5/24/17 Perch Pond

Fifty five degrees and overcast. Decided to do the new trails here which we have only done once When we first hiked here we did the Spruce Trail but the other trails had not been built. And the Spruce was not in good shape.

Finally looking like life has returned

Only two of these but a welcome sight

Lots of bunchberry

Decided Kelly would really like the pond so at point 7 we took an unfamiliar trail and headed toward it. We soon came to a section where the trail was overgrown and not clear. I was ready to give up ( last time we had spent a long time looking for the trails) when Kelley took the initiative and led the way.

We reached the pond

It was not a good spot for Kelley to get in the pond but there was a nice little pool she liked

We then followed the shore toward a spot Kelley could enter and saw these fishermen - only people we saw on the hike.

The pond was very pretty with a smooth surface reflecting the sky that was trying to clear

Ah

Then we worked on a different route back. There were lots of violets

 and leaves till unfurling

Adding the walk along the shore and the route back from there made the hike longer than intended and though Kelley had done well she was clearly ready to end the hike while we still had a way to go. She slowed and lagged behind for the last part. Tomorrow will be a day to lay around the yard. The hike ended up being almost 2 1/2 hours.