Northeast Wild

  Feb 8, 2025 - MARCY DAM & AVALANCHE CAMP ski from Adirondack Loj Rd (2065' el). There is room for 6 cars by the gate + roadside parking. Started skiing on South Meadow Rd for 0.9 miles then R on the Marcy Dam truck trail for 2.8 miles. The latter gradually gains elevation but there are also some flats & downhills for variety. Great mountain views from the meadow at MD (2360' el) - best to ski out & around the open area. 1.1 miles to Av Camp (2600' el) as the trail gradually climbs & snakes thru a lovely forest of balsam fir, red spruce, & paper birch - there used to be 2 lean-tos right next to the main trail but they are gone & there is a spur to a lone lean-to - I could not get up a very steep narrow section of the spur trail so did not get to see the lean-to. Stopped at Kagel lean-to for lunch - Marcy Brook was close but out of sight. Went a bit further up & turned around (4.8 miles from the start) - I had no intention to ski up "Misery ...

  Feb 10, 2025 (Monday) - New 2.5-mile section of the JACKRABBIT TRAIL. Sentinel Range Wilderness. The small parking area on Old Mountain Rd was not plowed so we parked on the side of the road close to Rte 73. The new section follows Rte 73 for ~200' then heads into the woods (mostly deciduous). Road noise intrudes for a bit. The trail slowly gains ~300' in a little over 1 mile then loses ~350' over the next 1+ miles (fun!). One then reaches the edge of a golf course/xc ski area. There is a lean-to on the L where we took a break before returning. Temp in the high teens, cloudy, flurries. The trail had been broken & had 1" of fresh powder, 20" depth - excellent skiing. 5.2 miles, 2.8 hours. Feb 8, 2024 - McKENZIE PASS ski via the JACKRABBIT TRAIL from Whiteface Inn Rd. A thin layer of powder on a firm base at the start. Climbed 500' in the first 1.1 miles with 2 or 3 washed out spots. Then the trail leveled out for a while & passed the Placid lean-to. 1...