Northeast Wild

  Dec 30, 2016 - HENNIG PRESERVE & HOMESTEAD COUNTY FOREST ski, in western Saratoga County.  12-15", 6" of new powder on a good base - very good skiing.  Looped on the yellow trail; also white & blue trails on eskers, red trail to vly/pond.  Elevations 1,300' to 1,650'.  Nice views of Cadman Creek in the county forest.  Easy intermediate N of Centerline Rd, intermediate to the S.  6.6 miles, 4.6 hours.  Jan 27, 2014 - HENNIG PRESERVE , western Saratoga County , just outside the Adirondack Blue Line , elevations over 1,500'.  Skied most of the trails N of Centerline Rd incl. new blue loop, all loops counterclockwise.  Very good to excellent skiing, mostly silky smooth but did hit 4 or 5 rocks (mostly on northern white trail that goes over an interesting esker ).  Up to 10" of snow, mostly powder.  1" fresh powder in tracks from previous skiers, did have to break trail some of the time tho.  2 hours.  Dec 31, 20...

  Feb 17, 2014 - SNOW HOLE.  Taconic Crest Trail from Petersburgh Pass (el 2,000') Rt.2 on the NY/MA border.  2-3' of snow (perhaps too much?!) - very good skiing in & out of snowshoe tracks, uphills a bit of work in the troughs.  Bare-booted the initial steep section from road to kiosk but skied it on the way back.  Great view from White Rocks lookout (2,300') 2.5 miles in - the Taconics, across the Rensselaer Plateau to the Catskills.  Williams College/Hopkins Memorial Forest has cut down most trees on a hill before White Rocks to attract flora & fauna that was found here in the past.  The grotto-like Snow Hole did have snow in it,.  Most of the trail is in NY but a section is in VT.  Short side-trip on Birch Brook Trail which eventually drops 1,500' to Williamstown - nice conditions for that.  Mostly intermediate with one steeper hill.  6 miles, 4.7 hours.  Jan 11, 2009 - THE SNOW HOLE & BALD MTN.  Taconic C...

  Mar 30, 2014 - COOPER KILN POND thru ski from Whiteface Mountain Rd to Bonnie View Rd in Wilmington.  Believe the start is the highest elevation plowed trailhead in the Adirondacks, over 2,300'.  5" fresh heavy snow on packed base.  Climb of 900' to height of land at over 3,200' (passed by 2 snowmobiles who soon turned off to Forestdale, broke trail most of the way) then drop 200' (to the pond & lean-to.  Misty.  Drop of 1,900' from height of land - steep, sometimes washed out snowmobile trail (saw group of 6 near the end).  5.9 miles, 4.5 hours then added another hour going back a ways to look for the last 2 members of our group.  Best skiing was up high where the new snow was lighter, got heavier & harder to snowplow & turn down low.  Epic skiing, best done by advanced skiers with new snow before 'bilers get out.  Lean-to camping on Heart Lake next to Adirondack Loj - it was good to get smoke in the eyes once again. ...

  Apr 19, 2004 - DUTCH HILL & HOOSAC RANGE skiing. Green Mountain NF. Good skiing on 0-15" corn, some wet spots. Started at ~2,200' on Rue Madeline in Heartwellville VT. Some bushwhacking, some old woods roads, some old ski trails. Climbed to the N of DH. View E to MA & NH? from ledge on 2,657' peak. Found an old camp & abandoned vehicles incl. school bus. Looped back on woods road to DH. Nice view across Aiken Wilderness to Prospect & Glastenbury Mtns from top of the old (closed in 1985) Dutch Hill Ski Area. Went partway down one of the old runs (not much snow down low). Sunny, temp rising thru the 40s to mid 50s, skied in shorts again. 4.7 miles, 4.5 hours.  Visit us on Facebook

Mar 25, 2009 - SPECULATOR TREE FARM ski.  From parking area just off Rtes 8&30 near bridge on Old Rtes 8&30 which is not plowed shortly after the bridge.  Avg. 1.5' of snow.  Icy at first but real nice as temp rose well over 40F + lots of sun to soften things up.  S on Old Rtes 8&30 for ~1 mile, rapids of Sacandaga River seen to the R.  L on Fly Creek Rd, a snowmobile trail (mountain bike trail in summer).  Pass 3 Camp Rd which goes to Elm Lake then pretty much stay close to Kunjamuk River (mostly ice-free).  Pass Long Level Bridge & continued on E side of Kunjamuk to site of Upper Bridge, there is no longer a bridge here.  Some nice views along the way with Upper Pine Mtn's cliffs to the E & East & Dug Mtns to the W.  I wouldn't ski here on a winter weekend due to snowmobiles but makes for a good late season weekday trip.  Mostly novice but with enough hills to make things interesting.  15 miles, 5.1 hours....

