Locatios

“He what about that place with the cool old buildings?”

“Which one? Camp Santanoni (FYAO IV)? Tahawus?

Henderson Lake has a leanto on it that is only a few years old. If you walked across the lake it would be fairly easy to get to. By trail wouldn't be bad except the bridge over Indian Pass Brook is out making it tough to bring sleds in.”

“Was Camp Santanoni the year of the famous on trail bivy?”

“That it was.”

“Hmmm, what about one of the Raquette River leantos from Coreys Road? Coreys Road is about 12.5 miles west of Saranac Lake; home to often the coldest temperatures in the country. The Hemlock Hill leanto would be about 2.5 - 3 miles from the winter parking area. Stony Creek leanto would be even closer. Dayhikes could include lower and upper Raquette Falls, Calkins Brook, or if you felt real ambitious a 12+ mile round trip to the Seward Range.”

“"or if you felt real ambitious a 12+ mile round trip to the Seward Range."

Hmmm...you sound like me!”

“What about Ha-De-Ron-Dah wilderness? I hear that The Brown tract to Middle Lake and Bennett is nice. There are supposed to be some mountains around the lake that have some views, though there are no trails.

Anyone ever been?

A nice walk into basecamp is good, but remember that we really need to have "activities" during the day(hiking?!!!) or else everyone sits around and drinks into unconsciousness.
>:D

Let's throw out some ideas here, so we can find a new spot! I am hoping to achieve 10 FYAO's with no duplicates!! Work with me, peeps!
:)”

“Woodhull Lake southwest of Old Forge. About 5 miles in to the leanto, Woodhull Mountain and firetower is 5.6 mostly flat miles away.”

“I think I looked up Ha-De-Ron-Dah Wilderness last year (oops sorry Marko) last winter

With average snowfall of 281", Old Forge NY has much to offer for the winter enthusiast

Old Forge-Brantingham Lake


The Old Forge-Brantingham Lake area situated in the Town of Webb, Herkimer County, and the Town of Greig, Lewis County, consists of a scattering of small lakes and ponds among gently rolling hills. Moose River Mountain, the highest point in the area, was once the site of a forest fire observation station that was closed in 1971.

Most of the trails are within the bounds of the Ha-De-Ron-Dah Wilderness. These trails are not maintained at the high level they once were, especially in the northern portion of the wilderness area. This provides the Forest Preserve user an opportunity to enjoy the area in its natural-state.

Other trails are in the Independence River Wild Forest, which lies to the west and north of Ha-De-Ron-Dah. While the area is mostly used for hiking or backpacking, other activities can be enjoyed in the area.

A number of foot trails offer good nordic skiing possibilities during the winter season; the most popular being from Thendara to Big Otter Lake.

More

Easy grades make it possible to ski many of the trails, and the area lies within the Adirondack Park’s most reliable snow belt. Ha-de-ron-dah is also home to the Middle Settlement Lake and Middle Branch Lake lean-tos, which are popular backpacking destinations throughout the year. With approximately 35 miles of trails accommodating hikers, backpackers”

“This might be the best location for this group.




The leanto is on the peninsula





It is called Queer lake interestingly it is near Butt Lake.
last edited: 12/17/08 6:45:18 AM”

“How about Duckhole? It is accessed from Uperworks, the hike in is about 6 miles unless we can hike across Henderson Lake which shaves off 2 miles.”

“
View of the lake

View of the old dam
last edited: 12/17/08 9:56:23 AM”

“That's an old picture of the old dam. It's in far worse shape now.”

“Zac what do you think of these spots? Duck hole is supposed to be really nice. It might be pushing it alittle on the distance. Although it looks like an easy hike in.”

“What about the Boquet river lean to? we could dayhike up Dix and go sledding on the slide.”

“Duckhole is a gem. There are actually 2 leantos (the old leanto has a dirt floor) there and plenty of space to set up tents. Indian Pass Brook will be tricky to cross (as I stated above) with the bridge out, but if you can walk across Henderson Lake, you would bypass that. I don't know what the rest of the trail is like, because I've only hiked in to Duckhole once and that was along the NPT.”

“Evidently in the winter you can cut across Henderson lake then pick up the trail. Then cut across upper and lower preston ponds and get to the leanto.

”

“I don't know why I do this research princess will pick something totally different from anything I suggest anyway.

There are also a couple LTs on Henderson Lake that would make for a much shorter hike in. We could then dayhike up to Duckhole to check it out. I think there are also some climbing spots along Henderson or Upper Pond (hint hint Pennsy)”

“Indian Pass would be a cool place to see in winter as well.”

“Lots of great ideas, Lt! Zac, you know we rely on you to help us out with the "local" flavor of things up there.

I am happy to share the decision making process...in fact, we will make it a democracy and everyone can vote! (I retain veto rights)
;)”

“Democracy is no fun. How can I be a suck up AmyG if you propose democracy. Did I tell you you are the bestest FYAO planner EVER?”

“Five or Six miles???

Yikes!!

How about rat-schitting it back a bit?”

“I would rule out Queer Lake for group gatherings. The lean-to faces the lake (no wind break) and there isn't much space for tents. However it is a beautiful place!”

“Why wouldn't you go across Henderson?”

“The Henderson Lake-Duck Hole options look really good.

Another option in that same are would be to camp at the Calamity Brook or Flowed Lands lean-tos. Are those still there? That would give great access to the Lake Colden area which are absolutely snowy and beautiful in the dead of winter.”

