Northeast Wild

  Sept 15, 2020 - EAST BRANCH SACANDAGA RIVER trail & lean-to maintenance, from 11th Mtn trailhead on Rt.8.  Siamese Ponds Wilderness.  Cleared some drainage, cut some blowdown; lean-to was mostly trash-free but we did take out a few items that did not belong.  Nice peaceful spot, saw no others.  Thanks to western wildfires, we got hazy blue skies.  Around freezing early but got to ~60F in the pm, no bad bugs.  The trail goes up over a shoulder of 11th Mtn then follows along the river, the water level was low & the trail was mostly dry.  8 miles, 5.7 hours. Diamond Mountain: Mar 7, 2010 - EAST BRANCH SACANDAGA RIVER from Rt.8.  Over 1' in woods, a bit icy & fast early, softened up in the pm with temp above 40F, some thin spots near river.  The initial up & over the shoulder of 11th Mtn was difficult, easier skiing alongside the river & very scenic.  Had long lunch across river from lean-to - so comfortable in the...

  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...