Yawgoog Pond

Thursday, July 12, 2012

There isn't a lot of adult leaders to do at Boy Scout camp. In the past I've done leader training to take up my time but there wasn't any for me to do this year. I had taken a hike with a buddy who lives not too far away, but he was unavailable this time. I was told for me to take a hike, I needed to register a tour permit, go with a buddy, and schedule it with the camp. I went to the office to see what they'd say and that was to just go. So I did. Don't have to ask me twice.

Yawgoog Pond, named after an Indian chief,  is a large fresh water pond of about 150 acres situated in western Rhode Island, near the Connecticut line. Between Yawgoog, neighboring Wincheck pond, and near by Long and Ell ponds, this is the best hiking in Rhode Island. I had been around Yawgoog with the troop a number of years back, but I wanted to go alone.

I found no adequate maps of the trail, but the trial is absurdly well marked. In fact, with so many side trails marked with very similar markings, it may be TOO well marked. I set off clockwise. I kept close watch on the time and used the sun's position to gauge my direction.

When the trail gets close to the Connecticut line it becomes the Narragansett Trail leg of the North South Trail, a 77 mile hiking path across Rhode Island. Readers will know I've done several legs with the Boy Scout Troop. Once there I discovered I had been walking south too long, so I turned around found my misturn.

Confident of my bearings and with ample time, I decided to see if I could locate Hidden Lake. I understood this to be a low, marshy area of no particular interest, but found that to be incorrect. Hidden Lake is a picturesque area encircled by dense forest. I crossed paths with a few people fishing.

I didn't take the opportunity to circle Hidden Pond, which I should have. Instead I headed back to Camp Yawgoog Road, along which are the camp's archery and rifle ranges. I followed the road back to the camp proper and got myself a snack at the 407.