ECHOES FROM THE TRAIL    

Reports from Chapter activities during 2009 and 2010

May 12 (Tue) DORSET PEAK - VERMONT
Leader:  Charlie Beach

The day was cool and clear—ideal for good hike. We climbed on a system of unmarked roads/trails which made the climb immeasurably more enjoyable than a bushwhack. These trails had been cleared somewhat more since last year. We encountered a variety of spring flora as we gained altitude. Whoever maintains the summit has a sense of humor- a summit sign in reverse and a double doorknob tree. Enjoying the day were: John Antonio, Lori McCarron, Bob Heffley, Josh Rose, John & Kelly Sheehan, Claudia Rosenholtz and the leader Charlie Beach. 

May 13 (Wed) WAKELY AND PILLSBURY                   
Leader:  Don Berens

This was billed as a "Tower Two-Fer," a trip to two fire tower peaks among the Adirondack 100 Highest, southwest of Indian Lake .  Don Berens, Wayne Gray, Kathleen Helfrich and Dan Lockart with his dog Mickey enjoyed a near cloudless morning drive on the Cedar River Road to the Wakely Mountain trailhead which we had to ourselves .The hardwood forest was not yet in full leaf, so we had considerable sun warming us from 40 degrees into the mid-60s.  Two miles of gentle grades led us to a drained beaver pond featuring a decidedly sub-prime beaver lodge.  Then the steepening trail took us past witch hobble and purple trillium into a spruce and balsam forest and through clouds of early black flies swarming so thick that they cast shadows.  Fortunately they had not yet achieved mid-season aggressiveness and a breeze near the summit dispersed many of them.  We explored the unlocked, abandoned observer's cabin and the views from the eight-story fire tower, the tallest in the Forest Preserve.  The descent was uneventful, but warmer and accompanied by more black flies which - to avoid unwanted ingestion - inhibited our conversation.  We took a lunch break in the hamlet of Indian Lake where Dan decided to drive home early and the rest of us resolved to head to Pillsbury for a second, shorter hike.  The approach past Perkins Clearing to the Pillsbury trailhead used narrow, rutted dirt roads, but the parking lot was already occupied by three cars.  Our foot path crossed the Miami River then immediately climbed. .  A hundred feet below the summit, in the north-facing, spruce-shaded hollows, we saw a few lingering patches of snow, probably in their last week of existence.  Pillsbury's observer cabin was boarded closed, but the upper flights of the tower staircase offered 360 degree views of forests, lakes and mountains, including Wakely, Crane, Snowy, and - beyond Snowy - a few of the High Peaks.  A breeze and the lowering sun made the descent pleasant.  Just before the Miami River Bridge , Kathleen pointed out a spruce grouse just eight feet off the trail. We took Routes 30 and 29 back to the Capital District, thus exploring alternative roads as well as alternative trails outside the High Peaks .  

May 14 (Thu) LONG PATH – THACHER PARK             
Leader:  Jim Schaller

A total of six hikers turned out on this cloudy, showery day to hike the Long Path through Thacher State Park .  Starting at Beaver Dam Road , we followed the trail down to the overlook on Rt. 157. Then- hiked the Escarpment trail section- providing good views of the valley.  The trail took us through mixed woodlands, and stops at Hang Glider and High Point Cliffs – provided more views. Showers, mixed with dry spells made a decent hiking day, and all enjoyed the varied terrain, woods, fields, and wild flowers of the spring in Thacher Park . We covered the ten miles in good time- Four hours on the trail when we ended at Old Stage Road. Hiking were: Karen Ross (& “Louie”), Anita Whalen, Lori McCarron, Sharon Bonk, Bonnie Schaller and the leader Jim Schaller.

May 16 (Sat) INDIANKILL WILDFLOWERS HIKE        
Leaders:  Ted & Sue Wright

Our annual wildflowers hike was rewarded with Jack-in-the-pulpit, toothwort, mayapples, wild geranium, bishop's cap, foam flower, wake robin, Solomon's plume and true Solomon's seal, meadow rue, fringed polygula and one garter snake. Sue and the rest had lunch at the waterfall while Ted scurried back to give a talk on Dutch life in Albany for the Colonie town celebration of the Hudson quadricentennial at Schuyler Flats. The trail blazes in Indiankill are inadequate and one needs the ECOS Schenectady County Natural areas map to get out. Hikers were: Gail Carr and three granddaughters, Patty Costas and Lis Schultze-Allen from Germany .

May 16 (Sat) OWLS HEAD & PITCHOFF                    
Leader:  Gene Reilly

This turned out to be another great day despite the threatened chance of rain.  We got off to a great start with everyone being on time, enjoyed breakfast at The Silo (exit 19) and had no trouble getting parking places for both cars.  We opted to leave Owls Head until the end of the day and focus on accomplishing the major portion of the hike first, and it turned out to be a good decision as we later unanimously decided to postpone Owls Head to another time.  It was mixed overcast with periods of sun now and then when we started but the weather deteriorated to strong gusty winds and rain / hail hitting us sideways by the time we were on some of the most exposed rock outcroppings / ledges on the middle section of the hike.  We had already had some great views from the balanced rocks and even took a few photos but were glad to have rain jackets at this later point!  We soldiered on and were soon rewarded with drier weather and even a few more glimpses of sunlight.   Wet, sore, tired and muddy at the end were first time hiker Jill Tedd, Lenny Maglio, Mike Mason, Maria Schollenberger, Ron Toseland, and the leader, Gene Reilly.  

May 16 (Sat) SW HUNTER & HUNTER
Leader:  Cal Johnson

Starting at the Spruceton trailhead, we took the Diamond Notch trail to the Devil’s Path for the ascent to the herd path to SW Hunter.  No real bushwhacking was required to get to this “trailless” peak, since the well defined herd path follows an old railroad bed for about a ½ mile before the path turns left to the summit.  After registering our visit in the canister, we backtracked to the Devil’s Path to continue on to the Hunter Mountain trail, which leads to the summit of Hunter.  Gary Hoekstra, the area Catskill supervisor for the NY-NJ Trail Conference and a fire tower interpreter, joined us for the hike and opened the caretaker’s cabin.  He would have opened the cab on the tower, but since we spent the day inside of a cloud, with frequent drizzle, that wasn’t a good idea.  We couldn’t even see the cab from the bottom.  After taking a break in the cabin, we headed down the Spruceton Trail to our cars, leaving Gary to spend the night in the cabin and be available for hikers on Sunday.  The temperature was very comfortable for hiking, but there certainly weren’t any views on this trip.  Hikers were: Charlene Shafer, Lori McCarron Gail Bradney and the leader.

May 21 (Thu) PADDLE HUDSON RIVER FEEDER CANAL
Leaders:  Bill Valentino & Jim Schaller

Well, a wilderness experience it was not, but it was fun anyway.    The Feeder Canal extends between Glens Falls and Hudson Falls .  It is the only surviving part of the original Erie Canal system.  It is rarely more than two feet deep but still carries water needed for the locks on the Champlain Canal .  Our group paddled the Feeder Canal on a beautiful warm day in May.  The trip began just below the Big Boom which, in yesteryear, held logs cut in the Adirondacks for sorting and shipping to the mills.  The five mile trip offered some stark contrasts.  You begin by moving through beautiful forest in which the sides of the canal are lined with the original cut stones that were used on the Erie Canal .  The middle of the trip takes you right through the industrial center of Glens Falls at one point right directly under a Finch Pruyn paper mill. If you reach up in your boat you can touch the bottom of the plant.  The trip ends moving through an attractive wooded residential area and terminating at Martindale Park .  The most difficult part of the trip was the spotting and shuttling of a dozen cars. Between Glens Falls and Hudson Falls there were two “turn-abouts” which ended up distributing cars in multiple haphazard directions requiring “reorganization” of the group.  Trip participants included Millie and Danny Grossberg, Paul Breslin, Lynn Filarecki, Karen Ross, Marlee and Hank Bickel, Bob Heffley, Katie and Ray Henrikson, Charlie Beach, Etta Menges, Doree Cox, Emily Reed, Doris Bindt, Bonnie Schaller and the leaders.  

May 22 (Fri) SPRUCE PEAK AND GRASS MTN.
Leader:  Charlie Beach

This was another climb on road/trails on a warm sunny day. These trails are not marked. Off our route were many side roads, most probably used for logging at one time are dead end. The black flies were our companions when the wind took a break. We bushwhacked to Spruce from the col between the hills. Spruce summit is fairly flat and with the brush undergrowth the marker is not prominent. After returning to the col, the climb to the Grass summit was relatively easy on a road which appeared to be used often.  Not surprisingly, two motor bikes passed us on the way to Grass. On the way back we visited a stream gorge which was inviting for a refreshing dip on this warm day. Enjoying the outing was: Walt Addicks, George Baranauskas, Leslie Siegard, and leader Charlie Beach.

