HENDERSON LAKE, PRESTON PONDS & DUCK HOLE canoeing.
Sep 14, 2014 - HENDERSON LAKE.
Easy 0.3 mile carry from Upper Works trailhead. Explored the S
inlet, Santanoni Brook & Indian Pass Brook. Awesome High Peaks
views. Foliage ~20% change, mostly red & purple maples.
Very little wildlife, no bad bugs. Saw just 1 kayak & 2 pack
canoes. 7.8 miles, 4.4 hours.
Aug 4 & 5, 2013 - HENDERSON LAKE, PRESTON PONDS, DUCK HOLE canoe camping, from Upper Works trailhead Sunday: Wheeled canoe & gear (incl. comfy chair) 0.3 mi. to the put-in on Henderson Checked out all 3 designated campsites (none occupied) before deciding on the southeasterly one. Campsites have fire ring & thunderbox. The site on W shore is further S than shown on the map at the put-in - it's lousy anyway. After setting up camp explored Santanoni Brook (ducked under a fallen tree & dragged over a sandy shallows before giving up) & southerly inlet (over 2 beaver dams). Windy out on the lake & quite a few kayakers out (no canoes). Stunning views with mountains in every direction, Wallface especially impressive looking. Loons (calling night & early am); lots of cedar waxwings flitting about; some horseflies but mosquitoes mysteriously absent. Monday: Strong N wind created whitecaps. Paddled to NW end of Henderson & carried to Upper Preston Pond - the trail (rocks, roots & mud!) gains over 400' in 1.5 miles before dropping a bit to the pond. Again, great mountain scenery & loons. Short carry to Lower Preston Pond, water level higher than previous trips thanks to beaver dam at the outlet. More loons & impressive views of the Sewards to the W & Sawtooth Range to the N. Left the canoe & walked a path on N side of the outlet 10 mins. to waterfall with view of Duck Hole. Rock-hopped the stream above the falls & picked up a path to DH. Since the dam went out the water level is down 6' exposing a different kind of shoreline with old logs and rocky areas. I could see one of the lean-tos across the other side. On the way back I left my yoke at the NW end of Upper Pond & got to the other end before realizing it - having to paddle back into a strong headwind was not fun. Thankfully the wind had died down a bit by the time I had to paddle down HL.
Aug 4 & 5, 2013 - HENDERSON LAKE, PRESTON PONDS, DUCK HOLE canoe camping, from Upper Works trailhead Sunday: Wheeled canoe & gear (incl. comfy chair) 0.3 mi. to the put-in on Henderson Checked out all 3 designated campsites (none occupied) before deciding on the southeasterly one. Campsites have fire ring & thunderbox. The site on W shore is further S than shown on the map at the put-in - it's lousy anyway. After setting up camp explored Santanoni Brook (ducked under a fallen tree & dragged over a sandy shallows before giving up) & southerly inlet (over 2 beaver dams). Windy out on the lake & quite a few kayakers out (no canoes). Stunning views with mountains in every direction, Wallface especially impressive looking. Loons (calling night & early am); lots of cedar waxwings flitting about; some horseflies but mosquitoes mysteriously absent. Monday: Strong N wind created whitecaps. Paddled to NW end of Henderson & carried to Upper Preston Pond - the trail (rocks, roots & mud!) gains over 400' in 1.5 miles before dropping a bit to the pond. Again, great mountain scenery & loons. Short carry to Lower Preston Pond, water level higher than previous trips thanks to beaver dam at the outlet. More loons & impressive views of the Sewards to the W & Sawtooth Range to the N. Left the canoe & walked a path on N side of the outlet 10 mins. to waterfall with view of Duck Hole. Rock-hopped the stream above the falls & picked up a path to DH. Since the dam went out the water level is down 6' exposing a different kind of shoreline with old logs and rocky areas. I could see one of the lean-tos across the other side. On the way back I left my yoke at the NW end of Upper Pond & got to the other end before realizing it - having to paddle back into a strong headwind was not fun. Thankfully the wind had died down a bit by the time I had to paddle down HL.
Sep 21 & 22, 2008 - HENDERSON LAKE, PRESTON PONDS, DUCK HOLE. Easy 0.25 mi. carry from Upper Works to Henderson Lake put-in next to dam. Leanto + 3 new campsites (map near put-in). Paddled around S end , took a short walk to Masten House, then N with super view of Wallface & other mountains. Muddy landing near leanto then pick up trail for 1.8 mi. carry to Upper Preston Pond - very rough in many spots with rocks, roots & mud; gain over 300' most of which occurs a little over a mile in. Mountainsides come steeply down to Upper Preston Pond. Narrow 100yd carry S of outlet (there is an old oar marking the spot) to muddy landing at Lower Preston Pond. Lined the outlet thru shallows/rocks (Chota Mukluks very useful; for the muklukless, there is also a rough path on the right) to a narrow 100' carry on L which drops steeply around a 12' falls to Duck Hole. Moved into one of the leantos near dam. Very good fall colors, superlative mountain scenery; clear waters. Morning mist. Hiked Northville-Placid Trail (very easy smooth old road; Cold River, Moose Creek & 2 leantos along the way) 2 miles to Mountain Pond, had to bushwhack short distance to get to its S shore - pretty, view of Sawtooth Mountains. From Duck Hole paddled up Roaring Brook (one liftover) to within sight of hiking trail. Took our time heading out, hardly a cloud in the sky, colors & views were outstanding. Bell Northstar, a 16.5' tandem canoe.
