T LAKE & T LAKE FALLS cross country skiing
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 to park here or ask at nearest house. First mile or so is on unplowed dirt road to the summer parking area before the register - The Floe, a widening of the S Branch is seen on the R. We are the only ones to sign in in the month of Feb. Continue on an old logging road with no markers for 3 miles to crossing of S Branch which is about 60' wide here. We ski up the creek on thick snow-topped ice for about a mile occasionally skirting holes of open water. A little past a pair of cables across the river (hunters use these to cross the creek during high water) we go into the woods on the S side & pick up a path sporadically marked with reddish-orange paint blazes. Losing the path we head for the creek in an "open" area (map would make one think this would be a marsh or vly) but alders make for hard going & we ski along the edge of the creek until one of us breaks thru the ice (you carry spare socks in a ziploc bag, right?) Back into the woods & we soon find the path again - look also for axe blazes (scarred tree bark as it heals over the wound). Finally, we see yellow paint blazes & follow them uphill E along T Lake Outlet to the foot of the 350'(?) falls - a pretty awesome sight - mostly snow-covered ice with a little open water dropping into a pool. Ski in (breaking trail all the way) took 4.5 hours including stop for lunch, ski out took 2.5 hrs. Mostly novice terrain; intermediate hill just past register & close to falls. 14 miles, 7.2 hrs. Karhu Pyxis skis.
Jan 10, 2005 - T LAKE ski. Trailhead parking unplowed - parked across the street at Poplar Point State Campground which is plowed for the ice fishermen on Piseco Lake. 12" snow - half base, half powder. Temp in low 30s - blustery with snow showers. West Canada Lakes Wilderness area. Trail starts out steeply gaining 800' in 1.2 miles - the Orions gripped so well that I didn't need to herringbone. Cliffs of Piseco Mt. rise precipitously to the E. Round Stacy Mt. & drop 300' - trail is narrow & tricky - skied most of drop zigzagging thru woods but walked a short distance too. Crossed Mill Stream, grades now easier. Trail turns N & is a bit steep - I decide to use climbing skins. More wet stream crossings than I would like. Drop down to T Lake - leanto sits well up on hill & has little view of the lake. I'm past my turn-around time & cannot linger long plus I feel tired already - used the climbing skins most of the way back, they allow for better traction on the uphills & they slow you down on the downhills (sort of like going downhill in low gear in a car). Thru-the-trees views of Piseco Lake on the final drop. Too tired to ski well - couldn't snowplow very well but did a few telemark turns - go figure! Expert - for most people this would be best on snowshoes - if I do this again I might try the Karhu Karver skis with integral climbing skins, their short length make them more maneuverable. 7.3 miles, 5.7 hrs. Karhu Orion skis, Rottefella BC 75 (similar to Riva 3 but without adjustment plate) soft-wire cable bindings with risers, leather boots - should have used plastic boots.
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