May 23 (Sat) MT. GREYLOCK BY BICYCLE
Leader:  Don Berens

Jun 6 (Sat) NATIONAL TRAILS DAY AT THACHER PARK
Leader:  Jim Schaller

On 2009’s National Trails Day Albany ADK worked again in Thacher State Park . A total of around 20 volunteers participated, but that included “Friends of Thacher Park” and others who saw the news on the Park’s website or in media announcements. Only a few ADKers came. We completed building a new extension of the Yellow marked “Perimeter Trail” from Carrick Road to Old Stage Road. That makes a new connection to make longer “loop” hikes easier. Also trail bypass sections were done on the Yellow Trail at the Beaver Pond to avoid a muddy shoreline area  and on the Salisbury Trail to avoid a section of old road abused by illegal truck and ATV use. Volunteers used the DR Brush & Field mower to mow sections of the Salisbury , Meadow Loop, and new Yellow Trails the previous weekend. The Park, with help from Friends of Thacher Park, again treated us to a picnic barbeque lunch at mid day at the Horseshoe Picnic area.  We want to thank the park workers and “Friends” for the free passes and a great lunch. Three of us went back out in the afternoon to begin marking the new Salisbury Trail section with white discs, and new trail signs. With these trails completed, a new Park map will be planned after the trails are “GPS’d”.  ADKers present were Jim & Bonnie Schaller, John Susko, Dave Esmond, John Klunowski and Susan DeAngelus, with a special appearance by Thacher Park mentor and legendary trail builder—Fred Schroeder.  

Jun 6 (Sat) EAST DIX VIA SPOTTED MOUNTAIN
Leader: Bob Scaife

On a cool, clear early June morning the flat, rocky head of Elizabethtown # 4, and the steeply rising back of Spotted Mountain beckoned from high above the rushing Boquet.  Following the East Dix herd path along and beyond the North Fork , we turned East through the open woods and quickly reached Lilypad Pond, a pleasant, shallow and aptly named pond.  We proceeded with compass in hand, and with as much directness as nature permitted, to and across the South Fork of the Boquet and up the forested slopes to the cliffs that wall the northwest face of E’town 4.  Our upward progress blocked, we chose left and a hundred yards later congratulated ourselves as a break appeared in the rock ribs of the mountain.  Ascending a forested gully through the lower cliff band, we emerged onto the first of a series of open ledges and paused to enjoy both the expansive views and the abundance of Pink Lady’s Slippers.   A scramble from ledge to ledge, with intermittent short meanders between stunted birches, led to the bald pate of E’town 4.  Descending to the foot of E’town’s summit and traversing the rocky shoulder of Spotted, we began to follow its spine upward.  The sun warmed us to a sweat but clouds gave us occasional shade and we climbed into a pleasant breeze.  From the broad, open summit of Spotted our destination peak, East Dix, rose at the end of a mile of rocky, bumpy, wild and beautiful ridge.  Cloud shadows drifted across the springy face and arms of Dix as we zigzagged up the ridge, often moving effortlessly on the open rock, sometimes not so much.  Pushing through the last and thickest brush, we emerged to a view of the East Dix slide and paused to chill on the brow of the windy cliffs before claiming the summit.  Our return leg, along the usual E. Dix herdpath, was refreshed by the shaded cascades and pools of the Boquet South Fork. 

Jun 7 (Sun) CATSKILL CREEK/RAMSHORN MARSH KAYAK
Leader:  John Hoffman

This outing couldn't have been any better.  Since this was my first trip as leader, there was a bit of anxiety, to say the least.  So, maybe beginner’s luck was in part responsible for a great day.  Nine of us met and launched from Dutchman's Landing in the Village of Catskill . The weather was warm and sunny, the wind was light, and the tide was in our favor.  We first set off to explore Catskill Creek and were able to paddle upstream as far as the railroad bridge, where the very clear water quickly became too shallow to continue.  As only good luck would provide, one of our bunch is a local (Ken Goldfarb), and served as our historian and tour guide.  We met very little powerboat traffic and were warmly greeted by the folks enjoying their Sunday morning with their boats in the many marinas along the creek.  So, out the Catskill we went and then downstream on the Hudson to Ramshorn Creek.  We slowly made our way up Ramshorn, enjoying the quiet and the feeling of being in deep wilderness, even though we were less than a mile from traffic lights and city hall. We managed a lunch stop at the Audubon dock where we rested and further discovered what a friendly bunch had stumbled together. Lunch was livened up not only by good conversation but by homemade butterscotch oatmeal cookies provided by paddler Joy Gudz. Our return to the Hudson proved interesting, paddling against incoming tide in a very crooked stream.  But all seemed to go well. We returned to Dutchman’s Landing, recording 8.62 miles of enjoyable travel.  

Jun 11 (Thu) PUTMAN POND PADDLE
Leader:  Bill Valentino

Like so much of June this year, the day of our trip to Putnam Pond was overcast and chilly.  Between the marginal weather and because we were early in the season we had Putnam Pond pretty much to ourselves.  It is an attractive place, located in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness and surrounded by high peaks. There was ample evidence of beaver and we had a loon for company for a short part of the way.  We stopped at a campsite on an island for lunch.  If you stood in the face of the wind while you ate, the black flies would divert and consider one of your companions who were less exposed to the wind.  But it was a nice paddle nevertheless enjoyed by John Pecoroni, Betsy Kaido, Dave Esmond, Susan Roberts, Ken Charuk, Eric Washburn and the leader.  

Jun 12-14 (Fri-Sun) JBL TRAIL WORK WEEKEND                                                                                                               
Leader:  Mery Seeman-Sokal

Members of ADK Chapters from many parts of the state met on Friday afternoon at the Marcy Field parking lot.  We divided trail work tools and food enough to feed the 14 volunteers and 2 staff members for 2 days.  Adding to our personal gear, our packs bulged a bit.  We hiked in with little problem from black flies or other fine critters and reached JBL before 4:00 p.m.  While all set about laying claim to their bunks and spreading out territorial gear, I followed the Big Chef, Marilyn Gillespie, into the kitchen.  With incredible dispatch, we had a fine spaghetti dinner on the table by 6:00 pm.  ADK staff then explained the work to be done:  move rocks, clear drainage and cut back blowdown on the trail up and over Big Slide and Yard Mountain .  The Crews would be divided in half, each starting at the opposite end of the trails, meeting on the crest.  Please watch for next year’s announcement of the JBL Trail Work weekend.  It occurs every year around the beginning of June, it is free of charge, and the trail work won't kill you (according to my husband).  It is usually advertised under Trail Work in the Adirondack magazine, or you can contact the Trail Dept. at the Main Club Office. And, look for me in the kitchen, as I am delighted to report that I passed my apprenticeship and will return next year, as well!  

Jun 13 (Sat) SUGARLOAF
Leader:  Cal Johnson

After everyone arrived at the Stewarts shop in Haines Falls , we proceeded to the Roaring Kill trailhead.  We took the Roaring Kill trail to the Mink Hollow trail to get up to the Devil’s Path for the hike over Sugarloaf.  A few people found the ascent to be extremely difficult, taking over 2 hours to climb what would normally take about 30 minutes for a “B” hike.  The bulk of the group got far ahead and I learned later that they finished the hike over 3 hours ahead of the last few, who found going down the east side of Sugarloaf to be equally as difficult.  At the col between Sugarloaf and Indian Head we went down the Pecoy Notch trail to the Roaring Kill trail and out to the cars.  As the Pecoy Notch trail turns west from the descent we passed a rather substantial beaver dam, where there used to be just a very small pond.  Further down, the trail passes through Dibble’s Quarry, where overly ambitious locals constructed stone chairs, fire pits and walkways from the pile of rubble left by the quarry work.  Hikers were: Maria Garcia, Luis Pacheco, Martha Waldman, Christina Miller-Lezniak, Beth Johansen, Ron Toseland, David Koehler, Stephan Kass, John Kwasnowski, Maria, Ken Class and the leader, Cal Johnson.  

Jun 20 (Sat) ADIRONDACK HIGH PEAKS BIKING
Leader:  Don Berens

No one signed up to join the advertised bicycle ride up and down the Chapel Pond and Cascade Passes .  So the leader instead rode the annual Whiteface Mountain Uphill Bike Race from Wilmington to the castle at the top of the highway.  Because the road gains 3,600 feet at an average grade of nearly nine per cent, it was the toughest eight miles I've ever pedaled.  But it was a congenial, though masochistic, group of cyclists, and the predicted rains held off until after the ride, so when all the riding was over, all the riders were satisfied.  

