Black Pond (a hike & sit-around-campfire)

This adventure is only easy if you have the necessary experience and equipment. So please, answer the three questions in the description below BEFORE SIGNING UP.

As this is the holiday season, I thought a relaxing hike with a sit around a campfire is only fitting. Bring yourself a holiday drink (I suggest glühwein or mulled ice cider); halfway through the hike we’ll scout for a spot and build a backcountry campfire to sit around and enjoy food, drinks and good company while staying COVID safe. Feel free to bring food to share but be mindful of proper hygiene –pre portion or bring enough utensils to portion without having to handle the food in the field.

The plan:

We’ll start from the Lincoln Woods Trailhead and make our way to Franconia Falls Trail. We’ll take the Franconia Falls Trail to the end where the falls are. I’m not expecting anything special, but we’ll stop for a quick sightseeing around the falls. We will, then, break trail and bushwhack our way over a little hill towards the eastern side of Black Pond. I’m hopping for a nice view of Mt. Flume and Mt. Liberty from across the pond. Once we’ve satisfied ourselves with the views and photo opportunities, we’ll start scouting for a good spot to build a campfire at lease 200 ft from Black Pond as per regulation. We’ll split into two groups: one will start clearing the ground off snow and leaves, and the other will go collect firewood. We’ll hang around for a couple hours more or less depending on how people feel like. After we’re done, we’ll clean up and head south west towards Black Pond Trail. We’ll follow trail back to where we started and call it a day.

Trail stats:

- Total Distance: 7.1 miles.

- Distance on trail: 6.7 miles.

- Distance off trail: 0.4 miles.

- Elevation Gain: 660 feet.

Required gear:

- A reliable navigation system –printed map and compass, handheld GPS or cellphone.

- Waterproof hiking shoes (winter boots are highly recommended)

- Traction device –microspikes or crampons

- Gaiters

- layer clothing system: base, mid, and a waterproof shell –no cotton.

- Insulated jacket

- Winter hat and winter gloves

- A headlamp

- 3 liters of water.

- Snacks and lunch ~1000 calories.

- Personal first aid kit.

- Extra socks

- Extra dry clothing to change into after the hike.

- Snowshoes, we’ll verify closer to the hike (most likely not needed or a couple pairs are enough to break the path for the others)

Recommended gear:

- Hand and toe warmers.

- A sit pad (your arse will freeze if you sit directly on snow or rock)

Please answer the following question in the comment section:

1. Do you have ALL required gear?

2. Have you had experience winter hiking or have taken a winter hiking course?

3. Which of the following gear do you own and can bring along?

- Snowshoes.

- Ski-touring/mountaineering snow shovel.

- A wood saw –bucksaw or folding saw.

Expectation:

Everyone must have knowledge of the plan and any changes in it at all times and have responsibility to alert the team if the plan is not followed. This is not a guided hike so you must be aware of where you are on the map and your way back at all times. A portion of this hike will be off trail and therefore a little unpredictable.

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