EAST BRANCH SACANDAGA RIVER & SIAMESE PONDS hiking & cross-country skiing

 


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, 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 warm sun that no one felt compelled to go on to the Siamese Ponds.  8.5 miles, 5.5 hours.



Mar 2, 2008 - SIAMESE PONDS cross-country skiing from Rt.8.  15" powder on deep base, 3'+ total.  200' climb & 400' drop in 1st 1.5 miles (intermediate in good snow), nice views of cliffs on 11th Mtn.  Another 2.5 miles (novice) along the E Branch Sacandaga River to leant-o & bridge.  Climb over 400' in 2+ miles to the remote ponds, this is a very enjoyable run out (intermediate).  Trail packed until a little past the lean-to then we broke trail for over 2 miles, much slower going.  13 miles, 7 hrs.  Fischer Rebound skis with 3-pin bindings.


Nov 26, 2007 - EAST BRANCH SACANDAGA RIVER hike.  Siamese Ponds Wilderness Area from Rt.8 near Bakers Mills.  Snow (<1"), ice, mud, water.  Gain 240' on rough trail then drop 400' to river which had some ice in calmer sections.  Peaceful except a crash when ice fell off 11th Mtn cliffs.  Originally wanted to go to Kibby Pond but limited parking was icy.  Also scouted out start of path to E Branch Sacandaga Gorge but 1st stream crossing was difficult due to ice on rocks which would have to be hopped. 

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