I bet you didn't know Schroon Lake is home to the longest running summer vocal training program and music theatre in the United States. I didn't either until I began researching for this blog. For the past century (98 years to be exact) Seagle Music Colony has been the summer training ground for countless numbers of singers who have gone on to perform on many of the world's most notable stages. Each year 32 of the world's most talented young singers are chosen, through a rigorous audition and application process, and spend the summer training and performing at the prestigious Colony in Schroon Lake.

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World renowned baritone Oscar Seagle

The early days

In 1915 world renowned baritone Oscar Seagle founded the Seagle Music Colony in nearby Hague, but soon moved it to Schroon Lake, where it has remained in its current location since 1922. The Seagle singers were some of the first performers to appear in front of television cameras and were regularly called upon to perform at WRGB in Schenectady. The Colony continues to this day as a not-for-profit organization, and was named the "Best summer vocal training program in the United States" in 2000 by Classical Singer Magazine. An exceptional faculty allows young singers to blossom and gain invaluable experience on the stage at the Colony. Members of the Seagle family remain involved as well in volunteer capacities. Yes, all this in the small Adirondack town of Schroon Lake!

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Production promotion in July 4th parade in Schroon Lake - 1932

 

Students at work

The young artists live in the various small rustic cottages scattered around the beautiful property overlooking Schroon Lake. And in addition to classes and performances, all Colony artists are expected to put in an hour of work each day around the camp. The job titles include such creative names as waitrons, choppers (listen you can't make this stuff up!), cleanup, set building, cleaning, library assistant and pot scrubbers to name a few. Waitrons are just what you'd think (gender non-specific) and choppers are, well, choppers! The choppers assist the chef with chopping - salads, fruit, potatoes, etc. Daily duties must be fulfilled or else. I'm not sure what the "or else" might be, but you can be sure the administration is serious about this part of a their responsibilities.

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Dining room duties at Seagle Music Colony

 

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"Choppers" at work in the kitchen at Seagle Music Colony

 

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Set construction

 

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Set DEstruction

 

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Spectacular view from the hill on which Seagle Music Colony sits high above Schroon Lake

 

2014 Season at Seagle

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From the 2013 production of "Eugene Onegin"

Evolution of production

Over the years the Colony has evolved from two productions and eight summer performances to today's schedule of six full-blown productions and over thirty-five performances. The resident artists receive individual music coaching and private lessons in voice with an exceptional faculty, and basically learn the ins and outs of the business of music theater.

The 2014 summer schedule is filled with fun and familiar productions such as Hansel & Gretel, Side by Side by Sondheim, West Side Story, Camelot and much more on the Main Stage of the Oscar Seagle Memorial Theatre. The schedule also includes Vespers Concerts, a Schroon Lake tradition of sacred choral music and vocal solos. The Colony's largest fundraiser of the season, the Patrice Munsel Gala, takes place in July and includes an elegant dinner, drinks, dessert and dancing, as well as performances by the young artists in residence for the summer.

The Seagle Music Colony in Schroon Lake is a short drive from Albany, Saratoga Springs, Lake George, Lake Placid and Vermont.

A few of the summer 2014 Performances:

Camelot - July 2, 3, 5

The Italian Girl in Algiers - July 16, 17, 18, 19

West Side Story - Aug. 13, 14, 15, 16

Make sure you check the events schedule for Schroon Lake to find the Seagle performances along with their performance dates and times. Most performances take place at 2 pm or 8 pm. Seagle Music Colony is located at 999 Charley Hill Rd. Schroon Lake, NY.

Adirondack Hiking in early spring can be one of the most rewarding times of year. The beauty of snowcapped mountains, flowing waterfalls coupled with longer days and warmer weather are in part what makes the complete experience. Hiking in early spring is also top notch especially because you can travel though several seasons in the course of a day. On a recent trip to Gothics Mountain from the Ausable Club we encountered just such conditions.

From Schroon to Gothics

We started out from the Schroon Lake and after a quick drive we made it to the trailhead parking lot around 9AM. The first portion of the hike is along the road on private property to the gate near the trail register. Once we signed in for our destination we set off down Lake Road. The temperature was in the low 40s and most of the ground was still frozen from the night before and very icy. We wore micro spikes for this section up to the turnoff for Gothics via Beaver Meadow Falls.

Starting out at lower elevations in the morning, trails may be frozen over and still icy requiring the use of micro spikes to maintain your footing on the trail. Micro spikes can prevent slipping and sliding down the trail and work very well in mixed conditions of ice, snow and even some frozen mud.

Seasonal Shift

There may be little to no snow on the trail when you start out as on Lake Road but as you start to gain elevation or change trails more snowpack will start to appear. From the turnoff of lake road at Beaver Meadow Falls we noticed after a few steps we were punching though the snow very easily. At this point we donned our snowshoes to avoid “post holing” (sinking up to you knees or even higher in the snow). Early in the morning the snow may be able to support your weight without snowshoes but as the day goes on and it gets warmer the snowpack will start to soften up. May hikers do not think to carry snowshoes in the spring and it ends up being a mistake as they reach higher elevations as it can be very difficult to make any progress through the snow. Not wearing snowshoes when appropriate is also a ticketable offense when in the High Peaks Region of the Adirondacks. On top of that it is good trail etiquette to wear your snowshoes. Not wearing them can lead to postholes though out the trail and cause issues for other groups traveling in the area.

Once we had our snowshoes on we had plenty of traction and stability on the snowpack. We made our way to the beautiful Beaver Meadow Falls.

