Shoal Pond/Thoreau Falls

The 9/19 Plan: Starting at the Willey Station House trailhead for the AT, trotted the Shoal Pond/Thoreau Falls loop clockwise. Trip reports will follow actually doing it, although there is a tentative plan to stop by the Scottish Fest at Loon Mtn.

Mutha's Trip Report (Pics Here):

• Dave and I cranked out the miles and miles and miles. An easy route when hiked (barely do-able in a day if you walk it), but relentless when run. Gorgeous though - really gorgeous.
  
• 22.5 miles, 2200ft of elevation, in sub-6 time - it amounted to about 4mi/hr (15.3 min pace). It doesn't sound that fast for such minimal elevation gain, but for some reason this hurt more than the pemi. Even my pains got pains.
  
• The day was gorgeous, although a little cold. It was my first hike of the season entirely in a long-sleeve top. I wore gloves for the first hour or so, took them off and put them on a half hour later. It was brisk and breezy and the scenery was fantastic.
  
• Most of the route is runnable or trottable, with quite a few exceptions (due to muddy or awkward footing). Why it took so long is hard to say. Last time it took me 7 hours. This time, 5:45. I honestly thought we could do it in 5. I think it's quite possible, but we both had injury flare-ups and I'm sure it slowed us down.
  

Most remarkable element to the day: Almost NOBODY out on such a fine day.

• Parking Lot at the top of the Willey House Station Road: One guy with a dog.
  
• All the way to the Wilderness Trail: nobody.
  
• On the Thoreau Falls trail, a foot bridge conveniently crosses the North Branch. Down below, sitting on a tarp, deeply absorbed in writing something (didn't look up): one guy.
• Thoreau Falls itself: nobody
• Ethan Pond (AT) back to car: Two adults and two kids