Northeast Wild

  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 ha...

Jan 2025 -  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. Jan 18, 2024 - CRANE POND, GLIDDEN MARSH, & OXSHOE POND xc ski. Pharaoh Lake Wilderness. Started out on the old woods road, with some nice views down to Alder Creek & icy waterfalls, more washouts with mini brooks crossing the old roadway than my last time here. Icy base topped with up to 6" of powder - less powder was usually under hemlocks. I skied out onto CP & GM - the ice felt solid. The bridges over CP outlet (Alder Creek) & GM outlet were in good shape. A little before GM we had to detour around some blowdown. The steep climb from GM was best done by zigzagging up (& later down) off-trail. OP was lovely as usual - lunch at the lean-to. Views of Pharaoh Mtn from certain p...

Hamlet of Ticonderoga Essex County Vehicle Recovery: On Oct. 27, 2023 at 3:30 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch called Forest Ranger Quinn about two subjects stranded near Crane Pond. The pair's SUV got stuck in the water and needed a tow. Ranger Quinn helped find a tow truck operator who could make it to the unmaintained road. The tow truck pulled out the SUV, but the vehicle wouldn't start. Ranger Quinn provided the stranded subjects a courtesy ride to Schroon Lake. July 2019 - CRANE POND.  Pharaoh Lake Wilderness.  I hiked Crane Pond Rd - some folks with high clearance vehicles drive the 2 miles to the pond.  Camped at campsite #2 with views of Pharaoh Mtn to the S & Potter Mtn (trailless, on the to-do list) to the NE, outhouse, long rocky shoreline good for swimming.  An unmarked path goes along the N shore past campsite #4, I got to a little short of the talus at the foot of Bear Mtn.  Only ever saw 1 loon; only loon sounds were early morning, mostly tremolos wh...