Big Pond and it's outflow

stripperguy · 03-01-2021, 10:42 PM

Anyone been to Big Pond (near Hoffman Notch) recently, in the warmer months? Or even in the hard water season?
Specifically, anyone had eyes on the outflow of Big Pond? The topo maps show it as a broad section of water, but satellite views show it as nearly filled in with vegetation.
However, NAIP 2013-2015(National Agriculture Imagery Program) images shows a vastly different situation than the satellite images. I do not know the dates that the satellite images were created.
The NAIP images seem to indicate a good sized flow on the outlet of Big Pond...beaver activity? I appreciate their efforts, for sure.

So, has anyone been there lately? Is there really an enlarged outflow?

DSettahr · 03-02-2021, 08:08 AM

Google Earth (the stand alone software, not the google maps website) lets you select aerial imagery by date of capture. Generally speaking, it looks like there's a lot of regular fluctuation in the water levels.

May, 1995 imagery:

October, 2008 imagery:

September, 2009 imagery:

November, 2011 imagery:

May, 2013 imagery:

September, 2015 imagery:

Looks like either the mid-90's or about 10 years ago were the best times to paddle it. Not so much now (unless things have changed in the last 5 years since the most recent aerial images Google earth has access to). I would imagine also that the time of year that the imagery was taken may factor in as well- the photos taken in spring may be more reflective of spring runoff specifically than the typical, year-round water depth at that time generally.

I agree also that beavers are probably the likely culprits with regards to the changes in water levels over time.

DSettahr · 03-02-2021, 08:16 AM

I looked through my photos and I did find 2 photos of the outlet, both taken on the same trip there in July of 2013. The first photo shows the beaver dam, and the second shows the flow along the outlet itself. Definitely appears to match the 2013 aerial imagery shown above, but again, these photos are nearly 7 years old at this point.

Justin · 03-02-2021, 08:46 AM

I was there in January ‘18. It’s hard to tell the amount of water in it with the snow cover but you can see the meadow at about 2:55 in this video...
https://youtu.be/kQVKks2QWSw

Tick Magnet · 03-02-2021, 08:58 AM

My last trip there was in the winter of 2014. Looks like a lot of snags?

stripperguy · 03-02-2021, 09:33 AM

I guess I’ll have to get my boots dirty this spring...
D, agreed seasonal max and mins are always at play, as well as those industrious beavers.
Justin and tick, those views looks similar, no problem with any snags, I only need a few inches of water.
I suppose a quick day trip with an empty (or MT) boat will determine whether another trip with full pack is practical.

oldcoach · 03-02-2021, 10:10 PM

I last visited there in summer 2019. The beaver dam is substantial and I would be very surprised if it is not still in good shape. I didn't paddle it but I did bushwhack along the eastern shoreline to get a look at the upper lobe of the flow. It looks very doable and I've been intending to go back there. Information from a friend was that not only is the beaver flow receptive to paddling, but the outlet from Big Pond to that beaver flow is partially navigable. And there is an old trail to permit carry the rest of the way. Memory is that the information indicated the carry trail is on paddler's left, heading toward Big Pond.

The bigger problem with paddling that flow in late Spring early summer is that the upper lobe of it is a sizeable heron rookery (Great Blue). Paddling through would be disruptive and there is a major danger of receiving droppings from the sky with flushed birds!. It is a noisy place when the nests are full of hatchlings. I observed that myself.

The hike to the bridge where the beaver dam is located is very short and the bushwhack along the east side, up on a ridge, is fairly open and easy. So you could do enough recon even without a boat.

Bruce

stripperguy · 03-03-2021, 09:02 AM

Bruce,
Thanks for the info...sounds better than I hoped for.
MDB and I paddled near the rookery on Round Lake (Malta) before the eagles drove them out. It was really active and loud!
I would be going as early as possible to take advantage of higher water levels and lack of vegetation, so I'll likely miss those rowdy herons.

MTVhike · 03-03-2021, 10:43 AM

Is Big Pond the same as Big Marsh, which is right in Hoffman Notch?

DSettahr · 03-03-2021, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTVhike

Is Big Pond the same as Big Marsh, which is right in Hoffman Notch?

No, Big Pond is a few miles southeast of Hoffman Notch, but still within the Hoffman Notch Wilderness.

Sent from my moto x4 using Tapatalk

paddles · 04-02-2021, 10:45 PM

I paddled it last fall. There was plenty of water to paddle, but it is shallow and you have to avoid some mucky areas. I just paddled around it and didn’t try to get out on the other side, so if you’re trying to use it as a shortcut to Big Pond I can’t say how easy it would be to access solid ground on that far shore. Big Pond is well worth having a boat on though, nice views of Hoffman Mt that you don’t get from the north side along the official trail.

bluequill · 04-05-2021, 06:10 PM

We went there today for a walk to the campsite on Big Pond. The beaver dam had to be 6' or 7' tall in the center and the flow appeared to have plenty of water in it. Easy walk to the beaver dam/ put-in with a boat. I may go back in a couple of days to check out the paddling and to see if getting to Big Pond is possible.

stripperguy · 04-06-2021, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluequill

...I may go back in a couple of days to check out the paddling and to see if getting to Big Pond is possible.