Jun 25 (Thu) PADDLE SOUTH BAY OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN
Leader:  Bill Valentino

After one of the coldest, wettest Junes on record, our paddle in South Bay on Lake Champlain was one of the first indicators of summer.  We had sun for most of the day with temperatures in the mid 80’s.  After about five miles of paddling and approaching the grassy, marshy southern limit of our trip we encountered a group of young people who worked for the Nature Conservancy.  They each had plastic laundry baskets balanced on the front deck of their kayaks which contained the water chestnuts they were harvesting.  They explained how hand harvesting of certain invasive species such as water chestnuts can make a significant difference to the ecosystem.  Apparently this small group has been at it for a few years.  I was startled to see that on this trip we could paddle an additional ¼ to ½  mile farther south into the vegetation than we had been able to three years ago because of this hand harvesting effort.  The leader selected a “paddling subcommittee” to range ahead of the main group and find a suitable lunch spot.  Unfortunately, and almost immediately, you could hear loud sucking sounds as each paddler exited their boat and watched as their sandals or water-shoes were pulled off their feet by the claylike mud substance which lined the shore.  At this point, after a couple of hours of paddling ensconced in a hot kayak, tired and with a great desire to eat, most of us just had to get out of our boat.  So with one foot in the boat and another stuck in the mud, we ate lunch standing like a covey of odd storks. The DEC boat launch at South Bay may have the worst latrine in the Adirondack Park , but we all agreed it was a wonderful paddle.  Our group included Marlee and Hank Bickel, John Lane and Mary Flanders, Lynn Filarecki, Charlene Shafer, George Hallenbeck, Bill Smollin, Howard Stoller, Mark Pettrone and the leader. 

Jun 27 (Sat) DIAL & NIPPLETOP
Leader:  Mike Becker

The air was humid as we made our way up the pretty Leach trail, with its very large trees and green forest.  Passing the burned area on the shoulder of Noonmark, I was amazed by how quickly the vegetation is growing and obscuring the views from the 1999 fire.  We had fleeting views from the windy and damp summit of Dial, and rain started soon after, making the already-wet trail between Dial and Nippletop extremely muddy.  We made our way carefully down the steep and wet trail to Elk Pass and enjoyed the view of the 3 ponds there.  We could hear the rushing water of Fairy Ladder Falls and see it through the trees.   The poor weather made the side trip to Fish Hawk Cliffs not appealing, so we took the short trail back to the Lake Road and the long walk back to the parking lot.  Hikers included Amy Becker, Pam Barbeau, Charlie Czech, and the leader Mike Becker.  

Jun 27 (Sat) SOUTH MOUNTAIN
Leader:  Cal Johnson

This hike started at the DEC parking lot on White’s Road in Palenville.  We headed out the short yellow marked spur which leads to the Harding Road trail (Long Path).  Just before the intersection, we headed up what was an old quarry road, which zigzags its way up the side of South Mountain .  The path goes through a few long abandoned quarries and then connects to what was an old carriage road up to the former Half Way House at what is now known as Palenville Overlook.  This excellent viewpoint has three large stone chairs, built from remnants of the Half Way House foundation.  The basement area of the former building is still there.  After a break here, we took a branch of the Rip Van Winkle horse trail system, crossing to a former bed of the Otis Elevating Railway and the connecting to the Mountain Turnpike trail, which leads up to North Lake.  There had been some off and on showers, so we took advantage of the pavilion to stay dry for lunch.  After eating we took the Escarpment trail up to the site of the former Catskill Mountain House, to see the great view of the Hudson Valley fog.  We continued on the Escarpment trail to pass Boulder Rock, explore the former Kaaterskill Hotel site, and go down to the intersection for the Harding Road trail, which descends 3 miles down to Palenville.  Hikers were: John Susko, Charlene Shafer and Frank Petramale.  Check out this web site for info and photos of this historic area: http://www.catskillarchive.com/otis/index.htm

Jun 29 (Mon) PILOT KNOB RIDGE
Leader:  Katie Henrikson

The day dawned cool and cloudy, but like many other days this summer, we were not rained on while hiking – only driving to and from the hike. We had the usual geographic view of southern Lake George from the gazebo, and most of the group found the waterfall to be flowing. A fine time was had by Mary Flanders, Alexis Henrikson, Ray Henrikson, Jake Landry and Sharon, Don Lane , Lori McCarron, Jim Torriani, and the leader.  

Jul 7 (Tue) NOONMARK AND ROUND MOUNTAINS
Leader:  John Antonio

I know, Fred, “What, Noonmark again!!?”  But this time we took the Stimpson Trail up instead of the standard Boys Club route of the Felix Adler Trail.  Eight of us left the hikers parking lot at 9:35.  We got strung out somewhat but all arrived at the summit at 11:40 in a cool but mostly clear 57 degrees.  We soaked up the sights and headed down the Felix Adler Trail to regroup once again at the Dix intersection at 12:55.  After deciding to split the group up, three of us headed out on the old Dix trail while the rest of the group shot off to Round Mountain to complete the day’s planned itinerary.  Our smaller group reached the parking lot at 3:15 and the Round Mountain party at 4:20, happy to have completed both of these mountains.  There were no complaints, especially after a stop at the Noonmark Diner for ice cream and treats.  Our group:  John Sheehan, Mark Barrett, Ed Newell, Sharon Bonk, John Tifft, Al Knight, Lori McCarron and the leader.   

Jul 11 (Sat) COLVIN & BLAKE
Leader:  Bob Scaife

With afternoon thunderstorms in the forecast, Mark Barrett, Terryl Brown, Mike Schaefer and the leader set off along the Lake Road at a brisk pace and with firm purpose.  With only a short delay to admire trout pooled behind the small dam on Gill Brook, we were soon ascending the trail toward Colvin.  Overhead the sky was blue and the early sun cast shadows in the forest, but dark clouds already shrouded the summit of the Nipple Top ridge.  As we climbed, the clouds expanded to fill Elk Pass and the south wind began to rise.  Our early start and steady pace brought us to Colvin’s summit not long after 9:00 a.m.  Clouds and haze obscured many peaks, but Sawteeth, Armstrong, the Wolf Jaws, Giant and Rocky revealed themselves intermittently, and the Lower Ausable Lake beneath us still sparkled in the sun.  The weather offered no threat, so we continued our peak-quest southward along the crest of Colvin’s sharp ridge.  All found the steep and rocky descent challenging.  As with many High Peaks paths, the trail to Blake seemed particularly muddy, rooty and eroded this rainy summer.   Though the re-ascent of Colvin proved as challenging as the descent, we found on our arrival that lunch was still being served at the summit.  The steady wind kept our insect friends from the picnic and we enjoyed an extended rest before beginning the return journey.  Visits to Fish Hawk and Indian Head Cliffs, spectacular even with heavy gray clouds covering the peaks, were cut short by the first raindrops of the day, soon followed by many others.  The predicted rumbles of thunder began to echo between the peaks as we neared the end of the long walk out and we were glad to be off the high ridges and not too far from dry clothes.  

Jul 14 (Tue) WAKELY MOUNTAIN
Leader:  Jim Schaller

Some more non-typical July weather met us for our hike. It was only in the high 5’s that morning and it didn’t get out of the 60s until the ride home! The old road in to Wakely is heavily eroded in spots. It was used by the Fire Observer until the early 1990s. Still a nice warm-up walk in, though. Then the foot trail diverges straight up to Wakely’s 3744’ summit. The fire tower rises 80’, and the cab was open. But a chilly breeze kept most of us on the ground, or venturing only part way up the steps for a view under cloudy skies. Various surrounding peaks could be seen—Little Moose, Blue and Snowy Mountains and the Cedar River Flow below. The descent went quickly but cautiously.  Thirteen hikers participated: Cassie and Mark McCracken, Ray and Katie Henrikson, John Sober, Lori McCarron, Gary Wiltshire, Larry Pohl, Bonnie Schaller, Leslie Siegard, and son Adam, with his friend Connor Brinser, and the leader Jim Schaller.

