BENNETT, MIDDLE, & MURPHY LAKES skiing & hiking

 


Feb 17, 2017 - BENNETT, MIDDLE & MURPHY LAKES ski, from Creek Rd. Wilcox Lake Wild Forest. 600' climb in 3 miles to Middle then over 100' drop to Murphy & lean-to. Rocky mountain views at Murphy. Nice run back out. Snowshoe tracks went half way, a snowmobile came in after us but only got near Bennett - altho it is an official snomo trail it is not used for that purpose much - someone wrote in the register: "trail not passable with snowmobile". Very good to excellent skiing on ~15", some easily avoidable wet spots. 7.7 miles, 4.5 hours.


Nov 7, 2012 - BENNETT & MIDDLE LAKES hike, from Creek Rd, N of Northville.  Temp in the 30s, gotta get acclimated to colder temps & you don't do that by staying inside.  The trail is along an old road, now also a snowmobile trail.  Have to leave the main trail to get a good look at Bennett.  Also left the main trail & followed a fisherman's path counterclockwise around Middle passing thru some choice campsites in hemlock woods.  Built a small campfire at lunch.  Very quiet, nice clear green water.  7 miles, 500' el gain, 4.7 hours.

Jan. 27, 2000 - Skied to Bennett & Middle Lakes (near Northville). Started out about 7:30am. Up to 10" of powder but not much in the way of base - wish I had used my rock skis instead of 1 year old Lookouts - hit quite a few rocks - will be better when snowmobiles come thru to pack down then add few inches of more powder. Minus 5F when I reached Middle Lake about 9am after gaining over 800' in elevation. Didn't have time to go as far as Murphy Lake - had to be at work by noon. Lakes were real pretty in the morning sun - saw lots of deer tracks.


Visit us on Facebook

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BOREAS PONDS in the Adirondack Park

Image
Boreas Ponds Tract info . Seasonal access issues .  June 20-22, 2023 (Tue-Thu) - BOREAS & WHITE LILY PONDS paddling, hiking, & camping. High Peaks Wilderness. Highs in the 70s, lows in the upper 40s. Light mosquito activity at times, a moderate amount of young deer flies (not biting), and black flies are over with (they are hanging out on cooler mountain tops).  Day 1 - Drove 6 miles on Gulf Brook Rd (dirt/gravel) to the 4 Corners parking area (5 of the 15 spots were taken). Wheeled the boats ~1 mile on dirt/gravel road to the lean-to, white-throated sparrows sang along the way, & set up camp. Saw a ruffed grouse in the lean-to clearing. Wild strawberries too. There is a well-hidden thunderbox privy - it took a while to find it - it is in another clearing NW of the lean-to. The Ranger stopped by as we had lunch. Paddled the irregular perimeter of BP. Spotted a loon on a nest. Great blue heron. 5.7 miles. Saw a few other paddlers, mostly day trippers. Went for an ...
Read more

WAKELY MOUNTAIN fire tower hike

Image
  Wed Sep 16, 2020 - WAKELY MOUNTAIN hike. The first 2 miles were on an old road with easy grades, then the trail turns R (at this junction, if you follow the unmarked path straight you soon reach a beautiful meadow with a view of the mountain & fire tower) & climbs very steeply, there are some plank handrails at some spots & a ladder. Just before the top, there is a wooden helipad with a good view to the E. The fire tower is one of the tallest in the Adks (http://nnyara.net/FireTowerRadio/Fire_Tower_List_3-14-11.pdf ), a short ladder gets you up into the cab but views are still great below the cab. To the W, I could see Lake Kora, Sagamore Lake & Raquette Lake (the only signs of civilization were some houses on RL). To the E were Cedar River Flow & Snowy Mtn. To the N, the High Peaks were clearly in view. There is a repeater antenna on the cab & a solar panel just below - I am assuming the helipad is there for maintenance purposes. 5-10% color chang...
Read more

JESSUP RIVER & INDIAN LAKE CANOEING

Image
April 25, 2016 - Jessup River upstream from Jessup River Rd (dirt). 0.9 miles to foot of rapids. 3 deer ran across the rapids in front of me! 0.2 mile carry (part bushwhack, part on logging road)) around the rapids. Mossy Vly Brook comes in at 1.9 miles. 0.4 miles further up the Jessup saw an otter run along the bank & dive into the water. Carried around a logjam & stopped at another. Lots of shallow sandy-bottomed sections. Poked up shallow Mossy Vly on way back. 5.1 miles, 4.1 hours. Perkins Clearing Road & Jessup River Road open & in good shape - usually closed until sometime in May for mud season. May 23, 2010 - JESSUP RIVER & INDIAN LAKE paddling from Jessup River Rd (dirt) near Perkins Clearing in the central Adirondacks.  Spotted cars at the Indian Lake state boat launch, paid day use fee.  Some blackflies & mosquitoes at start but minimal during trip - started out wearing my Original Bugshirt but eventually took...
Read more