Sun/Mon Sep 25/26 - HENDERSON LAKE, UPPER & LOWER PRESTON PONDS, DUCK HOLE. High Peaks paddling - 2+ miles of carries - stunning mountain views from lakes/ponds. Very good fall color - peak colors should be about a week away. Easy 0.25 mi. carry from Upper Works to Henderson Lake put-in next to dam. 1.5 mi. paddle on Henderson to NE end with super view of Wallface & other mountains - 2 loons. Picked up trail for 1.8 mi. carry to Upper Preston Pond - very rough in spots, gain of 400' most of which occurs a little over a mile in. Mountainsides come steeply down to pond. Cabin at SE end is rumoured to be on private land & will stay - rest is wilderness. 100yd carry S of outlet into Lower Preston Pond. Carried around top of outlet to the R for 100' & paddled outlet sometimes wading to line thru shallows/obstructions to a 100' carry on L which drops steeply around a 12' falls to Duck Hole. Stayed at Duck Hole Leanto #2 (leaks a little) next to the dam with a good view SE. In the other leanto were 2 axemen (Cold River Bob & Gary who are into saving Duck Hole). Saw 1 loon but reports say there have been 2 adults & chick seen thruout summer. Ran into Nehasane's old time nemesis, Fengshee, who had tripled the carry; after exchanging unpleasantries we continued on our ways. Starting raining on the long carry down from Upper & trail got wet muddy quite nasty. Great trip! An old 16' 40lb Apple canoe.
Sun/Mon Sep 25/26, 2005 - HENDERSON LAKE, UPPER & LOWER PRESTON PONDS, DUCK HOLE. High Peaks paddling - 2+ miles of carries - stunning mountain views from lakes/ponds. Very good fall color - peak colors should be about a week away. Easy 0.25 mi. carry from Upper Works to Henderson Lake put-in next to dam. 1.5 mi. paddle on Henderson to NE end with super view of Wallface & other mountains - 2 loons. Picked up trail for 1.8 mi. carry to Upper Preston Pond - very rough in spots, gain of 400' most of which occurs a little over a mile in. Mountainsides come steeply down to pond. Cabin at SE end is rumoured to be on private land & will stay - rest is wilderness. 100yd carry S of outlet into Lower Preston Pond. Carried around top of outlet to the R for 100' & paddled outlet sometimes wading to line thru shallows/obstructions to a 100' carry on L which drops steeply around a 12' falls to Duck Hole. Stayed at Duck Hole Leanto #2 (leaks a little) next to the dam with a good view SE. In the other leanto were 2 axemen (Cold River Bob & Gary who are into saving Duck Hole). Saw 1 loon but reports say there have been 2 adults & chick seen thruout summer. Ran into Nehasane's old time nemesis, Fengshee, who had tripled the carry; after exchanging unpleasantries we continued on our ways. Starting raining on the long carry down from Upper & trail got wet muddy quite nasty. Great trip! An old 16' 40lb Apple canoe.
Aug 24, 2003 - HENDERSON LAKE canoeing. Got permission to paddle this High Peaks lake which will soon become public land. General public may be allowed access as early as this fall. Magnificent mountain views - peaks rise 2,000' to 3,000' above the lake. 0.25 mile carry on dirt road - take the Indian Pass trail from Upper Works & take a left after crossing bridge over the outlet. Put-in next to the dam. As we paddle W, Santanoni Peak pears over the shoulder of Henderson Mt. In the SE bay there is a dock belonging to a hidden camp, the only building near this lake. At the southern tip of the lake is an inlet thru a marshy area which can be explored. Also paddled a short distance up Santanoni Brook where beavers have created a good size pond. Shores are mostly steep & rocky - not many spots look good for future campsites. As we paddle up the W shore, Wallface Mt.'s exposed rock dominates the view N, the McIntyre Range lies to the NE & Mt. Colden peers out to the ENE. Not much wildlife at first on this windy day but eventually do see a gb heron & a loon. At the N end, Indian Pass Brook's banks extend well out into the lake. Rode a tailwind back to the put-in. Merrimack Baboosic, a 14' Kevlar solo canoe with cherry ribs, seemed to be the appropriate boat for my first paddle here - its classic recurved stems add a traditional look but do create minor problems in the wind. Bell Solo Portage Yoke with CVCA Pads, used on the Bell Merlin II, is the most comfortable yoke I've ever used thanks to the CVCA pads (which can be purchased seperately for use with most yokes).
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