Bald Mountain Stream Crossing with Rope Assist on the AT (2007)

Bald Mountain Stream Crossing with Rope Assist on the AT (2007)

Location Map for Blanchard

Location Map for Blanchard

Year Population
1970 n.a.
1980 n.a.
1990 78
2000 83
2010 98
Blanchard Population Chart 1840-2010

Population Trend 1840-2010

Geographic Data
N. Latitude 45:14:58
W. Latitude 68:38:26
Maine House District 27
Maine Senate District 27
Congress District 2
Area sq. mi. (total) 45.0
Area sq. mi. (land) 44.3
Population/sq.mi. (land) 3.9
County: Piscataquis

Total=land+water; Land=land only
Roof of Horseshoe Canyon Lean-To

Roof of the Horseshoe Canyon Lean-To on the AT

1950/51 Topographic Map of Blanchard

1950/51 Topographic Map of Blanchard

This township in Piscataquis County was incorporated as a town on March 17, 1831 from T3 R3, BKP.

Named for one of the early proprietors, Charles Blanchard,* it became a township in 1985 and is home to Russell Mountain and Whetstone Pond.

The village, near the Piscataquis River, is accessible from Monson. Thomas Davee, lived here in the early 19th century, served in the Maine House of Representatives, was Somerset County Sheriff, a member of Congress, and postmaster.

The Changing Routes of the AT 1950 and 2007: Yellow = 1950; Green = 2007

The Changing Routes of the AT 1950 and 2007: Yellow = 1950; Green = 2007

In the early 1950’s the Trail tracked several miles south of the Piscataquis River until crossing it at the village, after facing steep slopes on the northern edge of Russell Mountain. (Click to enlarge the map above.)

Bald Mountain Stream Crossing . . .

2007 Bald Mountain Stream Crossing . . .

Cliff on West Branch, Piscataquis River

Cliff on West Branch, Piscataquis River

. . . of the AT, with Rope Assist

. . . of the AT, with Rope Assist

On the Trail: Shelf Fungus

On the Trail: Shelf Fungus

In the northern portion, the Appalachian Trail crosses the township following Bald Mountain Stream and the Piscataquis River, passing just north of the village.

60-acre Spectacle Pond ** is in an isolated spot, not often visited, in the southwest corner of the township. (See the lower section of the map above.) It consists of two separate, shallow basins separated by a narrow thoroughfare.

The forest extends right to the shoreline around most of the pond. Access is over a rough gravel road which ends at the shore.


Canoe in Spectacle Pond (1990)

Canoe in Spectacle Pond (1990)

Sunset in Spectacle Pond (1990)

Sunset in Spectacle Pond (1990)

About 50 years in the 20th century one small camp was at the pond. The owners invited visitors to share the quiet, the fishing, and the good-natured conversation over cards.

 

Camp at Spectacle Pond (1992)

Camp at Spectacle Pond (’92)

At the Shore (1990)

At the Shore (1990)

Camp at Spectacle Pond (1990)

Camp at Spectacle Pond (’90)

The pond is so shallow that water temperatures at times exceed the limits considered tolerable by brook trout. Spring areas in the pond become very important in sustaining the brook trout. The shallow water (about four feet) provides good grazing opportunities for moose.

Moose in Spectacle Pond (1988)

Moose in Spectacle Pond (1988)

Moose in Spectacle Pond (1992)

Moose in Spectacle Pond (1992)

According to a report of a 1979 lake survey, “the only tributary to Spectacle Pond is a meandering dead-water area that passes through several old beaver flowages. No suitable trout spawning areas were found in this brook. The outlet flows through an old beaver dam. The brook trout population is maintained through natural reproduction that occurs within the pond, and in the outlet.”***

**Not to be confused with Spectacle Ponds in nearby Monson.  Pond photos with moose by Francis B. Henderson.

 

Additional resources

*See Glossary, source number 7.

** There are at least five other Spectacle Ponds in Maine: King and Bartlett Township also in Somerset County, Porter Township in Oxford County, Vassalboro and Augusta in Kennebec County, and Osborn Plantation in Hancock County.

***Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. “Spectacle Pond.”  Published under Appropriation No. 4550 A Contribution of Dingell-Johnson Federal Aid Project F-28-P, Maine. http://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/piscataquis/spectacle_pond.pdf  (accessed June 12, 2014)

Topographic maps were created from the University of New Hampshire Dimond Library, Documents Department & Data Center, Historic USGS Maps of New England & New York, accessed 1/14/2008: Kingsbury, ME Quadrangle (1950), http://docs.unh.edu/nhtopos/Kingsbury.htm; and, Greenville ME Quadrangle (1951) http://docs.unh.edu/nhtopos/Greenville.htm.

All 2007 photos courtesy of Brady G. Williams.

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