  The Huyck Preserve is a non-profit research organization located in the scenic hamlet of Rensselaerville.  The preserve's 12 miles of trails are spread out over 2,055 acres and lie between 1,600' and 1,900' in elevation.  An excellent map can be found on their website (huyckpreserve.org) or picked up at the visitor center on weekdays.   The best starting-off point for the skier is at a small parking area and kiosk on Pond Hill Road across the street from Lincoln Pond.  From there, it is a short walk to the beginning of the Wheeler-Watson Trail which climbs away from the road and soon reaches a 19th century cemetery.  On a clear day, you may get a view to the Catskills before reaching the flat Race Track, an old horse-racing oval.  The Partridge Path's 3 loops are the preserve's newest trails and are ideal for skiing with plenty of ups and downs through open hardwoods with little understory  I especially love skiing the glade on the southwes...

  February 28, 2010 - WHALES TAIL NOTCH.  High Peaks Wilderness. Start at HPIC.  Old Marcy Dam Trail.  Marcy Dam - popular spot due to its magnificent mountain views (+nice & sunny today).  Whales Tail Notch Ski Trail (400' up & down in 1.2 miles, wider than most hiking trails) - climbs moderately at first then quite steeply (climbing skins helped make this section easy) - view of Mt. Colden from notch.  Quite steep down to Algonquin Trail.  Skied out onto Heart Lake for views.  6.7 miles, 3.5 hours.  2'-3', good (WTN) to excellent (packed trail to Dam) skiing.  WTN advanced, rest intermediate.  Still time to grab a microbrew in Lake Placid.  Skiers caught in avalanche on nearby Wright Peak yesterday - story .  Visit us on Facebook Welcome to the Adirondacks NYSDEC Info

  March 1, 2010 - OVERLOOK MOUNTAIN from the north. Catskills.  4' of snow (snow was up to handrails on a bridge), on the dense side of powder.  Looked at Prediger Rd access but nowhere to park.  Parked on Platte Clove Rd & started on Long Path thru Platte Clove Preserve - the narrow winding trail goes uphill & can be a challenge on return.  After ~1 mile junctions of blue & red trails obscured by blowdown but we persist & are eventually on the blue-marked old road to Overlook.  Lean-to was cave-like under all the snow & outhouse was half buried.  Mid part of route levels out some (we were breaking trail here) & there are views of the Hudson Valley.  Occasional overhanging trees & blowdown but trail is fairly wide & obvious.  Trail later wraps around W side of Overlook & views open up to the W.  Met a tele skier & a bare-booter (gotta be nuts to post-hole like that).  Porcupine in a tree....

  Mar 1, 2004 - WHITEFACE MOUNTAIN xc ski via Memorial Hwy. Spent the night in a leanto among red & white pines overlooking Heart Lake at Adirondak Loj campground - overnight temp a bit below freezing - beautiful cloudfree morning - good day to get up in elevation for views. Varied snow depths with couple of windswept bare spots on the uplowed paved road (had to take skis off once); bit icy near start & at top but mostly packed powder. Warm (upper 40s) & sunny - super views along the way & from summit. Most views are to the W & N til the 4,000' point when view opens to S & Lake Placid & many high peaks are seen. At the final turn, views are to the E over the Whiteface Ski Area. Left skis at the Castle at end of road then bare-booted up the rest of the way on man-made steps - railings help here - mostly open rock around the weather observatory at the summit. Trees get smaller as one goes up in elevation & near the summit red spruce & balsam fir ar...

  Mar 22, 2004 - OWL HEAD LOOKOUT ski, from Rt.9N near Elizabethtown. At trailhead (el. 1,300') less than 1' powder snow; just below the 2,500' summit 2'-3' of dry powder - nice!!! Skinned up in under 1.5 hrs. Could have used just a little bit more grip than my 48mm skins offered. Walked the last 200 yds on narrow trail to the rocky summit, a few small trees cut the wind enough for a comfortable break. On this clear sunny day (temp in low 20s), stunning views of Vermont's major peaks, Lake Champlain, Rocky Peak Ridge, Giant Mtn.'s eastern slides, Whiteface Mt., Hurricane Mt. & more. The first 600' drop was heavenly - perfect powder for making turns in the open woods. Trail then passes thru a ravine with some rocks showing - had to go easy here. Things get better for a while to a stream crossing on a good bridge. Trail levels out for bit (not so good with no grip) then drops moderately thru a beautiful hemlock woods - room here for more tele turns in ...