Jul 21 (Tue) SOMERSET RESERVOIR
Leader:  Bill Valentino

Aug 6 (Thu) Canoe Trip- St. Regis Lakes
Leader:  Jim Schaller 

Only one person met us for this trip. We had a good day, and little, or just moderate winds on the loop we took. We paddled up Upper St. Regis Lake, and past the former Marjorie Merriweather Post Estate, before making the carry over the hill past Echo Pond. At Keese Mills Dam, we continued up river on the St. Regis, stopping for lunch at Peter’s Rock Lean-to on the Lower Lake . A brisk wind hit from the west as we crossed Spitfire Lake , and then crossed Upper St. Regis to the landing.  At one point on the lake a Bald Eagle burst from the wooded shore, and swooped right in front of us! Joining the leader Jim Schaller were Bonnie Schaller and Ray Bouchard.

Aug 7 (Fri) Canoe Trip – Jones Pond to Osgood Lake
Leader:  Jim Schaller

There were six “no-shows” for this trip! So only three embarked from Jones Pond on another nice day. The Jones Pond-Osgood stream had a moderate flow and only one low beaver dam that we could run. We entered Osgood Pond and rounded the point where White Pine Camp’s 2-lane Bowling Alley and “Tea House” are.  Soon we were in the Osgood River moving downstream. Kingfishers swooped back and forth over the water. We went as far as the “rock dam” which held back the lake and river’s waters, before a series of rapids begins. Returning upstream, we had lunch at a clearing which was the site of a former camp. Then it was back to Osgood Pond and the stream to Jones Pond.  We caught a glimpse of an otter in the stream! Paddling were Jim Schaller, George Hallenbeck, and Ray Bouchard.

Aug 8 (Sat) Canoe Trip – Rainbow Chain of Lakes
Leader:  Jim Schaller

Again this day there were six “no-shows”!  And again just three of us set off from the south end of Rainbow Lake to paddle the chain of lakes. This day proved to be the warmest and sunniest of the three. We went down the right (east) shore of Rainbow , and there were few boats out at this early hour. We crossed under the two roads and one old railroad bridge  into Rainbow and then Kushaqua Narrows . We passed the Buck Pond inlets and then found a small island on the end of Lake Kushaqua to have lunch. Our return trip followed the same route as far as the “cut in the esker,” a tiny passage into Rainbow’s western bays and inlets. By this time of day, more boats were about, and we had to take a bit of extra care with wakes from the motors. Back in the marshes approaching the take-out, we spotted a heron with a good-sized fish he was attempting to swallow in one gulp! Paddling were George Hallenbeck, Ray Bouchard, and the leader-Jim Schaller.

Aug 20 (Thu) PADDLE KUNJAMUK RIVER
Leader:  Bill Valentino

We had a great weather day.  To shorten our trip somewhat we launched directly into the bay rather than the usual launch in Speculator near the firehouse.  The Kunjamuk may be the ultimate Adirondack meandering stream.  We experienced numerous twists and turns some of which had us going around almost in a complete circle. Luckily on this trip we only had to get out of our boats once to clear a beaver dam.   We headed up river for a couple of hours then stopped, sat and ate lunch on a bridge.  We resumed up river after lunch but reversed our course and headed downstream just short of Elm Lake in order to beat the afternoon thunderstorms to the area.  Reasonably close to Albany , the Kunjamuk is a great same day flatwater canoe trip. Our group included Charlene Shafer, John Sheehan, Etta Menges, Marty Connor, John Lane , Bruce Barbeau, Kay Valentino and the leader.  

Aug 25 (Tue) MILLBROOK MOUNTAIN                                                 
Leader: John Antonio

Aug 27 (Thu) POKE-O-MOONSHINE
Leader:  Dave Esmond

The guidebooks couldn’t agree on the derivation of the mountain’s name (adaptation of native American phrase for “broken/smooth” vs. reference to the locals’ distilling activity) but they both agreed on the superlative view from the fire tower, which we amply confirmed. Great day, great views, and we had a nice opportunity to chat with a Potsdam student from Rochester doing ‘environmental steward’ duty as part of an internship for his college program. Participating were John Tifft, the Eddy family (Gerald Eddy, Stephanie Neubert, and daughters Arden and Mia), and the leader.

Aug 30 (Sun) SHELVING ROCK MTN. & LAKESIDE TRAIL
Leader:  Wally Herrod

Rain delayed this Saturday trip to Sunday, and it turned out to be 67 degrees and partly sunny for this wonderful hike with terrific people.  After climbing the rustic carriage road and summiting on Shelving Rock Mtn. we feasted on the views and then began our ramble along the ridge trail to the north.  This trail seems to be only occasionally used, and in parts was overgrown.  However, the entire path’s soft duff (rock-free organic matter) was easy on the feet and its climax forest leading to grandiose views down toward Lake George with its many boats provided a feast for our eyes. We then headed rather steeply down to the lakeshore, and hiked 1.3 miles along the water on another carriage road.  There were many stately hemlocks, white pine and cedars.  We heard waves lapping at the shore beside us, and stopped at one of the points for a refreshing swim.  Then we had a steep climb back toward Shelving Rock Mtn. and down to our cars on Shelving Rock Road .  Everyone agreed they wanted to return another day, but not the next day, because we were plenty tired out.   Along on the trip were leader Wally Herrod, Justina Danison, Anita Whalen, Anneliese Lawson, Tom Conry, Susan Jefts, Bob Priest, and Sue Snyder. 

Sep 1 (Tue) ROSS, WHORTLEBERRY & BIG BAD LUCK PONDS
Leader: John Antonio

For seven of us this was the first visit to these gorgeous bodies of water, and listening to the different reports from our party it seems like all plan on a return trip in the future.  The day was, weather-wise, perfect.  The trail started out a bit muddy but dried up and got prettier as the day progressed.  The only “glitch” all day was a brief 10 to 15 minute bit of time in which we were slightly twisted and missed a trail sign.  This area is loaded with many old logging roads and church camp paths.  We all felt we spent a great five and a half hours in the woods.  Participants were Bill Shapiro, Padma Krishna, Cliff Prewencki, Lori McCarron, John Sheehan, Stan Lockwood, Kathleen Sheppard, Mica the dog and the leader. 

Sep 2 (Wed) Jenkins MtN. – Long & Black Ponds
Leader: Jim Schaller

We met at the Adirondack Visitors Information Center at Paul Smiths. The trail begins there, following the old Jenkins Mountain Road .  PSC has Forest Ecology placards along the road, explaining their Forestry Silviculture program. The trail winds across a couple of glacial eskers before a long woods walk to the open rock summit of Jenkins Mtn.   We enjoyed a beautiful day-= and views of the lakes and distant mountains. About a third of the way back, we cut off on the Long Pond Trail, soon arriving at a leanto on the pond.  We took the easterly trail around Black Pond, and at a footbridge connecting two land points, a loon surfaced just a few feet from us, providing a closeup view of this wild bird we so often hear in the distance with its eerie calls and “yodeling.”  We ended at Keese Mills at a spotted car.  Hiking were Anita Whalen, Tony Calvagno, and Jim and Bonnie Schaller.  

Sep 3 (Thu) Loon Lake Mountain (Fire tower)
Leader: Jim Schaller

Only one other person joined us for this day. Upon our arrival at Buck Pond Campsite, a Ranger gave me information on Loon Lake Mountain that it was again legal to climb the mountain after at least three decades of closure. The summit is State land, but the access was blocked by a lumber company’s hunting club lease. That ended in April 2009. So we changed our schedule from St. Regis Mtn. to Loon Lake . We found the old trail to be unmarked (signs or discs), unmaintained, and badly eroded on steep sections, with lots of blowdown. But the route was marked with orange flagging and was passable. The first mile or so is along a gravel haul road, and then the old trail diverges (straight up!). After winding through spruce on the summit ridge, we came out on the open top and the Fire Tower. The lower set of steps is dangling and other steps are broken, making the tower un-climbable. But great views are had from the open rocks in almost all directions. The St. Lawrence River is to the NW, Lyon Mt. to the NE, Whiteface and other High Peaks to the South.  Lake Kushaqua lies to the West below us.  Only a slight distant haze prevented a perfect viewing day.  It was great to be back on this old Fire Tower Mountain that I first climbed 42 years before! Hiking were Tony Calvagno and Jim and Bonnie Schaller.

Sep 4 (Fri) St. Regis Mountain (Fire tower)
Leader: Jim Schaller

Again there was one other hiker, and we agreed to re-schedule again, doing St. Regis Mtn. instead of Debar Mt.   After a 3.4 mile ascent, with a steep section at the top, we reached the open rock summit. The Fire Tower here is closed  with two sets of stairs removed. But it is hardly needed, as views from the rocky summit are great, reaching from the north to the south, including distant High Peaks and dozens of lakes and ponds beneath. We were surprised to be all alone on the top—at noon!  But we passed a procession of about twenty five hikers while on our descent. At one brief rest stop, a huge old dead tree suddenly came loudly crashing down to earth—only 100 feet off the trail or so.  Wow!  Just one more “force of nature”! Climbing were Tony Calvagno and Jim and Bonnie Schaller.  

