Northeast Wild

  Aig, 2020 -  A crew from the Student Conservation Association's Adirondack Program recently completed construction of three primitive tent sites on the shores of MUD POND. The site on the northern shore can be accessed from the Fishing Camp Trail. The other two sites are best accessed from the water. The campsites are available year-round. West of Long Lake, Adirondack Park. Info & Map .  Oct 2020 - The 0.3-mile Mud Pond Trail has been completed - the trail connects the parking lot with the canoe put-in on the NE shore of Mud Pond, providing a shorter route to the pond & easier access to the 3 new campsites. Feb 20, 2019 - Parking lot was not plowed so I parked as far as I could on side of the narrow (about 1.9 car widths wide!) road. 0.35 miles N on the road then L past gate on Fish Camp Trail (unmarked, no signs), a wide woods road. Carry to Mud Pond ends at 0.75 miles. Crossed McRorie Lake outlet & carry trails between Mud Pond & McRorie Lake at 1.3 miles.

Feb 25, 2023 - MacIntyre West from Bradley Pond trailhead. The original plan was to go to Lake Andrew & loop around on the Sucker Brook & Overlook trails. 5F at the start but no wind, got up into the teens later. The blue trail was well-packed by snowshoers heading for the Santanonis. A small brook had to be crossed, lucky that some of it had good ice (the temp had dropped to minus 16 overnight). At 1.8 miles, all tracks headed R into the woods - we continued straight on the woods road - breaking trail was not too difficult. The gate is no more but that sign is still at the bridge. At a Y, we bore L (the R heads uphill to the N). Soon reached the first of many spots where DEC had removed culverts, creating a ditch with humps on either side - ok visually with 15-20" of snow but I can imagine that they look unnaturally ugly when there is no snow - DEC's plan is "reforestation". At one spot the road had been washed out deeply & it was a scramble with some bu

Vanderwhacker Wild Forest, Adirondack Park.  Jan 27, 2022 - STONY POND from Hewitt Pond ski.  Temp 1*F to 20*F, the sun shined thru high clouds.  15" of snow, a hint of crust halfway down - very good skiing.  The Hewitt Lake Club has several camps on the west third of Hewitt Pond - the rest of the pond's shoreline is state land.  The trailhead parking was well-plowed & there is a thunderbox near the register kiosk.  The trail soon pulls away from the pond going steeply uphill - not very well marked & some blowdown did not help - then a steep drop & soon arrived pondside where there is a view to the camps & Hewitt Pond Mtn.  The next mile is much better & Barnes Pond is a cute pond but trail markers became scarce & it took a while to find the trail.  The trail then climbs steeply gaining close to 400' in half a mile.  Height of land at over 2,200' then an easy drop to a boggy pond that is easier to ski than taking the trail.  Soon arrived at Ston