Pond near summit of Mt. Greylock.in Massachusetts on Day 104

I don't know when Garland wrote that or in which book he authored before his death in 1940, but I thought it summed up my own recollections of well over "a hundred lovely lakes" I passed on the Appalachian Trail last year.

I visualize one of several favorite lakes, shown in the photos below, and my heart beats a little slower, my breathing rate decreases, and I start to smile.

It's one thing to be out in the wilderness experiencing nature first hand. It's an added bonus to savor the memories of your adventures for the rest of your life - and to use them for stress relief!

There are literally hundreds of lovely ponds and lakes right along the Appalachian Trail. You can see even more of them from ridges and mountaintops.

This photo essay will be long on photos and short on essay. The pictures can speak for themselves. All I will do (unless I just can't help but add a comment) is identify the name of the lake if I know it, the location, and the day when I passed it so you can see in that day's journal which trailheads I used.

As usual, I'll proceed from south to north as I saw these bodies of water. Since such a large proportion of the ponds and lakes on the AT are in Maine, I'll cover that state separately. This essay features lakes in several other states.

Relax and enjoy!

Fontana Lake near Fontana Dam, North Carolina, Day 11:

Unnamed pond between Pump Gap and Mill Ridge, north of Hot Springs, North Carolina on Day 19. There is another view of this pond at the top of the page in Photos 12:

Children's Lake, Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania on Day 64 (see a different photo of the pond in the journal entry that day):

Water lilies in Lake Lenape at southern entrance to Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania on Day 85:

Sunfish Pond in New Jersey on Day 89, the first glacial pond going north on the AT (see two other views in that day's journal and in Photos 3):

First swamp-like pond, Day 90 in New Jersey (there is another view in Photos 36):

Culvers Lake from Kittatinny Ridge, New Jersey, also Day 90 (see second view of lake in Post 13):

Scenic pond between Wawayanda Mountain and Bearfort Mountain in New Jersey on Day 92:

One end of Little Dam Lake (which needs a prettier name!) between Buchanan and Arden mountains in New York on Day 94:

Ducks swimming on Nuclear Lake in New York on Day 97:

What is with these people?? There's another lousy name for a perfectly beautiful lake! See journal on Day 97 for the reason. (I still think they should change the name.)

OK, Sue. Visualize a quiet pond and relax again . . .

Benedict Pond, Massachusetts on Day 102 (see another view in Photos 36):

Upper Goose Pond, Massachusetts, on Day 103 (second photo in journal that day):

Scenic lake just south of Mt. Greylock summit, Massachusetts on Day 104 (another view at top of this page):

Two views of pond at Roaring Branch on Day 105 in Vermont (third view in Photos 36):

 

There's a reason I've included that pond in the journal several times: it's very peaceful and I spent a few minutes relaxing there. In my mind, I return often. I'm happy to share it with you.

Misty morning at Stratton Pond, Vermont, Day 107:

 

Ducks swimming in Kent Pond, Vermont early morning on Day 112:

Lonesome Lake, south of Franconia Notch, New Hampshire, on rainy Day 117 (there's a horizontal photo in journal that day):

Ethan Pond, several miles south of Crawford Notch, New Hampshire on Day 119:

Lake of the Clouds, namesake of the hut on south flank of Mt. Washington in New Hampshire on Day 120:

Betcha that one stays pretty cold year-round!

I took the next photo of Lost Pond, just north of Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire, early in the morning on Day 125. The Trail was flooded with overflow from recent rains. This is one of my favorite lake photos from the whole trek:

The same day I had to wade through the overflow along the two Carter Lakes much higher up at Carter Notch:

This is a view of one of the Carter Lakes, Carter Hut, and a boulder field as I was climbing Carter Dome:

Next up: ponds and lakes in Maine.

Feeling more relaxed now,

Sue "Runtrails & Company" - Sue Norwood, Jim O'Neil, Cody, and Tater Previous       Next Send an e-mail message to Sue & Jim   © 2006 Sue Norwood and Jim O'Neil