Trip report

SUSTAINING MEMBERS ONLY: Kilburn Pond Hike/Swim/Sunbathe

Swim/Sunbathe DATE: 08/04/2018 - 08/04/2018

Trip/Event Location: Hinsdale, NH
US

Trip Leader(s): Gandalf

Max # People: 15

Trip Guiding / Event Fee: No, I will not be asking participants for money

Difficulty Level: Easy

As part of the GO Gathering, take a leisurely hike for swimming/sunbathing at Kilburn Pond in Pisgah State Park, a short drive from MountainSide!

In the heat of summer there's nothing more

...
Driving directions to the location and spot to meet at:

We will meet at the MountainSide Campground Canteen at 10:30AM to arrange carpooling to the trailhead. If you do not want to spend a couple of hours swimming and sunbathing at the end of the hike, then we recommend taking your own car. 

If you are NOT spending the weekend at MountainSide Campground, here is the address: 

MountainSide
87 McDonald River
Hinsdale, NH 03451

Use Google to map out driving directions. Enter your starting address and the campground address.


Trip Report/Photos
Featured Photo

Have you ever went skinny dipping with 18 GO members? Keep reading for the details!

Most sustaining members attending the GO Gathering decided to join Jon and me on this 5.4 mile easy loop around Kilburn Pond at Pisgah State Park. Dave, the owner of MountainSide, also decided to join us. We worked out the carpooling arrangements at the campground, drove to the trailhead about 15 minutes away and started our hike around 11:15 AM.

It was overcast, hot and humid, with temperatures most likely in the 80’s. Off we went following Kilburn Road and then came upon a sign saying ‘Kilburn Loop’ with directional arrows at each end. Having never hiked this before we thought this was the start of the loop so off we went!

The trail left the comfort of the road and we found ourselves hiking on an abandoned logging road. There were lots of blowdowns but there was a herd path to follow. I recall Mike, the other owner of MountainSide telling me had done it before and found the trail rather primitive so I thought, well this is how it’s supposed to be.

Dave was ahead and at one point yelled out he was having trouble finding the trail. We then went backwards looking for the last blaze and discovered, well…hmmm…there were none. The trail might be primitive but not THAT primitive!

Jon and I yelled out to everyone that we should return back to Kilburn Road at the last trail sign and get our bearings. Meanwhile Rob, Brett and Jacob who told us they would catch up with us, passed us since they continued on the Kilburn Road. Since that end of the loop was a disaster, we agreed to do the loop in a counter-clockwise direction and find out where we lost the trail on the other end.

Within five minutes of starting, we ran into a trail sign that clearly stated that the loop began! The other trail sign we were referencing to is in a bad location. Since we were following a herd path when we made our mistake, we were not the only ones in the past to have done this. Now our adventure really begins. We now continued following a nice, wide road versus the herd path we had before.

Since it was hot and humid, we found ourselves walking what felt like a tropical forest! Orange salamanders were meandering about due to the humidity, a variety of mushrooms were to be seen and we were occasionally walking below towering hemlocks making it feel like we were in an old growth forest. After about a mile from the trailhead, we intersected to the Pisgah Mountain Trail, which lead to the summit of Mt. Pisgah.

The trail was muddy due to all the heavy downpours we had recently. At 3.2 miles we reached the most southerly point and reclaiming the elevation previously lost. Kilburn Brook was roaring so we decided to check it out.

Kilburn Pond would only be about 1.5 miles from here but it sure felt longer than that. As we approached Kilburn Pond the skies opened up and we were in a massive downpour. Our original plan was to take a swim once we reached the Pond so why let a downpour stop us! We are wet anyways!

It was here that a concerned Rob backtracked looking for us since had done the entire loop and we were nowhere to be found. Brett and Jacob hopped into their cars back to the campground. He was relieved that everyone was fine. Thanks for checking up on us Rob!

We found a herd path that led us to a rocky ledge. Off went our wet clothes and we all jumped into the pond!

We had the entire pond to ourselves. After all, there was a heavy downpour! It was so comfortable being in the water and out of our wet clothes. The rain was coming down so hard it was bouncing off the water and into our faces. MAGICAL!