Haha, any destination is possible, only a question of how much suffering/enjoyment.
Let us know how it goes

03-01-2021, 10:42 PM	#1
stripperguy Hangin' by a thread Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Schenectady, NY Posts: 3,764	Big Pond and it's outflow Anyone been to Big Pond (near Hoffman Notch) recently, in the warmer months? Or even in the hard water season? Specifically, anyone had eyes on the outflow of Big Pond? The topo maps show it as a broad section of water, but satellite views show it as nearly filled in with vegetation. However, NAIP 2013-2015(National Agriculture Imagery Program) images shows a vastly different situation than the satellite images. I do not know the dates that the satellite images were created. The NAIP images seem to indicate a good sized flow on the outlet of Big Pond...beaver activity? I appreciate their efforts, for sure. So, has anyone been there lately? Is there really an enlarged outflow?

03-02-2021, 08:08 AM	#2
DSettahr ɹǝqɯǝɯ Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,175	Google Earth (the stand alone software, not the google maps website) lets you select aerial imagery by date of capture. Generally speaking, it looks like there's a lot of regular fluctuation in the water levels. May, 1995 imagery: October, 2008 imagery: September, 2009 imagery: November, 2011 imagery: May, 2013 imagery: September, 2015 imagery: Looks like either the mid-90's or about 10 years ago were the best times to paddle it. Not so much now (unless things have changed in the last 5 years since the most recent aerial images Google earth has access to). I would imagine also that the time of year that the imagery was taken may factor in as well- the photos taken in spring may be more reflective of spring runoff specifically than the typical, year-round water depth at that time generally. I agree also that beavers are probably the likely culprits with regards to the changes in water levels over time. Last edited by DSettahr; 03-02-2021 at 08:28 AM..

03-02-2021, 08:16 AM	#3
DSettahr ɹǝqɯǝɯ Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,175	I looked through my photos and I did find 2 photos of the outlet, both taken on the same trip there in July of 2013. The first photo shows the beaver dam, and the second shows the flow along the outlet itself. Definitely appears to match the 2013 aerial imagery shown above, but again, these photos are nearly 7 years old at this point. Last edited by DSettahr; 03-02-2021 at 08:26 AM..

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03-02-2021, 08:46 AM	#4
Justin Moving along Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,704	I was there in January ‘18. It’s hard to tell the amount of water in it with the snow cover but you can see the meadow at about 2:55 in this video... https://youtu.be/kQVKks2QWSw

03-02-2021, 09:33 AM	#6
stripperguy Hangin' by a thread Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Schenectady, NY Posts: 3,764	I guess I’ll have to get my boots dirty this spring... D, agreed seasonal max and mins are always at play, as well as those industrious beavers. Justin and tick, those views looks similar, no problem with any snags, I only need a few inches of water. I suppose a quick day trip with an empty (or MT) boat will determine whether another trip with full pack is practical.

03-02-2021, 10:10 PM	#7
oldcoach Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 38	I last visited there in summer 2019. The beaver dam is substantial and I would be very surprised if it is not still in good shape. I didn't paddle it but I did bushwhack along the eastern shoreline to get a look at the upper lobe of the flow. It looks very doable and I've been intending to go back there. Information from a friend was that not only is the beaver flow receptive to paddling, but the outlet from Big Pond to that beaver flow is partially navigable. And there is an old trail to permit carry the rest of the way. Memory is that the information indicated the carry trail is on paddler's left, heading toward Big Pond. The bigger problem with paddling that flow in late Spring early summer is that the upper lobe of it is a sizeable heron rookery (Great Blue). Paddling through would be disruptive and there is a major danger of receiving droppings from the sky with flushed birds!. It is a noisy place when the nests are full of hatchlings. I observed that myself. The hike to the bridge where the beaver dam is located is very short and the bushwhack along the east side, up on a ridge, is fairly open and easy. So you could do enough recon even without a boat. Bruce

03-03-2021, 09:02 AM	#8
stripperguy Hangin' by a thread Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Schenectady, NY Posts: 3,764	Bruce, Thanks for the info...sounds better than I hoped for. MDB and I paddled near the rookery on Round Lake (Malta) before the eagles drove them out. It was really active and loud! I would be going as early as possible to take advantage of higher water levels and lack of vegetation, so I'll likely miss those rowdy herons.

03-03-2021, 10:43 AM	#9
MTVhike Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Elizabethtown Posts: 276	Is Big Pond the same as Big Marsh, which is right in Hoffman Notch?

04-02-2021, 10:45 PM	#11
paddles Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 10	I paddled it last fall. There was plenty of water to paddle, but it is shallow and you have to avoid some mucky areas. I just paddled around it and didn’t try to get out on the other side, so if you’re trying to use it as a shortcut to Big Pond I can’t say how easy it would be to access solid ground on that far shore. Big Pond is well worth having a boat on though, nice views of Hoffman Mt that you don’t get from the north side along the official trail.

04-05-2021, 06:10 PM	#12
bluequill Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Keene Posts: 840	We went there today for a walk to the campsite on Big Pond. The beaver dam had to be 6' or 7' tall in the center and the flow appeared to have plenty of water in it. Easy walk to the beaver dam/ put-in with a boat. I may go back in a couple of days to check out the paddling and to see if getting to Big Pond is possible.

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