December 30, 2021
Start/end: Nancy Pond Trailhead
Miles: 9.58
Elevation gain: 3346′
The first few miles were very packed down, which lulled me into a false sense of security. But after the cascade, only me and 2 other people had decided to adventure higher. They both had snowshoes and I regretted leaving mine behind a few times, as I navigated the narrow and then the marshy sections leading up towards the ponds.
I ran into one of the other people by the first pond and we compared notes. He seemed to think Nancy was unusually steep, saying it was much worse than Scar Ridge. Having just done Scar Ridge last night, I can confirm he was definitively incorrect. It was a nice hike to the top, with a few steep sections but they were easy enough to descend. The trip back in the dark was a little damp; with so many unstable water crossings, I managed to dunk my foot once and it was very slushy. But overall, it was a fun time!