“Adventurist, you talk like your actually coming to this years trip. Figures you've been to Queer lake.
The only reason that i could see for not crossing Henderson would be thin ice.”

“Of course I've been there. Pigeon Lake Wilderness is a really nice area.”

““The Henderson Lake-Duck Hole options look really good.

Another option in that same are would be to camp at the Calamity Brook or Flowed Lands lean-tos. Are those still there? That would give great access to the Lake Colden area which are absolutely snowy and beautiful in the dead of winter.”
Adventurist
3:47:33 PM
12/21/08

Those lean-tos are still there, but fires aren't aloud, even in winter there. Henderson and Duck hole are out of the fire ban area.”

“I think I know why. The whole Lake Colden area is a mess from people having campfires. Idiots had burned all the pine needles and cut saplings down for their fires.”

“Queer name for a lake.

”

“"Indian Pass Brook will be tricky to cross (as I stated above) with the bridge out"

I read that they replaced the bridge.”

“Marko 5-6 miles mostly flat across frozen lakes and ponds wouldn't be bad, as long as we didn't have a major thaw that weekend. Unless you want to be able to walk out to your car to warm up.
I think we have noticed in the past few years that the shorter trips lead to visits from people like the ranger last year. Thank God we were not violating anything like group size or camping around the lean-to.”

“So has anybody seen the area around the new Henderson Lake Lean-to? I'm thinking that will be hard to grab since its the closest to the parking? What do you guys think/know about the road going in?”

“This one?



Looks like there might be some camping around it.

Here is the Duck Hole LT


last edited: 12/23/08 10:19:41 AM”

“Close up


Here is a map of the area


last edited: 12/23/08 10:25:43 AM”

“Which do you think? Duck-hole looks nicer but Henderson Lake looks like it has better day-hiking opps.”

“The newer Duckhole leanto is really nice, or it was when I stayed there in 2003. I don't know much about the Henderson Lake leanto except it was built in 2005 or 2006.”

“nice pics, Lt! Looks like a tiny leanto...probably good for either a communcal kitchen or a few sleepers, but not both.

Everyone pitching a tent? errrrr...you know what I mean!”

“There are 2 at Duckhole, I don't think they are close together. But that field looks like it should have plenty of space for tents. Do you all think it is too far of a hike? Other than Marko? I have read somewhere that Henderson Lake get snowmobile traffic. Maybe we could plan to get to Duckhole but if it is too much ie ass deep snow, we could use Henderson as our backup,
Would Couch Mtn be do-able as a day hike from DH? If we stay at Henderson DH would make a nice easy hike.”

“"Marko 5-6 miles mostly flat across frozen lakes and ponds wouldn't be bad, as long as we didn't have a major thaw that weekend. Unless you want to be able to walk out to your car to warm up."

No LtWiseAss, I just don't want to #&%!$ up my $13,000 knee repair that was done September 5.
It's been a painful six months and life is too short to go through that #&%!$ again.

Do any of y'all remember how it took us about two hours to go about a quarter mile in 2007?
That was me and Sacco breaking trail and stomping out the campsite, by the way.

Some of you guys get a bit ambitious when planning snowshoe distances from the comfort of your arm chair.”

“Marko, just yanking your chain. $13,000 knee job you must be like the bionic man now. Do you hear NnnnnNnnnnnNnnnnnn when you run now?

Puffer pond was 4-5 miles in if we hadn't had 48" of new snow. With this smaller group the 2 LTs below Hough might be fun. We could climb Hough, Macomb slide, Dix would be really cool in the winter.
last edited: 1/02/09 10:10:58 AM”

““There are 2 at Duckhole, I don't think they are close together. But that field looks like it should have plenty of space for tents. Do you all think it is too far of a hike? Other than Marko? I have read somewhere that Henderson Lake get snowmobile traffic. Maybe we could plan to get to Duckhole but if it is too much ie ass deep snow, we could use Henderson as our backup,
Would Couch Mtn be do-able as a day hike from DH? If we stay at Henderson DH would make a nice easy hike.”
LtHiker
1:53:24 PM
12/27/08
If my memory serves me correctly the two leantos are within a few hundred feet of one another.

Keep in mind that the trail to Duckhole is up hill almost the entire way. I don't think it's too steep, except near Henderson Lake, but is generally a long steady climb.

Henderson Lake shouldn't see any snowmobiles, because it is now officially within the High Peaks Wilderness Area.

I wouldn't recommend Couch from Duckhole. This would be a hard task to do in summer. I can almost guarantee you that the trail from Duckhole to Bradly Pond will not have been broken out.”

“So Zac what would you recommend? Henderson Lake? Really short hike/ski in across the lake.”

“If you armchair snowshoers keep ratcheting up the mileage it could turn into a freakin' ordeal.

My surgeon forbade me from cross country skiing until next winter and said I should take it easy on the snowshoes.

Keep in mind that the trail to Duckhole is up hill almost the entire way. I don't think it's too steep, except near Henderson Lake, but is generally a long steady climb.
Zac

5 to 6 miles, huh?

The only surfaces that are "flat" in The Adirondacks or the lakes.”

“Sounds like Henderson Lake is your best bet for the group.”

“The Princess will decide.”

“Si, la senorita of snowshoes will decide our fate.

Via con lobos, muchachos.”

“......or the lakes.

......ARE the lakes.”

“I am still debating...

Do we have a map of Henderson? I can't find my ADK book of that area!!! horrors!

Guess it is time for a new one...

heheheheh”