Greeley Ponds, February 7, 2009

Snowshoe 4.4 mile round trip from Greeley Pond Trailhead to Greeley Pond with some elevation gain. Follow trail 2.2 miles through a thickly wooded forest leading to our destination, Greeley Ponds, and return by the same trail.

Allow three hours. Current snow conditions range from 2-3 feet and should be somewhat packed down (unless there is a lot of snowfall later in the week) since it is a popular winter hike. Dogs welcome.

NEXT HIKE: February 7, Greeley Ponds
MEETING SPOTS: Exit 14 off of Rt. 93, LL Bean/Hannaford side, Concord at 8:00 a.m.
Walmart, Newington at 8:00 a.m.
Greeley Pond Trailhead at 9:45 a.m
TRAILHEAD: Greeley Pond Trailhead is on Rt. 112/Kancamagus Highway. Take Exit 32 off I93 and follow Rt. 112 approximately 9.5 miles. (From Rt. 112 in North Conway it would be about 26 miles.) From the south the trailhead is after Big Rock Campground but before the hairpin turn at Hancock Overlook. The trailhead parking lot is plowed in winter but has somewhat limited parking, and you need a WMNF parking pass. We will take the hiking trail which has plowed access not the ski trail which starts 0.2 mile from the hiking trail (the ski trail does not have a kiosk).
HIKE LEADER: Diane King

On Saturday, February 7th about a dozen dayhikers and two dogs left the crowded trailhead of Greeley Ponds and hiked in 1.7 miles to the upper pond and then about a half mile over to the lower pond.

Conditions were excellent with a well-packed trail and temps in the high twenties, low wind, and a brief appearance of the sun. We found the lower pond's shoreline was not frozen as we stood there snacking and admiring the scenery with the East Osceola peak and Signal Ridge in the backdrop.

About half the hikers met in Lincoln at Elvios's Pizza for refreshment.

Members may see more photos in our online photo album.