Sep 8 (Tue) HOUR POND
Leader: John Antonio

WOW!! What a view! A pristine Adirondack pond nestled below a massive mountain.  As we all approached this place what a thrill we all received … it seems as if you were the first person ever to discover it.  The trail we took was a somewhat newly marked path that leaves the west side of Thirteenth Lake and winds it way through a handsome forest.  A high point (?) of the trip was crossing a long beaver dam while trying to keep your feet dry.  Some of us were not successful.  All of us agreed lunch at the pond was unbeatable.  We spotted a car so we were able to make a loop and returned along part of the Puffer Pond trail that starts out at the Old Farm Clearing trailhead.  As we wound our way through the pine forest of the old farm a red squirrel must have taken exception to our presence and actually bombarded us with pinecones.  Honestly – that’s true!  Participants were Cliff Prewencki, Anita Whalen, Lori McCarron, Bill Shapiro, Charles Beach, Bob Hefley and the leader.

Sep 10 (Thu) PADDLE NORTH HUDSON-LUZERNE
Leader: Bill Valentino

We put in at the DEC boat launch south of Luzerne and paddled north against an easy current up to the Town.  Some of us played in the stronger current near the town and then we all rode the current assist back to the launch area.  Other than losing one of our members on the ride up because of an unfixable tire blow-out this was one of those days of really nothing extraordinary, just plain vanilla fun.  Our group included Marlee and Hank Bickel, Emily Reed, Bob Heffley, Etta Menges, Marty Connor, David Palat, Tim Lawson and the leader.  

Sep 19 (Sat) PHARAOH LAKE & MOUNTAIN
Leaders: Sue & Ted Wright

On a perfect fall day, fifteen of us set out for the Pharaoh Mountain Wilderness. At the parking place, since the road to the trail head is so deeply rutted, rocky and full of puddles, we split into two groups. Those who would climb the mountain (Mary Walsh, Kathleen McGarry, Janice Miller, Anthony Calvagno and John Tift) drove in the only SUV to the trail head, while the rest of us (Gail Carr, her son-in-law Herbert Witham and his daughters Allegra, Blythe and Celeste and her nephew Dan, Frank Visco, and Arthur Fontijn), walked in. We hiked to the peninsula, now called Watch Rock, one of the most beautiful spots in the Adirondacks , had lunch amidst a large group and then returned to our cars by 5:00 p.m. The mountain climbing contingent didn’t reach the trail head until 6:20, a bit longer than expected.

Sep 26 (Sat) AVALANCHE MOUNTAIN
Leader:  Don Berens

This bushwhack hike to a 3,800 foot trail less peak on the first Saturday of autumn was like "pulverized pepper."  It was fine!  The day started frosty (28 degrees on the Loj Road ), warmed to comfortable (56 degrees at 3:30), and was sunny, clear and breezy with colorful foliage all day.  Don Berens, Julie Gibbons, Wayne Gray, Shashi Narayan and Jennifer Reidy made quick work of the walk to Marcy Dam where we had a good view across the water of our peak bracketed by Mount Colden and Avalanche Pass to the SE and the MacIntyre Range and Caribou Pass to the NW.  Another twenty minutes brought us to the Kagel Lean-to, near which we forded Marcy Brook where Wright Brook joins it.  We kept to the right (SE) bank first of Wright Brook and then of its unnamed tributary draining Caribou Pass.   At first, it was mostly open woods in a gently rising broad valley.  Then the narrowing valley on our right squeezed us left into thick spruce up against the steep cliffs of Avalanche Mountain 's NE ridge.  We found a beautiful mossy gully that led us perhaps three hundred feet up through the cliffs to the ridge crest where GPS told us we were only 0.2 miles from the summit.  The trees were thick but we soon saw the summit across a dip in the ridge.  As we approached the dip, we found ourselves atop a 20-foot cliff band, but soon found breaks to allow us to descend the band and continue up the ridge to the summit which we reached before noon.  We admired the bare rock slides on Mount Colden , ate a leisurely lunch, and started back the way we had come through the thick trees.  Within two minutes, we were still in the thick trees, but we were no longer on the way we had come.  We quite unintentionally avoided the ridge-top cliff band and instead dropped steeply but steadily down the shady, sprucey, mossy north slopes of the mountain toward the stream draining Caribou Pass.   We had awesome views of Algonquin and Wright Peaks in the sun above us and of the bright blue pond of Marcy Dam below us.  After we descended to within earshot of the stream, we walked for a while down its rocky bed.  Although the route was lovely, well defined and sure to lead us back to Marcy Brook, it had uneven footing and frequent deadfall blocking quick progress.  So we returned to the SE bank and made our way uneventfully back to the lean-to and to the crowds of trail hikers descending after a marvelous day.  Back in the Loj parking lot, most of us discovered evidence that our euphoria might have been caused by an unusually intense application of "Adirondack Acupuncture" for we found hundreds of flat green-brown needles resting between our clothes and our skins.  

Sep 26 (Sat) GIANT VIA OWL HEAD
Leader:  Bob Scaife

After a last-minute change to the route, George Baranauskas, Roman Laba, Kathy Pacuk, Arnie Tran, Kay Tran and the leader set out from the quiet North trailhead to hike over Giant Mountain and Rocky Peak Ridge to New Russia.  A gradual two mile ascent through a lovely hardwood forest brought us to the open rock and panoramic views of the Owl Head lookout.  Here we enjoyed cooling breezes, a cloudless sky and a sunlit vista of mountains in colorful fall drapery.  Leaving this pleasant spot, we descended into the valley of Roaring Brook and hiked for three miles through a sun-dappled forest of maple, beech and birch, catching glimpses of the eastern slides of Giant between the splashes of leafy red and orange overhead.  From the deeply shaded valley between Giant and Green, we began our ascent of Giant.  The temperature dropped as we climbed and we found frost, a chill breeze and a small crowd of hikers awaiting us at the summit.  There and on the steep descent of the sheltered and sunny East side of Giant we shared the trail with a group of St. Lawrence University students celebrating “Peak Day”.  On Rocky Peak Ridge, we found again a brilliant, warm sun and a refreshing, cool breeze.  After exchanges of cameras and photographs among the groups at the summit, we continued on our sunny path, down past Mary Louise Pond to the twin summits of Rocky Peak and then steeply downward to Bald Peak.  Onward and downward, we found ourselves out of season for the blueberries of Blueberry Cobble.  Ever onward and downward from the birches into the pines and oaks, through the dark hemlocks, along the mossy brook, continuing down the very last hill to the trail’s end. Photos from the hike may be viewed at: http://picasaweb.google.com/rpscaife.  

Oct 1 (Thu) BLUE LEDGES
Leader:  John Sheehan

It was a crisp autumn day with everything the Adirondacks had to offer—sun, clouds, mud, autumn color and even the few morning snow flurries that the weatherman promised.  A total of 9 hikers enjoyed this moderately paced 5 mile walk in the woods.  The group included a range of hiking skills from the very experienced to first time hikers. The afternoon temperature was comfortable and we enjoyed lunch on the banks of the Hudson River at the base of the cliffs across the water.  We also had plenty of time to explore the views both up and down stream.  The fall colors provided a striking contrast with the “white waters” of the Hudson .  The photo opportunities were plentiful, and a number of us took full advantage.  Although rafting season was still in progress, we did not encounter anyone on the water.  The group included:  Peg Carucci, Jean Jones, Mary Nicotera and Jim Hussey (with their two canine companions), Kevin Sheehan, Fran Balch, Bob Heffley, Brian Washburn and the leader.  

