Northeast Wild

  Feb 24, 2025 - CRAB POND xc ski. There are 2 Crab Ponds in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness, this is the southern one (el 1050') & the trail is relatively new. Started on Pharaoh Lake Rd (935' el) - well-used over the weekend, folks mostly heading to Pharaoh Lake (no other cars in the parking area today). At 1 mile, the trail to CP is on the right* - no sign but there is a camp here disc pointing in the right direction. But before heading for CP, we checked out the status of the bridge over Mill Brook - it is still there but the boardwalk beyond has been removed. DEC website says: "The bridge over Mill Brook on the Pharoah Lake Trail is out. This bridge is located a little over 1 mile from the trailhead. The Pharoah Lake Trail is closed at that point. The Crab Pond Trail can still be accessed from the Pharoah Lake Trail prior to reaching Mill Brook. (1/22/2025)"Breaking trail from here* - skis sunk in 4-6". Yellow foot trail & ski markers - a few times we ha...

  Feb 20, 2025 - EAST BRANCH SACANDAGA RIVER trail to Sacandaga Lean-to from Old Farm trailhead. Siamese Ponds Wilderness. The first couple of miles were easy, with a slight gain in elevation. The next couple of miles had some ups & several fast downhills as the trail dropped 200' to within sight of the frozen-over river. Crossed on a good bridge. Rolling terrain beyond with some sharp dips in & out of frozen brooks. One big tree across the trail, & a smaller one. Could sometimes make out the river & Big Shanty Flow thru the trees. A moose had postholed the trail. Turned R at a junction & soon arrived at the lean-to. Woods were sometimes open hardwoods, sometimes evergreens. Good skiing on 20", with 3" of powder on firm crust base - unbreakable with skis on, breakable crust in bare boots, poles would sometimes break thru. Mostly sunny, temp rising from single digits to upper teens. 14+ miles, 1375' el gain/loss, 7.2 hours. Legs are tired! Sept 15, ...

  Jan 16, 2019 - CHASE LAKE skiing & lean-to camping.  Shaker Mtn WF.  Avg of 3" on ~6" crunchy base - good skiing.  Coyotes howling.  Missed the cheap beer drinkers, tracked & wheeled vehicles & snowmobiles (saw tracks).  Lots of junk in & around the lean-to (actually some of it is useful).  Trail to old lean-to site is novice (this was untracked), rest is intermediate (had seen some snowshoe & ski use).  Very quiet while I was there - nice spot. Jan 1, 2017 - CHASE LAKE ski, from the end of Pinnacle Rd in Bleecker.  Shaker Mtn WF, Adirondack Park.  Excellent skiing (if you used Maxiglide on nowax skis; snow can be sticky with temp close to freezing) - 10" powder on over a foot of base, close to 2' total.  Trail to the newer lean-to (intermediate) which has a nice view then across the lake to the old lean-to site & looped back (easy but less used & more breaking trail).  Ran into a couple on way bac...