  Mar 16, 2014 - T LAKE from Piseco Lake.  Temp in mid-teens, windy; snow depth in 3' range.   Fairly steep climb to start, gaining 700' - southern exposure, icy crust topped with 1-2" powder - fair skiing (lots of zigzagging on way back down this section but I stayed upright, Rongwae fell & broke clavicle).  More powder, less iciness at over 2,000' - very good to excellent skiing. The trail drops 300' & crosses Mill Stream then climbs 400' to 2,500' elevation & drops to the lean-to.  Can hardly see the lake from the lean-to.  A tough, sometimes grueling but fun 7.6 miles in 6.3 hours - best for advanced skiers.  Feb 27, 2005 - SOUTH BRANCH WEST CANADA CREEK & T LAKE FALLS ski near Hoffmeister. Foot of powder on top of over a foot of base, just about perfect - temp teens to low 20s. Yet another gorgeous sunny Sunday! West Canada Wilderness. Start at end of Mountain Home Rd - this is private land & you may have to get permission...

  Mar 9, 2014 - INDIAN HEAD via Lake Rd from Ausable Club in St Huberts.  Skied the Lake Rd then switched to snowshoes at the Bypass Trail to Gill Brook & frozen falls.  Ascent of IH very steep in places.  Blue skies & little wind - gorgeous.  Nice view toward Giant Mtn from northern lookout.  From the ledges on IH the Ausable Lakes are below, Lower Lake flanked by Colvin & Sawteeth.  The open rock face of Gothics stands out in the Great Range.  In the far distance Vanderwhacker & Snowy (50 miles away!).  Looped down on lake side - trail switches back often, a ladder covered in ice was unusable.  Short side-trip to Gothics Window.  Snowmobiles had been on the Lake Road (private access to camps on Upper Ausable Lake).  Excitingly fast mostly downhill run out on the hard-packed road.  ~10 miles, 6+ hours.  Ran into Tony Goodwin when we stopped for dinner at the Ausable Inn. Jan 20, 2013 - LOWER AUSABLE L...

   Mar 3, 2014 - GOOD LUCK MOUNTAIN CLIFFS from Rt.10.  Dexter Lake snowmobile trail to past the register then off-trail up the NE side of the mountain climbing moderately at first then steeply cutting switchbacks (climbing skins helped), nice view of the W Br Sacandaga valley along the way.  Picked up the hiking trail just below the cliffs & side-stepped the final steep pitch. Gain of 650' from start.  From the cliffs there is a great view across Spectacle Lake to the hills S of the Mohawk Valley & W to Hedgehog Mountain & the hills in the Jerseyfield area.  Dropped down to the W then N skirting some cliffs but with wide-open woods most of the way, much fun!  Crossed the snowmobile trail & off-trail over to State Brook (flows E) which we followed upstream to the W, some beaver ponds along the way.  Reached Hart Vly Stream (flows W) then back down State Brook further downstream.  Spent most of time off-trail - 3-4" powder on g...

  Mar 14, 2005 - PRESTON PONDS & DUCK HOLE . Weather much like yesterday: a bit of everything; winter still here for quite a while yet. Woke up to temps in low teens. Trail climbs gently then moderately with short steep pitches - I used skins for about a half mile but they weren't absolutely necessary (advanced intermediate on way down - can ski thru open woods to the N of trail) - gained 400' in 1.5 miles to pass before Upper Preston Pond. Nice mountain views while crossing the pond. A carry trail runs S of the outlet (an oar handle sticks up out of the snow at the start). Soon we are on Lower Preston Pond with views ahead to the Sewards & Sawtooths. Picked up the outlet & skied along its S shore (some open water here). After a while, the outlet narrows between steep walls as it goes over a waterfall as it enters Duck Hole - a bit before this there was a ribbon marking the start of a short narrow steep carry (side-stepped it). Out onto Duck Hole & crossed over ...

  SHAKER MOUNTAIN WILD FOREST Jan 10, 2019 - WEST STONY CREEK LEAN-TO skiing from Benson Rd, S on the NPT - 3.9 miles one way + went half mile downstream.  Shaker Mountain Wild Forest.  Up to 6", crusty at 1,000' at the lean-to, better up high (1,500') on most of the trail.  Steeper parts have rocks sticking up - would be best to ski this with at least 20" - the last half mile down to the lean-to is fairly steep so I skied it very tentatively & took off the skis for about 100 yards half way down.  Jan 8, 2017 - SHAKER MOUNTAIN WILD FOREST ski, from the end of Pinnacle Rd in Bleecker.  Started out on the County Line Lake Trail, the first 0.2 miles climbs 100' in a washed out trail, things got much better past that.  Had to go well upstream to get over 1st stream crossing.  At ~2 miles went out on the vly to the W which has a nice view of Pigeon Mtn.  Previous skiers had been in to N of the vly but turned back at a wet stream crossing....