We started nice and late at about 10:15am from the Sterling Pond trail entrance on snowed-in Rt. 108 in Smugglers Notch. More perfect weather could not have been asked for – sunny and quite cold, no wind. The sun was on the east-facing iced-over cliffs of the Notch and made quite a sight. So did the ice and snow covered summit of Mansfield ducking in and out of the clouds. The wind must have been howling up there.

The ascent took under an hour on snowshoes, not bad for breaking trail with new snow. The LT connects near the summit of Spruce Peak at a T-intersection with a wider ski trail (Snuffy’s) where we turned left at the sign for Sterling Pond Shelter.

It is a short walk to the pond and then on to the top of Smugg’s to watch the skiers and lunch near the porch of the Top of the Notch. I brought skates in the off-chance the snow had blown off the pond, but no such luck as it was about 4 to 6” deep but i have a goal of skating on Sterling Pond soon.

With Jill, Susan and Dave and trip leader Ted Albers.