February 4, 2024: Pond Hockey '24

This weekend Meredith is hosting the 15th New England Pond Hockey Classic Tournament.

Great weather and big crowds for Pond Hockey.

The event was held on Lake Waukewan due to insufficient ice on Meredith Bay in Winnipesaukee.  Moving the tournament to Waukewan means there aren't all the on-ice features such as food trucks, open fires, and the Labatt's Beer Tent because Waukewan is the town's drinking water supply.  But it's a beautiful venue with the White Mountains looming over the 26 rinks to the north and the east.

The Ossipee Range watches over Lake Waukewan.

There was still plenty of activity on the ice though, including a large village set up by the players.

Saturday was about the best weather the athletes could ask:  Bright sunny skies, light winds, and temperatures cold enough for firm ice but not brutally cold like last year.  There was plenty of good hockey action to watch.

Between games the players and the support teams all kick in to clear the rinks of ice shavings in preparation for the next round of games.  

No Zambonis, but plenty of shovels and power brooms to clear the ice between games.

It's a fun way to spend a couple of hours, and it's not too late to see the action as the games continue today (Sunday) until 1:15pm.  

The weather also cooperated earlier in the week with a nice snowfall coming Sunday night to set up some more great skiing for the week.  Monday morning I headed out to the trails on those same Ossipee Mountains, trails maintained by the Lakes Region Conservation Trust at Castle in the Clouds.  I was early enough to be setting first tracks through a pristine snow-caked forest.

The Faraway Mountain Trail.

It was overcast all day which created some really satiny sights from the Bridle Path viewpoint overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee and the Belknap Mountains.

Stream crossings were tricky as water levels are still high and it hasn't been cold enough to form ice bridges over them.

Shannon Brook drains the east flank of Ossipee Mountains.

Temperatures remained cold until Friday so the snow hung, frozen onto the trees for several days.

Near the summit of Ragged Mountain in Danbury.

Even on Friday when the sun finally came out and the temperature rose into the 40's the snow was still nice enough to take a ski from Lake Wicwas through the Chemung State Forest over to Lake Winnisquam.

Looking south down Lake Winnisquam from Chemung State Forest.

There wasn't a lot of animal activity to see this week, just some otter slides on the lake, some bobcat tracks, and lots more bird activity with a good snow pack now on the ground.  I did catch the bobcat a couple of weeks ago on my trail camera going up the driveway at 7 pm and back down at 4 am.  Or, maybe it was the other way around....

4:03am

7:09pm

Either way, the birds and the squirrels - which are out in force now - better keep an eye open!

Next weekend:  The big Meredith Rotary Ice Fishing Derby!