February 18, 2024: Arbutus Hill Snowshoe Tour

The Meredith Conservation Commission had a successful snowshoe tour up to Arbutus Hill Pond yesterday when an avid group of winter enthusiasts made the three mile hike to the pond and back to explore the activity that takes place there in winter.

Photo by Marcella MacKenzie.

The fresh snow we had on Friday along with another light dusting Saturday morning not only made it quite pretty, but also created a nice surface to see animal tracks.  Along the way we saw tracks of fox, bobcat, ruffed grouse, deer, weasel, and mouse.

Bobcat print.

Grouse tracks were found in several areas of hemlock forest.

Mouse tracks.  There were also many red and gray squirrel tracks to be found.

The two-by-two track of a weasel, perhaps a mink or an ermine.

We walked on the ice beside the long beaver dam that impounds the pond, and stood within a few yards of the beavers themselves, warm inside their well-constructed lodge.  

We even found an old otter slide on the ice.  It was an enjoyable trip with good company on a perfect winter day.

I mentioned last week that the Great Meredith Rotary fishing derby was held last weekend on all the lakes in New Hampshire, but I didn't get down to the headquarters at Meredith Bay until Sunday afternoon, so here are some of the fish that ended up on the board.

The leaderboard right at final weigh-in last Sunday.

Some good size pickerel.

I like the way they award the grand prize:  The largest fish caught in each species is entered into a drawing for the grand prize, meaning regardless of what species you're fishing for, you have a chance to win. The grand prize winner this year was an 2.5 pound 17" black crappy.  

The Black Crappie board with the grand prize winner.

It was caught by Tom LaBrecque in Cawley Pond in Sanbornton, just a 26 acre pond, but obviously growing some big fish.  The winning angler has been fishing in the derby for some 35 years.

The uncertain ice conditions on the large lakes did in fact send a lot of people to Lake Wicwas, with cars lined up at the boat ramp as well as along Chemung Road near Harris Cove. 

Many anglers out on Wicwas last weekend.

It was a beautifully warm and sunny weekend for all the anglers to enjoy.

Wicwas fishermen enjoying 50 degree weather on Derby weekend.

The ice is plenty safe on Wicwas now - I measured 10-1/2" this week - and the ice has started to groan and moan as stress cracks form in artistic patterns across the lake. 

But the warm weather has foiled the Alton Bay ice runway, which for the second straight year will not open for planes to use due to lack of ice.  It's the first time ever that it hasn't opened two years in a row.

Finally, last week's warm weather did produce a sight for those thinking about spring:

Snowdrops on February 11th.

It's the earliest date I've ever seen the snowdrops emerge.