Northeast Wild

Avalanche Pass gets all the attention when discussing thru-trips on skis but it has some problems - It is a long drive between start and finish (so it is most often done with 2 groups going in opposite directions and doing a key exchange), plus there is almost as much uphill as there is downhill. So here are some thru-trips that have a short drive/bike/walk/ski between trailheads and have much more in the way of elevation loss. Some old trip reports: OLD FARM-HALFWAY BROOK-RAYMOND BROOK starts at 1,800', climbs to >2,200', drops to The Vly 2,030', >2,300' on Raymond Brook trail, end at North Creek Ski Bow 1,000'. Mar 26, 14 - From Old Farm Trailhead.  Gain 500' on Halfway Brook trail passing jctn to Botheration Pond then dropping over 200' to The Vly with its view of Gore Mtn.  (Coyote trapping in this area - keep your dog on trail).  Crossed Barton Mines Rd to Raymond Brook trail to top of pass.   Feb 11, 2015 - RAYMOND BROOK & sp...

Vanderwhacker Wild Forest, Adirondack Park.  Jan 27, 2022 - STONY POND from Hewitt Pond ski.  Temp 1*F to 20*F, the sun shined thru high clouds.  15" of snow, a hint of crust halfway down - very good skiing.  The Hewitt Lake Club has several camps on the west third of Hewitt Pond - the rest of the pond's shoreline is state land.  The trailhead parking was well-plowed & there is a thunderbox near the register kiosk.  The trail soon pulls away from the pond going steeply uphill - not very well marked & some blowdown did not help - then a steep drop & soon arrived pondside where there is a view to the camps & Hewitt Pond Mtn.  The next mile is much better & Barnes Pond is a cute pond but trail markers became scarce & it took a while to find the trail.  The trail then climbs steeply gaining close to 400' in half a mile.  Height of land at over 2,200' then an easy drop to a boggy pond that is easier to ski than taking the t...