July 22, 2026

It was hot and humid, so I opted for a short hike around Open Pond. This used to be a nice park/recreation area that is rather run down. Almost nobody was in the campground and I saw one person getting ready for fishing. There was a really nice log cabin style shelter with carved seating and huge rock fireplace. Incredibly, somebody had left poop, dirty wipes and their underwear in front of the fireplace despite easily accessible restrooms across the parking lot. Additional garbage was all around the lake. I was happy to not encounter any snakes on the trail although the mosquitos were annoying. One large turtle was basking on a log but dove into the water before I got too close.