Northeast Wild

  Friday Feb 7, 2025—Skied to and beyond the POLARIS BRIDGE and checked out the area where the Polaris Club camps used to be on the E side of the Hudson River. Started out on Goodnow Flow Rd. Essex Chain Lakes Complex. 18" mostly powder, skis sunk in 10", and breaking trail was tough, making for slow going. Much better skiing back in our tracks. Some new signs. Temp ~20°F, gusty wind. 7 miles, 4.8 hours. Looking at Vanderwhacker Mountain: See 2014 trip for explanation of "Boots Intersection": Mar 12, 2024 - Started out (1635' el) on the CHAIN LAKES ROAD SOUTH again - Indian Lake had reported close to 12" of new snow over the past 3 days. Soon reached a washed-out section which was easy to get past - no other wetness issues on the rest of the trip. Rolling terrain but more downs than ups to the Red Finch Gate. Soon passed a clearing on the R & then took R at a gate. Followed this unmarked trail to a junction & took a R - this unmarked trail leads to ...

Sep 21, 2022 (Wed) - Wheeled in from Deer Pond Road gate - 1 mile to Third Lake - 40 mins. with a stop to take a look at Deer Pond. Paddled across the lake to the lean-to, which is set back from the water but still has a very nice view NW to the Fishing Brook Range (3,560' el). Someone left behind some tp & a critter had chewed it up (a chipmunk visited several times during our stay). There is a doorless outhouse & a good firepit. After setting up camp, we paddled into Fourth Lake, then thru the culvert into Fifth - pulled over a stickjam in the culvert thanks to the rope above. An aluminum canoe was at waterside at the accessible campsite but no people or camping gear. 2 loons on Fifth, good view to Vanderwhacker Mtn. The channel to Sixth had many lilypads, watershield, & floating bog mats - a gb heron took off - several beaver lodges. Stopped at a campsite with a nice view on Sixth then circuited Seventh. Back to Third where we saw 4 loons and a cormorant, some biti...