Ponds and Lakes of the White Mountains: A Four-Season Guide for Hikers and Anglers [Paperback]

Steven D. Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2003

This all-season guide to the ponds and lakes of the White Mountains celebrates the rich diversity of the region's recreational offerings: you can hike, fish, ski, snowshoe, swim, paddle a canoe, watch birds or moose, or simply linger by a sunny shore. Smith describes a variety of ponds and lakes - from a tree-lined roadside beauty, perfect for a spontaneous swim, to an isolated mountain tarn reached only after a day of serious hiking or snowshoeing. The author matches his love of ponds with a passion for local history, weaving anecdotes and quotations culled from old guidebooks, local histories, and classics from the 19th century. Each of the 68 descriptions includes: summary of hiking facts, pond and lake statistics, activities, and fish species; directions to road or trailhead access (with USGS map); summary of scenery and activities found at the pond or lake (with photographs); side trips to nearby overlooks; and notes on visiting in winter.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A first-class guide...Even if you hike to few--or none--of the ponds and lakes described, you can have many pleasant hours of armchair adventures. -- Appalachia AMC magazine

An elegant guide...[that] should definitely be part of the reference library of anybody who loves the New Hampshire outdoors. -- Mount Washington Observatory Bulletin

About the Author

Steven D. Smith has been an avid White Mountain hiker for nearly 20 years. He has written on hiking and historical subjects for Appalachia Journal, Summer Week, and other publications. He lives and works in Lincoln, New Hampshire.

Product Details

• Paperback: 356 pages
• Publisher: Backcountry Guides; 2 edition (January 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881504130
• ISBN-13: 978-0881504132
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,520,077 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #27 in Books > Travel > United States > States > New Hampshire

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ponds and Lakes of the White Mountains:Wayside to Wilderness, March 4, 2001

By 

Craig Williamson (Center Valley, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ponds and Lakes of the White Mountains: A Four-Season Guide for Hikers and Anglers (Paperback)

Ponds and lakes are some of the gems of back-country hiking. In this book Steven Smith has done an excellent job describing how to get to these aquatic treasures in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Detailed descriptions are given for access and trails. Interesting and useful information is also provided on the lakes and ponds themselves. This includes the elevation, depth, and activities available at the lakes such as fishing, swimming, and birding. Notes on the natural history are intermingled with the text in a way that lets one visualize the tranquility of these aquatic habitats even from afar. Simple trail maps with key geographic features are also provided in many cases. If you hike the White Mountains, and if you enjoy lakes and ponds, this book is a must.

4.0 out of 5 stars hiking opportunities, May 23, 2009

By 

Brian K. Ibenthal - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ponds and Lakes of the White Mountains: A Four-Season Guide for Hikers and Anglers (Paperback)

The book delivers a good reference for hiking options in the White mountains. It also details the best places for view points on each trail. A very thorough book for the subject. The book also gives some history behind the trails as well. I was very pleased with this book.