Oct 3 (Sat) SEWARD MOUNTAIN
Leader:  Don Berens

Overnight rain had stopped and wind had blown much of the tree-drip off the green spruce and colorful hardwoods when Don Berens, Randy Caldwell, Don Duthaler, Dawn Mallory, Denise Mongillo, Shashi Narayan and Tim O'Connor met at the trailhead on Saturday morning.  We walked a brisk pace in comfortable (mid-50s) temperatures under overcast skies on the trail past the Blueberry Lean-to, but we slowed considerably on the herd path to Seward.  The unnamed brook draining the north slopes of Seward splashed with white rushing water.  Fungi gleamed in the moist forest, many brown, some gold or pink, and one spectacular horn of shaved white coconut.  We climbed into the clouds, past tiny patches of snow, over occasionally icy rocks, to the breezy, misty summit of Seward for a standing lunch break.  The mud and rocks on the traverse toward Donaldson continued to slow us.  When we reached the herd path junction, we calculated the likely time over Donaldson to Emmons and back, then down to the valley trails, all in anticipation of sunset, and decided not to undertake a long descent and exit in darkness.  Instead, we skipped further peak-bagging and started immediately down the Calkins Brook herd path on which we had occasional rain showers followed by intermittent sun.  The skies dried by the time we reached the trails, where we resumed the brisk pace of early morning.  Rain returned as we were changing clothes at the trailhead.  On our drive from Coreys to Saranac Lake , the sun behind us broke through the clouds to ignite brilliant rainbows in front of us.  While four of us stayed in the North Country Saturday night, the remainder who drove south were treated to further atmospheric delights.  As we drove into Keene Valley, a nearly full moon over Giant Mountain shone on a silver fog bank floating above the Ausable River, and as we descended from the highlands near Lake George, lightning repeatedly flashed across the southern sky.  There may be some hikers who thrive on sunny, cloudless days, but we enjoyed the visual fruits of the Adirondack damp.  

Oct 9 (Fri) INDIAN HEAD AND FISH HAWK CLIFFS   
Leader: John Antonio

The forecast said “Rain”, but we all wanted to go hiking so – we went!  And – you know it – no rain.  We left the hiker’s parking lot of the AMR at 9:20 a.m. with the three gals really setting a brisk pace.  Upon reaching Lower Ausable Lake one of our party (new boots) had developed a nice set of blisters.  A quick change of plans – we all took a side trip to Rainbow Falls (highly recommended by the AMR gatekeeper) and then split up forces.  The leader accompanied the tender foot back to our cars.  The rest of the group completed the day’s planned journey and, all things considered, it was a successful trip. Participants – Lori McCarron, Terry Rodriguez, Karen Ross, John Sheehan, Mark Hoffmann, Tom Chera, Eric Gillette and the leader.

Oct 14 (Wed) GLENS FALLS & LAKE GEORGE BIKE RIDE
Leader: Virginia Boyle Traver

I thought everyone would cancel when the forecast was for 27 degrees to start the day and 40 by mid-afternoon, but no, my stalwart crew of avid bikers out to have a social ride stood up to the test!  We started out bundled up and shed outer layers as we negotiated hills and valleys.  Colored leaves made for a pretty day, and conversation was lively.  Out for exercise, scenery, and fun were Claudia Summers, Janet Tully-Kuzman, Deb Wein, and the leader.  

Oct 18 (Sun) THACHER PARK - LONG PATH LOOP
Leader: Jim Schaller

Nearly every weather prediction called for some rain that day, but we decided to give it a go anyway. So, ten folks met at the Nature Center . We started out on the Long Path  from Old Stage Rd. to High Point Cliff. And from there we went on to Hang Glider Cliff.  We enjoyed good views of the autumn colors, and distant mountains were visible under cloudy skies. The rain held off all day, but temps in the low 40’s and a stiff breeze made our stays on the cliffs brief ones. We continued on the Long Path, Salisbury Trail, Blue Trail, and finally the Yellow Trail back to the cars  by noon!  The hike was an introduction to Thacher Park North’s trail system  to some of those on the trip. Sections of the Long Path had just been brushed out only days before.  The group enjoyed the forests and fields of the hike. Those hiking were Anita Whalen, Gina Smith, and son Austin, Martha Waldman, Janet Twardzik, Marie, Neil and Ann Cherkosly, and the leader/ trail-sweep – Jim and Bonnie Schaller.  

Oct 24 (Sat) BASIN & SADDLEBACK
Leader:  Bob Scaife

This trip was officially cancelled because threatening weather made a group hike seem inadvisable.  The leader decided to brave the elements and was accompanied in the endeavor by Kathy Pacuk.  At 6:30 a.m. at the trailhead, the temperature was 45 degrees and skies were overcast.  Soon a steady rain was falling, and so was the temperature.  On the Shorey Short Cut above Slant Rock we began to find a skin of ice on the rocks and trees and stopped to strap traction aids on our boots.  The rain fell harder and the trail became an ankle-deep brook before we reached the Range Trail.  Turning onto the Range Trail toward Basin, we climbed steeply upward through iced waterfalls cascading off the frozen ledges.  When we reached the summit, thoroughly soaked but warmed by our exertions, we found the southwest (windward) side of the rocks coated with a thin layer of ice.  It was not a good day to descend the steep and shadowed north side of Basin or to ascend the Saddleback cliff, so we put our one peak in the bag and turned back.  When we reached the brook crossing above Slant Rock, we found that the placid stream we had easily 2-hopped across three hours before was now a raging white torrent that could not be safely forded.  A short, thick bushwhack and four difficult log crossings brought us safely across all the un-bridged tributary streams and to the east side of Johns Brook, roaring white from bank to bank, 2 to 3 feet above normal flow.   As we slogged downstream beside the thundering brook, the rain ended.  The sun broke through the clouds shortly before we reached the trailhead, at about 5:15 p.m.  On the drive home, in dry clothes and with warm hot chocolate in hand, we agreed it was a great hike, but not one we cared to repeat soon.  

Nov 6 (Fri) HURRICANE MOUNTAIN
Leader: John Antonio

Nov 7 (Sat) DIAL & NIPPLETOP MOUNTAINS
Leader:  Don Berens

A brisk, clear, 20 degree sunrise greeted John Arnason, Don Berens, Kathy Pacuk, John Sheehan and Bryce Waldrop near the Ausable Club.  The bare ground at the register succumbed to thin but widespread day-old snow as we ascended the road to Lower Ausable Lake .  We climbed past Indian Head and its views of the frigid, wind-whipped lake to Elk Pass and its thinly iced ponds.  Four of us donned foot spikes, while one of us went "pointlessly" up the steep, shaded, icy climb to the windy summit of Nipple Top, which we reached under high, dark clouds at 11:00 a.m.  We enjoyed views in many directions as we ambled under the re-emergent sun over the ridge trail to half-open Dial, wooded Bear Den, and the wide open shoulder of Noonmark where we paused to work on our tans.  A steady descent through the 1999 fire clearing brought us back below the snow line.  Then a downhill shuffle through a carpet of beech leaves brought us back to the road and a pleasant stroll back to the cars before 4:00 p.m.  

Nov 7 (Sat) MT. MARCY  
Leader: Bob Scaife

Pam Barbeau, Dan Lockhardt, Denise Mongillo and the leader found clear skies, a dusting of snow and crisp 17 degree temperatures at the trailhead.  The day was too nice to leave any of it unused and the group decided to add Skylight to the day’s agenda.  At Indian Falls we were treated to 2 inches of fresh snow and a wonderful vista of the bright white MacIntyre range against a blue sky.  The snow did not deepen appreciably with altitude.  As we approached Marcy, a dense and intricately patterned layer of high clouds swept in from the west on a stiff breeze, dimming the light and adding drama to the distant views.  Though the temperature had warmed into the mid thirties by 10:40 a.m. when we reached the summit, the wind was chill and our pause was brief.   We descended the steep and rocky southwest face of Marcy carefully to avoid the occasional patches of ice, and some donned crampons for the ascent of Skylight.  After an all-too-brief enjoyment of the broad, open summit of Skylight, we began our return trip. The leader’s belief that the best part of the trip was the opportunity to climb Mt. Marcy twice was not widely shared.  Fortunately the return of a bright sun and the winter-blue sky crowning the mountain above made the re-ascent of Marcy enjoyable for all.  While we had the summit to ourselves in the morning, when we returned at 1:30 p.m., we found many other hikers also enjoying the wonderful late fall day.  A steady pace carried us the 7.2 miles back to the trailhead with a bit of light to spare, but none wasted.  Photos from the hike may be viewed at http://picasaweb.google.com/rpscaife.  

Nov 9 (Fri) SILVER LAKE
Leader:  John Antonio

Mission accomplished.  The lean-to at Silver Lake (7.4 miles in on the southern trail head of the Northville Placid Trail) was our lunch destination and we arrived there at 11:55.  All decked out in orange (hunters about), we started our pilgrimage at 8:30 in 32 degrees but in total sun as opposed to the overcast day that was expected.  Passing the beautiful Rock Lake and the pretty little marsh-like Meco Lake on our journey, it warmed to 55 degrees.  We had to contend with one somewhat tricky stream crossing which only seemed to enhance our trek.  We all agreed that the dusting of about one inch of snow added sparkle to the already beautiful forest that we were traveling through.  On the return trip we did meet up with a hunter from Pennsylvania who told of spotting only two mice on his hunt.  Back to the cars at 3:45, we now see possibilities of future trips in this area.  Enjoying the woods were Bruce Allard, Lori McCarron, Andy Janz, Claudia Rosenholz, Charlie Beach and the leader.

