To: Kurt Ries/VIESystems
cc: cact92x@t4d.carrier.utc.com,
carolef@senecadata.com,
carolman@juno.com,
gail_r._ferat@ccmail.bms.com,
JACK4TTD@worldnet.att.net,
joan_m._yungwirth@liverpool.k12.ny.us,
MARCIA.W@MCI2000.COM,
Vrogers@bell_henderson.moric.org.carrier.utc.com
Subject: SKI REPORT FOR 2/20-23/98
INDIAN LAKE / SIAMESE WILDERNESS AREA
STATE TRAILS
2/20-23/98
TEMP 25 TO 40 DEGREES
24 TO 30 INCH BASE
CONDITIONS: Old snow with a few wash outs.
Glazed and fast in the
mornings and corn snow in the afternoon,
but still quick enough to get
downhill thrills.
We didn't go crazy for once by skiing
until dogged out just because it
was so perfect with the trails, views,
weather, etc. Instead we
picked trips from 4 to 5 hours so that we
kept energy for the
following day and that worked out great.
The first day we did a counter clockwise
loop around Kings Flow and it
was actually on 3 inches of new snow over
some old tracks that helped
keep us on the trail. Many of the trails have lost their markers
over
the years which is a real shame as us
novice woodsmen will eventually
have a real tough time finding
them..maybe some of NYS surplus
millions could be used to buy a couple of
thousand dollars worth of
markers (Yeah..right).
"Fast Focus Folley" joined us
the second day and with two vehicles, we
were able to do a one-way trek from Rt 8
via Eleventh Mountain
crossing through Siamese Pond Junction
and terminating at Old Farm
Clearing near Garnet Hill Touring
Center. The first half hour was
kind of rough as we were climbing up on
old hard rutted snowshoe
tracks.
When we crested, the only sound in the wilderness was Carol
gasping..Dave assumed it was caused by
his after shave lotion, but
Ellie convinced him that it was really
just the climb up. Actually,
the descent was the biggest challenge and
Carol was still at the point
where she wasn't too sure if she was
having a great time or not. Then
the terrain became rolling and the snow
softened plus the tracks
improved. We actually picked up old ski tracks at the half way point
that came in from the other end. It was another near perfect trip and
took about 4.5 hours which is what our
ADK guide book estimated.
The third day we skied from Old Farm
Clearing to Puffer Pond under
unbelievable blue skies. Again, it was very fast and we were mostly
climbing and wondering what kind of terror ride the return trip
would
be.
We got lucky as the snow softened from rising temperatures and
even Dave was kind of under control
coming back. On the way up, we
tied ribbons by the worst wash outs so we
wouldn't be too surprised
coming back down and that worked out good
except Dave missed seeing
them on time. Oh well, that's why he developed HAPPY FEET!
The last day we found a trail called
Indian Lake Cedar River Loop. It
was mainly a bushwhack for first 2.5
hours and very old snowshoe
tracks from an apparent descendant of
Daniel Boone. If the tracks
hadn't been there, we wouldn't have
lasted long. We only lost them
once and they finally joined a more user
friendly trail. It was worth
the rough going and the last mile was
mostly downhill.
Happy Skiing,
The Sheldons