Hiked August 13, 2006 by Tim and Valerie
Conditions: It was a very comfortable day, and this was a very comfortable walk. About 6.2 miles total, including some side trips along the way. We flew right by the first pond, didn't even walk over to see it. Saw the shelter at the second pond. Very beautiful (the water, not the shelter). This would be a GREAT snowshoe. Tim couldn't find a good point to fish from, so we continued on. Stopped for a snack at a nice campsite along the second pond. Came to the intersection with the Donkey Cut-Off trail. Took the "left", over the old beaver dam. There's another nice campsite just on the other side. Still backs up on the second pond. We knew the third pond was on our right, but we walked for quite awhile before we stopped and said "we must have missed it". We backtracked and did find the trail. Another nice campsite on that pond, but tons of broken glass. I don't think I want to challenge the regulars for this campsite.
Back out at Donkey Cut-Off, we continued around the loop. This trail was fine, but probably wouldn't do this part again. We made it over to the Mt Kineo trail - following Brown Brook. Beautiful, fun rocks to climb on. Tim found a little pool and tried some trout fishing. Caught a little brook trout and threw him back. Later down the trail, there was an awful stench of musk AND we found what appear to be fresh bear tracks in the mud. Valerie spent the rest of the trip looking over her shoulder as we walked.
Sorry, no pictures of the ponds. We didn't pull out the camera until we got to Brown Brook.