Stench Brings Solitude To Walden Pond

These days, even Thoreau would be hard-pressed to appreciate the wonders of nature at Walden Pond.

It stinks, with a manurelike miasma that has led the state to close the main beach at the popular swimming hole made famous by Henry David Thoreau, who lived in a cabin by its shore and chronicled his life in “Walden.”

The daunting odor is believed to be coming from bacteria in the sand, said Peg Campbell, the park supervisor at Walden State Reservation.

Experts believe the bacteria are rotting because the pond is four feet higher than normal, submerging sections of sand. Soil and water samples were taken over the weekend to determine the precise cause, Campbell said.

The main section of the beach may remain closed for two more weeks, Campbell said, adding, “We encourage people to give Walden a break until we figure this out.”

Not everyone agrees about the aroma.

Ernesto Rossetti said it smelled like horse manure, as he and his wife set up their lawn chairs beneath a shady tree near the beach on Saturday.

Rosalia Rossetti disagreed with her husband: “I don’t feel it was that obnoxious. You could smell it a bit, but it doesn’t seem that bad.”

Zach Springer, 17, finished a sweaty, 10-mile bike ride to the pond with friends, tossed off his helmet and jumped into the water.

“It was really nice. It smelled good,” he said.

Some visitors even said the smell had its advantages: smaller crowds.

“It’s a beautiful place to come,” said Bob Callahan, 46, as his 5-year-old son played in the water. “It’s a little bit quieter now.”