Recent content by escapee

Our party of 8 hiked in Saturday afternoon, base-camped in the valley of the South Fork of the Bouquet River, then Sunday followed a good and well-broken route from where the Hough and East Dix branches join the Bouquet, up to the Clark (East Dix) - Grace (South Dix) col. Summit ridge herdpath...

Our party of four base-camped at the bottom of the Calkins Brook herdpath. We did Donaldson & Emmons on Saturday and Seward on Sunday. All wore snowshoes (MSRs) above base-camp and traction aids of choice for the approach. We had hoped to ski the approach, but there was not enough snow. Road...

I did the Marcy to Gray bushwhack, on a snow pack probably five feet deep. That's the only way I'd recommend it, in part to protect the vegetation. Iroquois (Cold Brook) Pass to Marshall herdpath is obvious. You should have no problem finding and following it. I've done the bushwhack from...

Onondaga ADK group of 12 followed a good trail a few days old to both summits. Trail is well-packed, easy to follow. Indian Pass Brook well frozen over.

I have rented Grace Camp and Camp Peggy O'Brien for three nights, Sunday March 7 through Wednesday March 10. Due to a late cancellation, I have one opening in Camp Peggy O'Brien. This is a twelve-bunk cabin owned by the ADK, near Johns Brook Lodge, about a 3.5 mile hike in from the Garden...

Well-packed snow trails to all three summits. H. G Leach trail to Dial and lowest part of Gill Brook trail appeared to be unbroken on 1/10.

hiking with dogs I have a little experience hiking and skiing with a few breeds. My impression is that heredity plays a big role. Herding breeds and sight-driven hunting dogs like to run up and down the trail, and around the trail, but are generally mindful, and can be allowed off-leash in...

Our party of five plus 3 dogs camped at Slide Brook. Saturday climbed Macomb slide, then Carson (South Dix), Grace (East Dix), Carson again, Pough and Hough. Three continued on to Dix and a head-lamp return to camp. 2 plus the dogs took the path from the Hough-Pough col to Lillian Brook to...

Central NY big cat About 8 years ago, I was paddling on the West Branch of the Tioughnioga River, in Cortland County, New York, above where it feeds into Goodale Lake and Upper Little York Lake. This is a valley of farmland, with a lot of wooded hills on either side. We were going upstream...

Lake Lila Weekend of 5/23-24, very dense at Lake Lila. As bad as I've ever seen them. It was almost a relief to see the mosquitoes come out. I hope that was the peak for the season in that area.

designated tenting areas The backcountry designated tenting areas generally have a limit of three tents, which the rangers do enforce. Marcy Dam and Lake Colden have multiple sites. For non-winter camping, you might consider a hammock. It opens up a lot more possibilities camping at large...

MacN Ferris, Thanks for the post. Unfortunately, work and family obligations will keep me from following in their footsteps next couple of weeks. I did a winter climb of Mac 2 years ago. Nice trip & I'd like to do it again sometime. Thanks again. Escapee

Any info on current trail conditions for MacN via Scott's Clearing would be appreciated.

Red trail from Upper Works to Flowed Lands: no problems with stream crossings or wet spots, tho skiers would want more snow. Followed tracks out across Flowed Lands. Skidoc22's group made 8 friends. We followed their 12/30 track (mostly) from the red trail to the summit. Good route, thanks...

Thanks for your replies. The site where I camped before the current High Peaks regulations is above 3500' but below 4000'. I was hoping it might have been designated as a primitive campsite, or perhaps something on the Iroquois Pass side, which is below 4.000'. Apparently not. I'll plan on...