Nov 10 (Sat) FIVE RIVERS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER
Leaders:  Sue & Ted Wright

A day which began November-cloudy turned into a glorious, sunny four hours' amble through the paths and museum exhibits of the Environmental Center . We saw a semi-tame heron, hawk, snakes and mallards and lunched at a shelter. Hikers were Gail Carr, her son-in-law, Herb Whittam with his daughters Blythe and Celeste, Christy Callaghan-Leue and Syma Lapides.  

Nov 10 (Sat) MOUNT GREYLOCK 
Leader:  John Antonio

You remember that old Blood, Sweat and Tears tune – “What Goes Up Must Come Down”?  Well – it’s true.  Eleven of us, taking the AT from the Mount Williams reservoir rediscovered Newton ’s Law of Gravity.  We started at 8:30 a.m., summitted Mt. . Williams at 10:40 and Greylock at noon.  We were back to our cars at 4:10 and, according to a trail worker we passed on our hike he told us covered about 11 miles with an elevation gain of about 3,200 feet.  Getting back to Newton ’s Law, the BIG experience of the day was the descent in the LEAVES!!  Without exaggeration they were shin to knee deep and the most slippery ever encountered.  We had at least eight tumbles and one busted lip.  Almost eight hours out because of conditions, but we had a great group and breathed a big sigh of relief when we finally arrived back to our cars.  Participants were John Sheehan, Lori McCarron, Charlene Schaeffer, Sharon Bonk, Kendra Pratt, Anita Whalen, Blanche Nelson, Lori and Tom Chera, Eric Gillette and the leader.

Nov 10 (Sat) JAY RANGE
Leader: Skip Young

Nov 16 (Mon) MT. TREMPER
Leader: Katie Henrikson

We had a beautiful day for this Catskill hike. The sky was bright blue, the temperature was mild and the company was pleasant. The fire tower, closed in August, had been rehabilitated and was open for climbing. A fine day was had by Charlie Beach, Ray Henrikson, Anneliese Lawson, Hilaire Meuwissen, Kendra Pratt, Maureen Roeth, Charlene Shafer and the leader.

Nov 17 (Tue) HAMMOND POND WILD FOREST
Leader:  John Antonio

This was a scouting trip.  The plan was to visit three ponds in this area … Berrymill Pond, Bass Lake (yes, Claudia – it is BASS Lake , even though some prankster erased the “B” on all the trail signs and trail head) and Moose Mountain Pond … to check out the lean-to for a future adventure.  Our party of three had just a great walk in the woods.  We completed our checklist and the only other person we saw that day was a local hunter who gave us some good info concerning this area.  Participants – Lori McCarron, Claudia Rosenholz and the leader.

Nov 18 (Wed) YOKUN RIDGE/KRIPALU
Leader: Virginia Boyle Traver

Nov 19 (Thu) AUSABLE CLUB – INDIAN HEAD CLIFF
Leader: Jim Schaller

Eight of us started out at the Ausable Club on a fairly mild, sunny November day. We took the West River Trail which is always a pleasant hike, ranging from going high above the rushing torrent of the Ausable River to right beside it. We stopped at both Wedge Brook Falls and Beaver Meadow Falls for photos. After passing along meadows and wetlands, we arrived at the Lower Ausable Lake , where we had lunch on the edge of the dam.  Then we ascended Indian Head cliff for great views of the Ausable Lakes and nearby High Peaks . A steep “down” and slight “up” took us over to Fish Hawk Cliff, with more lake and mountain views. We then cut over to the Gill Brook Trail , took that out to the Lake Road , and followed that out to our cars. We left the woods at dusk, finishing up a great day’s hike!  Those hiking were: Lori McCarron, John Susko, Susan Roberts, Claudia Rosenholz, John and Jane Husson, and the leader/ trail-sweep – Jim and Bonnie Schaller.  

Dec 7 (Mon) WINDHAM HIGH PEAK
Leader: Katie Henrikson

Heavy clothes, winter boots, Stabilicers, tea in the thermos - it must be a winter hike! Eight people started out for the top of Windham High Peak ; one turned back for lack of water, and the other seven reached the top in good time. The fresh snow revealed tracks of animals walking up the trail, including a bobcat track and several bear prints. On the way down, we picked up a hunter on his way out of the woods. Enjoying a fine early winter day were Charles Beach, Judy Brandow, Ray Henrikson, Lori McCarron, Susan Roberts, Bonnie Schaller, Frank Schellhorn, and the leader.  

Dec 11 (Fri) SPECTACLE POND AND SEVERANCE HILL
Leader:  John Antonio

Three of us on two relatively short jaunts.  It was only an hour into Spectacle Pond with the only nervous moment being the crossing of the last bridge on snowshoes.  It was kind of skinny and totally slippery but we had no mishaps.  From the pond’s edge you get a great view of the cliffs on Pharaoh Mountain but the most amazing sight of the day was the pattern on the frozen pond of semi-circles created by?  It seemed like a Zamboni was let loose in the Adirondack wilderness to create a work of art.  Back to the car, lunch in the Severance Hill parking lot with another 50 to 60 minutes to the summit of Severance.  Nice views of Schroon Lake and the distance mountains around Lake George .  We completed the day with coffee and chocolate cookies at Stewart’s in Schroon Lake .  Participants – Lori McCarron, Karen Ross and the leader.   

Dec 12 (Sat) MT. COLDEN
Leader: Bob Scaife

A light coating of new snow, crisp morning air and mostly sunny skies greeted Michael Jensen, Dave Kocian, Jeanne Michela, Claudia Warren and the leader as we set off at first light from the Loj parking lot. We enjoyed the walk to Marcy Dam at a moderate pace and stopped briefly there to admire the view of our destination peak, shadowed by colorful puffy clouds in the bright morning sun.  At the Avalanche Camp trail junction, we encountered 8 inches of unbroken snow and our pace slowed.  The snow depth increased gradually as we approached Lake Arnold and more rapidly on the lovely climb through snow-laden spruces from there to the bald shoulder of Colden.  As we pushed upward through as much as 18 inches of fluffy powder, the clouds descended.  When we emerged from the protected forest into a moderate breeze on the summit of Colden, the tops of the highest surrounding peaks were hidden from view.  The wintry conditions prevented more than a brief stay at the summit and we soon began the return trip, enjoying the softness of the snow perhaps even a little more on the descent than on the ascent.  Photos from the hike may be viewed at http://picasaweb.google.com/rpscaife.  

Dec 15 (Tue) BLUE AND SAWYER MOUNTAINS
Leader:  John Antonio

Off we go on a foggy, drizzly, completely cloud covered day.  In other words – we know no views are going to be had.  Starting in 37 degrees on a semi-broken trail we all agreed the best part of the day was near the top of Blue Mountain .  The trees were just laden with snow … it was truly a fairy tale picture.  The mystery of the day was following a snowshoe hare track that disappeared into thin air?  Since no views were to be seen we decided to skip Sawyer and ended up having lunch in a fellow hiker’s beautiful Adirondack camp.  Participants – John Sheehan, Lori McCarron, John Susko, Charles Beach and the leader.

Dec 27 (Sun) XC SKI LEADER’S CHOICE
Leaders: Sue & Ted Wright

Several people were apparently put off by the rain and cancelled, but we picked Lapland Lake and found that it had snowed several more inches there. It was a bright, sunny day about 32 degrees. Group consisted of Ted and Sue Wright, and Nancy Feiker.  

