Having heard that Ethan Pond is a beautiful backcountry camp I decided to take a weekend solo backpacking trip up there. I arrived in Crawfords Notch NH Friday evening and took a quick run up Mt Willard to catch sunset. It was a nice quiet (and chilly) sunset with none else around. I decided to try and get myself into the picture to add a little scale and human element.
After hiking out in the dark I spent the night in the back of my truck and rose early to start the trip.

I started the 9 mile day by heading up to Centinal Pool and spent about 40 minutes shooting the nice little waterfall there, filtered some water and then headed up and over Mt Avalon, Mt Field and Mt Willey with a few nice views from semi obstructed summits. It was definitely a lot colder than I was anticipating but not too bad. The climb down from Mt Willey was WICKED steep with a set of plank stairs built in on top of an old washout area (thank the AMC for all their trail work by becoming an AMC member). After traveling through some beautiful spruce forests and boggy areas (again thanks to the AMC for the plank bridges over the bogs) I arrived at Ethan pond around 2pm.

The Caretaker had already left for the season and there was no one else in camp when I got there. I ate some PB&J for lunch, filtered more water, and took some photos. Then I was greeted by a group of Appalachian Trail thru hikers (Georgia to Maine) and boy was this group in luck.
I have been known to be a bit of a back country chef but this weekend I really outdid myself. Packing in all the necessaries for chicken fajitas. I brought plenty of extra knowing that someone would want to try some (worst case I ate the rest for breakfast) but after seeing these guys roll in I knew that my culinary feast would be much appreciated.
As a token of my hiker appreciation I dished out a little trail magic and gave the hungry hikers my all of my chicken Fajita dinner (I had one myself and turned over all the rest). We passed around the flask of tequila I brought and the sombrero (jess said it would be a good idea) and had a great night hanging out. I hope I helped make their 6 month journey a little better. It was a cold and rainy night but my sleeping bag was oh so comfortable (I kept my water filter in the sleeping bag with me so it wouldn't freeze and my camera batteries in the sleeping bag with me too so they wouldn't lose charge in the cold).

The next morning after a few goodbyes I was off for 11 more miles in the backcountry. It was a nice walk in the woods with a great exposed view of the east side of the Bonds and no big inclines until I started heading back east, where I climbed the col between Mt Tom and Mt Field. Arriving at the Mt Tom Spur I ditched my pack and took a quick run ( 0.5miles) to the summit and then back. Got some funny looks from people I passed but I guess that happens when you hike with a sombrero on.
After about 1.5 miles downhill I arrived back at the parking lot of the Highland center to end my 20 mile journey.

Highlights: First sunset shot I have ver included myself in. Meeting awesome backpackers, cooking my first backcountry fajitas (and being able to help a few north-bounders and getting my first trail name), and obviously just spending some time with mother nature.