CRAB POND hike & cross-country ski in the Pharaoh Wilderness

 


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 had to search for the next one. Rolling terrain (up to 1085' el). Mill Brook is often seen thru the trees. Junction before the pond - straight goes across the top of a snow-covered waterfall on the pond's outlet. We took a R on foot trail which goes up & over a knob before dropping to a lovely campsite on the c-shaped pond (I whacked around the S side of the knob). Steep shores around the pond, Little Stevens Mtn to the S. Hazy sun showed up for lunch. Headed back. 18" snow depth, heavy & dense with a hint of light crust in the mix - it was hard to make the skis turn. 6.5 miles, 4.6 hours.







June 23, 2019 - CRAB POND hike.  Southernmost Crab Pond in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness.  1 mile on Pharaoh Rd Trail; was very wet with big puddles. R on yellow trail, some ski markers.  Waterfall on outlet; after the ski trail goes straight across the top of the falls then rolling terrain to the pond; the foot trail turns R before the falls and goes up then down fairly steeply to a sweet campsite.  The small u-shaped pond is a gem in a bowl.  A Coleman canoe is stashed there, no paddle.  Saw Bambi.  7 miles, 4 hours.


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