Pond of Safety Adventure

Join Marianne as she leads the group on a discovery adventure to a new and historical area, the Pond of Safety in Jefferson. Expect the unexpected; "walkable hills", fabulous views, rough patches, wildlife sightings, downed trees or other obstacles, plus the collective thrill of finding a new ride together. Bring lunch, bug dope, water and a sense of adventure. While the group will determine the exact route this map will give you a sense of the possible route. http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/nh/jefferson/155127651369552241
Below is Marianne's write up.

Meet at the corner of Valley Road and Route 115 in Jefferson at 10:00 am. Drive there via route 302; turn right at the lights onto route 3 in Twin Mountain, then after about 1 mile turn right again onto Route 115. Climb up 115, and eventually the views open up, and there is a scenic vista on the left. Valley Road is about 4 miles after the scenic vista, on the right side of Route 115. It is about 1 mile after route 115A turns left to head towards the Waumbec Golf Club. Turn right onto Valley Road and park off the road in the dirt shoulder near the intersection. We will meet here and proceed either by car to the trailhead or ride our bikes.

The Pond of Safety is reached by about a 3 mile ride on a dirt road that is slightly uphill all the way. The road begins off of Route 2 near Six Gun City. On the way back we can stop for snacks at the Israel River Campground, and if anyone has not seen the lupines on Valley Road, we can do that, too.

Carpool: Meet at the Attitash parking lot at 9:15.

There is an interesting history of this pond:

The info below is copied from: http://www.randolphmountainclub.org/multimedia/publications/foursoldiers/foursoldiers2.html


The Legend of the Four Soldiers
The Name “Four Soldiers” comes from the days of the American Revolution. It is said that four Continental Army soldiers,William Danforth, Benjamin Hicks, Lazarus Holmes, and Capt. James Ryder, were captured by the British and then released under the condition that they would fight against them no more.

For fear of being arrested if they refused combat upon return, the four soldiers escaped and fled home to the North Country, finding their way to the remote pond, where they lived in safety for more than three years, until the war ended. At the war’s end, the four soldiers were exonerated of their charges of desertion and welcomed back to civilization.

From one generation to the next this legend is passed along. Randolph Paths, Randolph Old and New, other mountain guidebooks, and writings about Randolph and Coos County include versions of this tale of the Four Soldiers at Pond of Safety.