Chase Pond

[Casey A. Wood]

Has anyone walked into Chase Pond in Plainfield/Grantham? The topo map and Delorme shows a 4WD road going to it, and I can't seem to find it. Is there a route from the south that would get me there?

[Trout Bum]

Casey,

Chase Pond is one of those places earlier generations of my family used to visit to fill buckets with horn pout and perch for the family table. My dad once told me that he tore the oil pan off my grandfather's brand new Packard automoible one night during the trip home from fishing at Chase Pond. This was during the 30's.

It has been many years since I was in the Chase Pond area. I am sure there have been new homes, and snowmobile trails, etc. added to the neighborhood since I was there last.

You may be able to get there from the Miller Pond side but I would think it would be much better to come in from East Plainfield off of Rt. 120. Take the Croydon Mountain (County) Road and follow it staight ahead beyond the end of the maintained roadway. You may be able to see the pond from the road this time of year. If you are like me, you may overestermate the distance you have walked, and not go far enough.

If I remember correctly, there was some sort of organization, located in Plainfield that maintained local trails and published maps of the area. You could probably track down this organization at the town office or the Plainfield library. I am sure the Blow-Me-Down Snowriders club maintains trails in the area also. Call Gil Wilson, who is active in the club and lives in the area.

If you are interested, the hike to Leavitt Pond starts from the same place and is also a nice hike. In the 1800s there was a village at Leavitt Pond. You can still visit the cemetery in the woods to the north east, just beyond the pond, on the uphill side of the road/trail on your left, hiking east.

Best of luck and be sure to wear some hunter orange this time of year.