MOOSE POND xc skiing in the High Peaks Wilderness

 


Jan 22, 2023 - MOOSE POND ski. A few inches of base with a few inches of powder - could not ask for anything better. The trail was broken all the way altho I believe we were the only ones to reach the pond on this Sunday. Gentle rolling terrain most of the way on old roads. After the junction with the trail to Newcomb Lake, there is a good uphill with Moose Mtn towering 1000' above to the left, then a nice downhill to the pond bearing left to get to the campsites. Unfortunately, low clouds obscured Santanoni Peak & the Ermine Brook Slide as we sat on a downed tree eating lunch at the edge of the pond near a campsite. No wind, very quiet. Cloudy with temp in the upper 20s. I was feeling almost beat over the last couple of miles, but it actually took us less time on the return to the start. Elevations range between 1600' & 2000'. 15 miles, 1500' gross el gain, 6 hours.










  

Mar 19, 2012 - CAMP SANTANONI.  Took a walk on the carry trail to check out the rapids.  Took my time breaking camp - got down to 40F degrees in the am.  Checked out a snowmobile trail S of Newcomb - shot.  Checked out a trail that goes around Vanderwacker Mtn - went less than a mile before hitting a wet area.  Back to tried & true Camp Santanoni on Newcomb Lake.  Temp in 60s again.  Boathouse open - hung out on the ramp in front, put the pad down, took off shirt & absorbed the rays.  A couple of lawn chairs in the boathouse too.  Packed snow, lots of icy spots, and some short bare spots.  9 miles, 3.9 hours.  10+ miles on the day.  

Newcomb Lake & Camp Santanoni skiing, paddling, camping.  

Mar 18, 2012 - MOOSE POND from Newcomb, same trailhead as Camp Santanoni.  8"-15" of snow - variable conditions, some unconsolidated deeper sections where skis sunk in, some very good sections, some wet spots, some icy spots esp on the road to the camp (nice & fast on the gentle downhills) - temp rising into the 60s.  Nasty stream crossing about 2/3rds way in - almost got across makeshift log bridge before slipping in up to top of my thighs - made handrail for rest of Dagang to make things easier.  Nice views of Santanoni Peak (& the Ermine Brook Slide) & the Sewards from campsite on S side of the pond.  Mostly novice, perhaps easy intermediate closer to the pond.  Wetter & thinner snow on last hill.  14.4 miles, 6.8 hours.  Camped at 1 of 2 Deerland lean-tos at foot of rapids on the Raquette River where it enters the S end of Long Lake. 

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