SUSTAINING MEMBERS ONLY: KILBURN POND HIKE/SWIM/SUNBATHE

About 16 members attending the GO Gathering decided to join Jon and me on this .07 hike to Kilburn Pond at Pisgah State Park for a swim. We worked out the carpooling arrangements at the campground, drove to the trailhead about 15 minutes away and started our hike around 1:30 PM.

It was sunny, hot and humid, with temperatures most likely in the 80’s. Off we went following Kilburn Road.

We found a herd path that led us to a rocky ledge. Some of us wanted to go skinny dipping so we found a more private place nearby to launch ourselves into the water. It was easy to jump into the water from the ledge we were on, probably rising about 8 feet above the water. 

The entire pond had about a dozen people scattered around various rock ledges. The water was refreshing but nothing as cold as ocean or river water. We spent a couple of hours sunbathing and jumping in the water.

Dan left his FOB in his shirt pocket and it somehow fell out into the water. Unfortunately it was deep, about 7 feet. Four of us dived down looking for the FOB but by the time we reached the bottom, we were out of breath and could not search the bottom for very long. The bottom was not solid. A soggy bottom of broken twigs and branches. With the FOB mixed in this debris, it was very difficult to find.

To make matters worse, Brian’s phone slid off the ledge and into the water. After searching for a half hour or more, we gave up.    

The hike and swim was fabulous. It was certainly a highlight of this year’s GO Gathering!    

~ Mike and Jon

Epilogue: On Sunday, Dan returned to Kilburn Pond using a mask and snorkel. He found his key!  Unfortunately, we could not find Brian's phone. There was water in the key and the car was acting wonky when he stopped for breaks. It was raining hard when he got to New York so he got a motel for the night and dried the insides of the key with a blow dryer. The key is working fine now and he safely made it back to Harrisburg, PA.

As part of the GO Gathering, take a leisurely hike for swimming/sunbathing at Kilburn Pond in Pisgah State Park, a short drive from MountainSide!

In the heat of summer there's nothing more refreshing than a cool dip in a remote pond! A swimming experience on the more natural and secluded side [without lifeguards, swimsuit optional]. There is a spot with large rocks on the shoreline good for sunbathing and swimming at this secluded pond!

The hike starts out following an old gravel road, Kilburn Road where in .06 miles we reach the start of the loop. We’ll take a right in about 0.1 mile we’ll look for herd paths that will lead us to a rocky outcropping where we can sunbathe and swim. We plan on spending a couple of hours here for sunbathing and multiple dips into Kilburn Pond! Feeling refreshed, it will be a short walk back to our cars. 

Bring water, lunch, snacks, towel, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc. If there are people nearby we'll have to wear swim trunks so please bring them.