Dec 28 (Mon) WHITEFACE & ESTHER
Leader: Don Berens

We planned a sunrise start and a comfortable early winter tune-up hike under ten miles with a mid-afternoon finish.  Reality was different, though all turned out well for George Baranauskas, Don Berens, Jim Dean, Michael Jensen, Tim Kase, Dave Kocian, Jeanne Michela, Christiana Mulvihill and Laurie Schweighardt.  We left the toll gate on the Whiteface Mountain Highway (WMH) at 8:15, considerably after sunrise.  We wore snowshoes, the temperature was in the 20s and it snowed all day.  A half-mile up the road we turned south to bushwhack along a stream and up the north slopes of Esther.  It was wet, slow going as we took turns breaking untrodden snow, often through thick woods, over and under blowdown.  We were equal to the forest's challenge, vowing that we would be as dense as the spruce, and unpacking the oft-carried persevering spirit.  We summitted Esther at 1:15, five hours and less than two miles from the tollgate, averaging only 0.25 mph on the bushwhack, far slower than any previous time on that route.  Our pace improved down the unbroken herd path where we felt the west wind freshening.  It further improved on the marked trail toward Whiteface.  At 3:10, we reached the bottom of the stone retaining wall at the Wilmington Turn of the WMH.  We paused in the shelter of the wall to eat and drink before continuing higher back into the wind.  As we broke trail across the slope between the bottom of the wall and the upper edge of the woods, our track undercut a ten-foot high by ten-yard wide slab of new snow lying over the icy crust beneath.  We started an avalanche, which built to a foot and a half deep.  Fortunately, the snow was light and it stopped as it reached our tracks, so no one was even staggered, much less buried.  When we topped the wall we elected to leave the trail and walk up the WMH into the blowing snow and cloud.  The forty-foot high rock cut was plastered with rime and icicles.  We paused at the Castle at the upper end of the WMH, pulled facemasks out of our packs and then snowshoed up the stairs of the tourist trail toward the summit.  Seven of us summitted at 4:00 in a cloud of blowing snow pellets.  Two retreated to deal with numbing hands in the lee of the Castle where we all reunited, grabbed our headlamps and left down the WMH at 4:30 just after sunset.  It was occasionally icy near the wind-blown Wilmington turn, but snow covered below that point.  We never used our headlamps, because the wide, white ribbon of road was easy to follow even in the cloudy dusk and night.  When we dropped below the clouds, we glimpsed the lights of the hamlets in the Saranac River valley to the north.  We followed the snow-freshened WMH all the way to the toll gate which we reached at 6:25, considerably after mid-afternoon.  There was an interesting symmetry to the trip; it took us over five hours to do the first two miles, it took us under two hours to do the last five miles.

Jan 6 (Wed) CASCADE & STEPHENS POND
Leader: John Sheehan

Was it a stroke of luck or a fine piece of planning?   Whatever it was, four hikers enjoyed a beautiful winter day in the central Adirondacks .  There was plenty of lake effect snow early in the season and much of it was still hanging onto the trees making us feel like we were in a Robert Frost poem.  We started the hike at the trailhead at the west end of Durant Lake .  Much to our surprise and delight, the trail was broken into Cascade pond.  After weeks of single digit temperatures, we decided it was safer to cross the frozen pond than to cross the narrow two-log bridge that carries the trail across the pond’s outlet.  At that point the trail was unbroken for the next .75 miles until we reached the Northville Placid trail.  You can always depend on the NPT in that area being broken by skiers and hikers.  We had a pleasant lunch at the Stephens pond shelter and headed out to find the car we had spotted at the trailhead adjacent to the Durant Lake state campground.  Enjoying this winter outing were Lori McCarron, John Susko, Matt Sirni and the leader. 

Jan 8 (Fri) MOREAU LAKE STATE PARK
Leader: John Antonio

If you are still one of the few that have not yet discovered the Moreau Lake State Park , listen to this advice.  Get yourself up there to the park office, purchase a trail map for two bucks and prepare to be amazed at the abundance of trails that await you. We started our hike on the Red Oak Trail and ascended the fairly steep Moreau Overlook Trail.  We then kicked around on the Ridge Run Trail and then for a bit on the Western Ridge Trail … five and a half hours later we returned to our cars.  The day’s excitement came when crossing a stream that we all thought was totally frozen over one of our party broke through and ended up with some wet boots.  Luckily it was a short distance to the car and warm dry socks.  Participants – Lori McCarron, Judy Halstead, Sal S. and the leader.

Jan 11 (Mon) GARNET HILL XC SKI
Leader: Katie Henrikson

There was a competing bus trip to Garnet Hill two days before this outing, so attendance was low. Nevertheless, it was a lovely day, clear, crisp, cold, with good snow and great trails. Enjoying the day were Lori and Mike McCarron, Ray Henrikson, and the leader.

Jan 16 (Sat) MT. MARSHALL
Leader: Bob Scaife

Our mixed group of experienced and aspiring winter peak-baggers set out in high spirits at 6:30 a.m. from the Upper Works trailhead for a day of comradeship and winter adventure.  The trail was well packed, but not frozen, so snowshoes (or skis for one participant) were needed from the beginning of the hike.  The weather was unseasonably warm, with air temperatures just above freezing throughout the day, and the skies were grey, though not heavy.  A steady pace soon brought us to the Flowed Lands where we stopped at the unoccupied lean-to to snack and adjust gear in preparation for the snow-laden spruces we expected to find along the herd path.  When we arrived at the herd path, just beyond Herbert Brook, we found a well-established track, so our progress up the mountain was quick and the snow only rarely cascaded from the trees onto our heads.  We all greatly enjoyed the time spent on the frozen and snow-covered Herbert Brook, which tends to mud and slippery moss in summer.  The established snow-trench we followed kept to the summer herd path very well even through the thick and snow-covered spruces near the summit.  Arriving at the top at 11:00 a.m., we took turns squeezing into the small summit clearing for photos.  The mountain was shrouded and no distant views were available, so we did not tarry.  On the descent, some found an opportunity to explore steeper and untracked portions of Herbert Brook and took great delight in leaping into the deep, soft snow below each ledge.  We returned to the trailhead with two hours of daylight to spare, leaving plenty of time for an exit 26 pizza stop.  Participants were Laura Gerson, Wayne Gray, Tim Kase, Akos Mersich, Christiane Mulvihill, Laurie Schweighardt, Arnie Tran, Kay Tran, Skip Young and the leader.

Jan 21 (Thu) HARVEY MTN. SNOWSHOE
Leader: Virginia Boyle Traver

Barely a ground covering of snow carpeted the Capital Region, but just to the East in Austerlitz , we found a good base with a few inches of powder on top for our snowshoe hike up Harvey Mtn.  Not only was every branch coated with fresh snow, but the sun shone, adding a sparkle to ground and a clear blue sky above.  Temperatures in the 30s allowed us a comfortable lunch break at the summit with views reaching to the Catskills.  Taking advantage of a perfect January day were Paul Breslin, Matt Sirni, John Tifft, TuAnh Turnbull, Brian Washburn, Deb Wein, and the leader.

Jan 30 (Sat) CLIFF MOUNTAIN
Leader: Don Berens

It really is better in winter!  Don Berens, Jim Dean, Tim Kase, Dan Lockart, Kathy Pacuk, Laurie Schweighardt and TuAnh Turnbull left the Upper Works trailhead at 6:30 a.m. with snowshoes, headlamps and many layers of insulation.  The full Wolf Moon, closer to earth and so reportedly 14% larger and 30% brighter than any other full moon in 2010, shone in the clear western sky, but it did not warm the minus 11 temperature.  The rising sun soon made headlamps unnecessary, but it took longer before any of those many layers was unneeded or unwanted.  An inch of new snow with ten-minute old snowshoe tracks covered a firm packed trail that had nicely filled in the summer mud and rough spots.  We took a short cut across the frozen surface of Flowed Lands with views of wooded Calamity, Marshall , Avalanche and Cliff and of rocky Iroquois, Boundary, Algonquin and Colden gleaming white above tree line.  The trail along the Opalescent River is always a treat; today yellow icicles hung from the rocks over the rushing green water and white river ice.  After a break at the Uphill Lean-to, we took the herd path, drifted in with a little fresh powder snow, up the steep and sometimes icy ledges of Cliff whose summit we reached at 11:30.  It was sunny and calm with fine views of Redfield, Marcy, Colden and the MacIntyre Range .  To the north, a plume of snow blew eastward off the top of Whiteface.  Kathy shared cookies to improve our already ebullient mood.  Gravity cooperated to speed our descent in our track back to Uphill Lean-to, along the Opalescent, and back across Flowed Lands.  The rest of our exit, with views of Mount Adams and the Santanoni Range and temperature rising to plus 10, was completed before 4:00 p.m. without further adventure.

Feb 2 (Tue) MOOSE MOUNTAIN COOKOUT
Leader: John Antonio

A blazing campfire at a remote lean-to in the Hammond Pond Wild Forest …does it get any better than this…YES!!  It does if it’s winter and you have a bunch of gourmet hotdogs grilled on a sunny day with a bunch of friends (all hikers become friends on a day like we had.)  Participants – Lori McCarron, Anita Whalen, John Susko, Claudia Rosenholz, Anneliese Lawson, Sharon Bonk, Susan Roberts, John Sheehan, Charles Beach and the leader.

Feb 11 (Thu) PROSPECT MTN. XC SKI
Leader: Katie Henrikson

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