Recent content by Wild

My buddy and I are thinking about backpacking onto the esker this next weekend. Has anyone been back there lately? I'm just wondering what this strange winter weather has done to the trail conditions. If I recall correctly, the trail from Wanakena can get a bit soggy... Thanks a lot!

We passed through a couple of the kettles that you mention. If we're thinking of the same things, the bottoms were covered in ferns, and criss-crossed with deer trails and deer beds. They were lovely. Just north of Clear Pond, we came across a kettle that must be a seasonal pond. The middle...

If I was impressed with the area around the BDP carry, then this is going to be a real adventure. We travel very light, and we will take our time. If things get too ugly, we'll adjust our plans accordingly. Gal, West and Cracker Ponds are not so much an objective as they are an excuse to head...

Thank You Thanks for the info, Glen and Nessmuk. Our goal is to reach the area around Gal, Cracker and West Ponds, and spend some time there fishing, exploring, and maybe getting on top of one of the peaks or ridgelines to the south. If we miss the confluence, we'll still head uphill and end...

My partner and I are planning a canoe/bushwhack trip into the Five Ponds the weekend of the 26th. We plan to put in at Inlet, paddle to High Falls, portage, and explore the river from there. Is the Robinson River canoeable for any distance from its confluence with the Osewgatchie? Judging from...

I have been hiking and climbing in Degres for about five years now, and I've never had a problem. The liners do get beaten up, so expect to replace them after a few seasons, but other than that, they are great. I climb ice in mine, and although I get a bit of heel lift, I still manage to get...

If you want something cheap and tough, then military surplus wool pants are the way to go. If you tear them up with your crampons, you can sew them back together pretty easily. When they are beyond help, just buy a new pair.

I've had nothing but good experiences with the Campmor brand. My partner has had his Campmor sleeping bag for 20 years now, and he still swears by it. Many Campmor products are fairly simple, no-frills products, so this might help to explain the difference in price.

The kerosene soaked wood is an idea I hadn't thought of. I think I'll add that to my pack, winter and summer. I also carry a few candles for the same purpose. Jack London's "To Build a Fire" should be required reading for every winter hiker or climber. :D

Incompetent Schmucks I guess I was talking about people who are irresponsible, reckless, and inexperienced. You can be totally new to hiking or climbing and still be a safe companion, provided you keep your head about you and make sensible decisions. I personally enjoy hiking alone and with...

This post raises an interesting question. Can going solo ever be safer than going with others? In mountaineering, at least on the cutting edge, it can definitely be safer. When Tomaz Humar soloed the south face of Dhaulagri, he moved so quickly and efficiently that he exposed himself to fewer...

I don't see any problem with letting the dog off the leash in tricky areas, provided the dog is well-behaved and will heel when other hikers appear. Dogs and people scramble at different paces, so having the dog leashed could be dangerous at worst and awkward at best. My experience has been...

What not to bring It's just as important to know what not to bring. If you are spending one or more nights off-trail, you are better off in a bivy sack, tarp or hammock than a tent, because tent sites can be difficult to find. I like the hammock/tarp combo, because not only does it allow you...

I hiked there at this time last year, and didn't run into anyone. Even if you were hunting at the height of rifle season, there would be little to fear in an area as big as the Five Ponds. Most hunters will stay within a mile or two of the road, because motor vehicles are banned in wilderness...

On Santanoni, the hike up Ermine Brook to the base of the slide is one of the nicest bushwhacks I've ever done. The bushwhack from the top of the slide to the summit is the worst. In the Five Ponds Wilderness, Cowhorn Junction to Clear Pond is a good one if you don't mind a little blowdown.