Jericho Mountain State Park 10-2-14
After spending the day in Waterville Valley we drove to Gorham(Shelburne, really) and got a room and a meal at Town & Country. Next morning we drove east along Rte. 2 through Shelburne Birches to Rte. 113 and the northern end of Evans Notch. Skies were dismal, but from the looks of the Wild River the area needed rain. We stopped and took pictures in a couple of spots, then headed back north towards Berlin. Following Rte. 110 through Berlin is still pretty tricky, not fun even when you have an idea where you should be going. Construction which I hope will alleviate the problem is ongoing and making matters worse at the moment.
A few miles north of the city is the road to Jericho Lake and the Jericho Mountain State Park. To be honest we had always avoided this park because it caters to ATV's and has a fantastic network of interconnecting trails on which to use them. We found that in mid-week the park was practically empty and that we would have the beautiful pond to ourselves as we paddled our kayaks. The 127 acre pond was created when a large earthen dam was built at the eastern end of a beaver pond, and this time it appears man flooded out the beavers. Paddling the pond it was apparent that there were many different lodges and much activity.
We bought a day pass and the State Park person thought we might see a moose if we paddled, but of course we didn't. As we put in at the boat launch the skies were still gray and completely overcast. We shoved off and paddled east along the shore towards the dam and checking out the beach area and the water view campsites along that part of the shore. We paddled along the dam and and then along the southern shore, in and out of coves and inlets. All along the shoreline there was a blend of yellow-leaved birch, brilliant reds and oranges of maple and the dark evergreens, very nice. As we did this the hills and mountains of the Plinys and Kilkenny Ridge began to appear to the west. Soon the sun was chasing the clouds across the sky and the day began to warm. Now under almost completely clear skies we had beautiful views of the surrounding hills splashed in color as well as the painted trees along the shore.
We spent many hours floating in the warm sun and soaking in the scenery. When we had circus navigated the entire pond we loaded up the kayaks and decided to take a short hike. I had seen photos from a pavilion above the pond on a hillside to the east. From looking at the photos and then at the map it was easy to determine the spot was about 9000' from the campsites by way of three ATV trails. We asked a ranger where the best place to park to hike up there was and he must have sized us up and decided he didn't want to go on no rescue mission, "Oh, that's a LONG way up there." I scoffed, "What's it? Like a mile and a half?" Oh, it's a lot further than that." as he proceeded to tell me how most people get there on their ATV's, "You see, they got down to the next gate down the road, and then come around the lake." I said, "I'm not going that way, I'm going straight from here, right across the dam and up." "OK, you can do that. But it's a long way." Somehow we reached the spot and made it back without a rescue.
Read MoreA few miles north of the city is the road to Jericho Lake and the Jericho Mountain State Park. To be honest we had always avoided this park because it caters to ATV's and has a fantastic network of interconnecting trails on which to use them. We found that in mid-week the park was practically empty and that we would have the beautiful pond to ourselves as we paddled our kayaks. The 127 acre pond was created when a large earthen dam was built at the eastern end of a beaver pond, and this time it appears man flooded out the beavers. Paddling the pond it was apparent that there were many different lodges and much activity.
We bought a day pass and the State Park person thought we might see a moose if we paddled, but of course we didn't. As we put in at the boat launch the skies were still gray and completely overcast. We shoved off and paddled east along the shore towards the dam and checking out the beach area and the water view campsites along that part of the shore. We paddled along the dam and and then along the southern shore, in and out of coves and inlets. All along the shoreline there was a blend of yellow-leaved birch, brilliant reds and oranges of maple and the dark evergreens, very nice. As we did this the hills and mountains of the Plinys and Kilkenny Ridge began to appear to the west. Soon the sun was chasing the clouds across the sky and the day began to warm. Now under almost completely clear skies we had beautiful views of the surrounding hills splashed in color as well as the painted trees along the shore.
We spent many hours floating in the warm sun and soaking in the scenery. When we had circus navigated the entire pond we loaded up the kayaks and decided to take a short hike. I had seen photos from a pavilion above the pond on a hillside to the east. From looking at the photos and then at the map it was easy to determine the spot was about 9000' from the campsites by way of three ATV trails. We asked a ranger where the best place to park to hike up there was and he must have sized us up and decided he didn't want to go on no rescue mission, "Oh, that's a LONG way up there." I scoffed, "What's it? Like a mile and a half?" Oh, it's a lot further than that." as he proceeded to tell me how most people get there on their ATV's, "You see, they got down to the next gate down the road, and then come around the lake." I said, "I'm not going that way, I'm going straight from here, right across the dam and up." "OK, you can do that. But it's a long way." Somehow we reached the spot and made it back without a rescue.
