with yellow blazed trees. Does anyone know something about this ancient trail or is it an illegally marked one? No canister but there is a white wooden sign with black lettering nailed to tree to identify summit. Difficult to find. Fairly flat pk with very thick stuff & blowdown. Took me 30-40 min. to find sign more by luck than anything else.
Was back to trail by 18h15 tired but satisfied. Took it slowly to hike back down trail to my car. Was back at 19h55, the last 30 min. or so by headlamp. Then drove off to Shaw trailhead on Hwy 171, next morning's objective. Was off by 06h15. Nice easy 3h20 road & trail walk, thank God, since my body was still feeling the strain from my previous day's long & exhausting hike. Beautiful views on summit. Papa Bear's trail report was very helpful. Thanks again Richard. BTW the yellow trail on summit of Shaw heading south is called Gorilla trail & after going over Hodge Mtn and Big Ball Mtn it brings you to Canaan Valley about 6 m. east of Shaw trailhead on Hwy 171. Blue trail goes to Castle in the Clouds Inn. Only 8 more pks to go before completing my NEFF list. Will then tackle ADK100 (47 done so far). This winter will attempt to complete NH 48.
Good hiking everyone. Enjoy!
Pierre
On way back noticed 3 bumps at 3770’ by my altimeter that could qualify for West Tecumseh, all 3 slightly off trail, but the most westernly one with side trail of about 100’ to right on way up freshly improved seemed to be the highest pk by about 5' (different than one shown on TopoZone map). Had noticed 2 cairns on right side of trail on way up at 2530' & 2990', likely indicating starting point for bushwhack to 3156' pk. I choose to start my bwk at height of land indicated by 2990' cairn. Very easy bwk. Took only 35 min. to & from summit identified by moss covered cairn but no canister. Is this a NH100 or NH200 pk? (Only has 120’ of clean prominence).
Was back to my car by 10h30 & then drove off to Nancy Pond trailhead via Kanc. highway & Bear Notch Rd. Beautiful landscape with leaves all coloured up. Drove very slowly to stretch out pleasure to the fullest. Started on Nancy Pond trail at 12h15. Passed by many hikers on my way up to Nancy Pond. Greatly appreciated the views from beaver dam at end of Norcross Pond. What a great camping spot this could be, but forbidden I gather.
After a short rest I headed up the steep herd path, in reality a well trotted trail, towards Nancy, my NE100. Reached the summit in barely 20 min. No champagne to celebrate but had the pleasant surprise of having Gin & Tonic instead, alias Elaine & John, who had completed their NE76 on Nancy. We chatted for a while, admired the northern pks & then parted. I was back to Nancy Pond by 15h30. Too early to call it a day. So I decided to do bushwhack up Duck Pond Mtn following eastern part of Nancy Pond.
Not too bad initially, but as you near summit it gets very thick with numerous blowdown making for slow rough going. Found old trail near summit with yellow blazed trees. Does anyone know something about this ancient trail or is it an illegally marked one? No canister but there is a white wooden sign with black lettering nailed to tree to identify summit. Difficult to find. Fairly flat pk with very thick stuff & blowdown. Took me 30-40 min. to find sign more by luck than anything else.
Was back to trail by 18h15 tired but satisfied. Took it slowly to hike back down trail to my car. Was back at 19h55, the last 30 min. or so by headlamp. Then drove off to Shaw trailhead on Hwy 171, next morning's objective. Was off by 06h15. Nice easy 3h20 road & trail walk, thank God, since my body was still feeling the strain from my previous day's long & exhausting hike. Beautiful views on summit. Papa Bear's trail report was very helpful. Thanks again Richard. BTW the yellow trail on summit of Shaw heading south is called Gorilla trail & after going over Hodge Mtn and Big Ball Mtn it brings you to Canaan Valley about 6 m. east of Shaw trailhead on Hwy 171. Blue trail goes to Castle in the Clouds Inn. Only 8 more pks to go before completing my NEFF list. Will then tackle ADK100 (47 done so far). This winter will attempt to complete NH 48.
Good hiking everyone. Enjoy!
Pierre