The rain started to let up and a group of young men and women came upon us skinny dipping scoping out the ledge. They were very cool with the whole thing. We put on our wet clothes and hastily did the short .6 mile hike back to our vehicles.

In a weird sort of way, this adventure made the GO Gathering an unqualified success! The hike and swim was fabulous. We haven't had so much fun in the water since we were twelve!. It was perfect and will be a highlight of everyone’s ‘summer of 2018’!   

~ Mike and Jon

  There are 38 photos in Album (Note: Move mouse pointer over larger pic and click on NEXT for better viewing)

What Members Are Saying About This Trip/Event

  • Thank You Mike and Jon, David and Mike, and All. Yes, the walk in the woods, the rain and us in the pond, the Saturday night sky with the Milky Way streaking center stage. Not to belittle the Fireworks show! And thanks for the Rock River experience and the Good Samaritans. - Scorpione
  • Hot, Humid, Wet - that was the theme of the weekend and it was brilliant. I echo Mike's trip reports. The camardarie was brilliant and the pot luck was top notch - the food selection was varied and GOOD. It was great to catch up with the seasoned GO members and meet some new folks as well. The swimming hole for me was the highlight - stunning spot to be one with nature - simply the best!! - Robert.L
  • I was feeling a little down hiking in the rain knowing I would need to dry my pack later. But jumping into Kilburn Pond made it all worthwhile. The swim in the rain - sometimes a downpour, sometimes a drizzle - was a wonderful experience. It was fun watching the raindrops plop into the pond and rebound back up. I loved sharing the event with a great group of guys. Thanks all! Thanks Mike and Jon! - snowsurfer
  • Great pics! Glad the trip report didn't mention that moron who fell on his ass! lol It was so nice to share this special weekend with all of you. Thanks for doing this - baezfred
  • This was my first GO event in almost two years, due to a knee replacement. Thanks Mike and John, thanks David and Mike for creating such a great resort place. And thanks to all the wonderful men I met and talked with. Great weekend. - b.c.
  • It was nice meeting everyone — the combination of great guys, great venue, amd great time made the trip from DE totally worth it. —thanks for the organizers for all the planning that went into the weekend. - Brett
  • It was nice meeting everyone — the combination of great guys, great venue, amd great time made the trip from DE totally worth it. —thanks for the organizers for all the planning that went into the weekend. - Brett
  • Another great experience. I enjoyed meeting some great new people. Thanks! - baezfred
  • Thanks for organizing and hosting this event. Swimming in a downpour will be a special memory of the weekend! - murph

Members That Participated

Gandalf

Outdoor Fitness Level: Very Strenuous


Thornton, NH


United States

Attended
JDNnh

Outdoor Fitness Level: Very Strenuous


Thornton, NH


United States

Attended
lookingnud

Outdoor Fitness Level: Easy to Moderate


WESTFIELD, MA


United States

No Show
Scorpione

Outdoor Fitness Level: Moderate


Boston / Cape Ann, MA


United States

Attended
Dimsum

Outdoor Fitness Level: Easy to Moderate


Weymouth , MA


United States

Attended
Joeinmaine

Outdoor Fitness Level: Strenuous


Truro, MA


United States

No Show
murph

Outdoor Fitness Level: Moderate to Strenuous


Quincy, MA


United States

Attended
bluemanma

Outdoor Fitness Level: Moderate


Tewksbury, MA


United States

No Show
snowsurfer

Outdoor Fitness Level: Moderate


Framingham, MA


United States

Attended
Cartman

Outdoor Fitness Level: Moderate to Strenuous


Framingham, MA


United States

Attended
guest member
Brett

Outdoor Fitness Level: Moderate to Strenuous


Wilmington, DE


United States

Attended
GlennCanoe

Outdoor Fitness Level: Easy to Moderate


Rochester NH area, NH


United States

Attended
beyoungyu

Outdoor Fitness Level: Moderate to Strenuous


Harrisburg, PA


United States

Attended
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