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Hike to Smith Pond
May 6, 2023 @ 8:30 am - 1:00 pm
Free – $14.00
Hike to Smith Pond
Along the Shaker Water Canal System
with Peter Thompson
Saturday, May 6, 2023
8:30 am – 1:00 pm
Take a hike into history with geologist Peter Thompson! In the 1830s, the Shakers dammed several ponds, creating “Shaker Mountain Pond”, and developed a system of canals to deliver water to their community near Lake Mascoma. Today it is possible to hike to Smith Pond following the remnants of this canal system all the way from Route 4a near Enfield Shaker Museum.
Hikers will gather at the Great Stone Dwelling at 8:30 am for a brief introduction (coffee and pastries provided) and get underway about 9:00 am. The route will follow the Upper Valley Land Trust trail with a side spur to the waterfall. Although the hike is of moderate difficulty, those who wished can follow along the canal (gentle grade) and turn back when the hike gets too steep.
Please wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes/boots. Plan to bring a bag lunch and beverage for a picnic along the way. This hike will provide excellent opportunities for photography.
Limited to 15 participants. Advance registration required.
Museum Members – Free
Non-Members – Free with Regular Museum Admission
More about Peter Thompson:
Peter Thompson taught geology at Cornell College in Iowa and the University of New Hampshire. His research has involved mapping bedrock for state surveys in New England, most recently in the Moosilauke area. For many years he and his wife Thelma mapped in the Green Mountains, and he helped edit the 2011 Bedrock Geological Map of Vermont. Although Peter considers himself primarily a “field geologist”, through teaching all sorts of courses at the undergraduate level, he has a wide range of interests and knowledge about geological materials and processes. In his spare time, he enjoys playing Renaissance music, hiking, Tai Chi, gardening, and dancing.