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The Warm Up

Once past the falls the trail starts to climb. It was about 10:30am when we left the falls and the temperature was about 54 degrees. It was very warm out and we had to remove our jackets to keep from overheating. Dressing for spring hiking can be difficult even on beautiful days. The start of the hike we were cold enough that we had our jackets on and I was even wearing gloves to keep my hands warm. However at this point an hour and a half in I was down to a single base layer top and was even warm then. As we progressed further up the mountain we started to come out of the woods and into some open areas. Here the temperature would go up even more from the reflection of the sun on the snow.

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When we made it above the tree line it felt like a summer day with the warmth from the sun reflected off the snow and little to no wind. However as we approached the summit the wind began to pick up. Here we stopped to put on our jackets and gloves to prepare for colder weather. As we went over the crest to the summit the wind was strong enough to almost knock us over. In a manner of less than five minutes we went from summer like conditions to winter like freezing conditions with a very strong winds.

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After spending a few minutes on the summit we pressed on out of the wind. Weather forecasts may seem mild for the surrounding areas but winter can maintain a grip on the summits well into the spring. We moved on from the summit and down into the col between Gothics and the next peak Pyramid (Pyramid is not counted as a 4000 footer due to it’s lack of prominence from Gothics). Here we were out of the wind and the temperature shot back up again. Off came our excess layers yet again in order to maintain our cool.

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Views and Tips

We spent several minutes on the summit of Pyramid, which is one of my favorite views in all of the Adirondacks. From this vantage point you can see the massive slides of the upper Great Range.
After leaving the summit on our trip down we crossed several small streams that were still frozen over. There was snow over them and it held up quite well even during the warm day. We got lucky this day; this can be a major hazard of spring hiking that you should be prepared for. Warm weather will lead to the snow melting and flowing into streams and rivers. On particularly warm days and after rain these small streams can become raging rivers as the day goes on, making crossing difficult if not impassable in the worst cases. Be sure to carry a map and be aware of spots that can be difficult and plan alternate routes to avoid the dangers.

Another thing to be aware of during the spring thaw is the infamous Adirondack mud. The trails can become a soupy mess from snowmelt and rain on top of that. This can lead to some messy conditions. It is best to avoid the trails that can be particularly muddy. If you do find yourself in these conditions the proper course of action is to stay on the trail and walk through the mud and not around it. Walking around the area causes further erosion and over time can lead to mud pits in the trail instead of smaller muddy areas.

We did not run into much mud on our way down but another week later and the trails would most likely be a muddy mess. As we descended we passed by Rainbow Falls on the way down.

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After the falls it was a short walk back to Ausable Lake where we followed Lake Road back out to the car for a very enjoyable day in the mountains. The drive to Schroon Lake is again a welcomed time to relax and with all of the available dining options we were able to refule after a day in the mountains. Schroon makes for an excellent jump off point for anyone looking to hit trails in the Adirondacks. Since our hike the snow melt has occured and with the very little rain late spring hiking in the Adirondacks will be prime conditions.

Events in Newcomb from loons to fishing

Although not nearly as busy as the summer season, the spring events in the Schroon Lake Region are some of the most fun, interesting and educational events on the calendar. Newcomb is lucky enough to be the home of the State University of New York’s College College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF), a training ground for some extraordinary environmental scientists. As part of ESF’s mission, the management of the Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC) at Newcomb fall to this educational institution. What better pairing could there be?

Adirondack Interpretive Center at Newcomb

The AIC is an educational and recreational facility located in the town of Newcomb, with trails open to the public from dawn to dusk daily. The Interpretive Center building is open 10 am - 4 pm Tuesday through Saturday. The many events on the calendar are both fun and educational, with some geared to families or kids and others for adults.

After this year’s long, cold winter, getting outside to view and hear the awakening forest may be the perfect remedy for spring fever. Most programs at the AIC are free and open to the public, unless noted otherwise. The administration likes to have a handle on attendance numbers, so calling ahead to pre-register or let them know you’re going are greatly appreciated.

Outdoor events for all to enjoy

Some of the exciting events for the spring season follow.

Saturday, April 19th - 9 am - 11:00 am:

WETLAND DETECTIVES TRAINING WORKSHOP

Frogs and Toads - Research has shown that climate change will likely cause drastic changes to Adirondack wetlands. Join in as a citizen scientist and help conduct surveys that will be used to help preserve these vital ecosystems. It’s the perfect opportunity to not only learn about the natural world, but help protect it as well. A follow-up to this workshop is scheduled for May 17th.

Saturday, April 26 - 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm:

AMPHIBIAN NIGHT HIKE

Join us to explore the vernal pools and unlock the secrets of their inhabitants - frogs, salamanders and toads! Witness these amazing animals’ springtime rituals. This is a great event for kids and all ages are welcome. Appropriate clothing and hiking shoes are strongly advised. Call to pre-register.

Loony fun(d) raiser..

Looking ahead to the early part of the summer, one of our favorite events takes place Saturday, May 24th.

ANNUAL LOONS AND LOGS DAY

This ever-growing popular event features the most iconic bird of the Adirondacks, the Common Loon, as well as demonstration by the SUNY ESF woodsmen team. One of the highlights of the event is the much-anticipated rubber Loon race. Sponsor a loon for a chance to wine prizes from local businesses (see video above).

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Fly fishing workshop..

If you’ve been planning to learn how to or improve your skills at Fly Fishing, spend the weekend of May 31st thru June 1st in Newcomb and attend this AIC workshop. One of the Adirondack’s legendary guides, Rick Kovacs, will be teaching the finer skills of fly fishing along with some natural history in both indoor and outdoor sessions. Join in and hone your skills or learn how. Pre-registration is required.

Stay and hike or bike awhile...

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If you haven’t spent much time in Newcomb, spring and early summer are great times to visit and check out the AIC events and/or do some paddling on the amazing waterways, which include the upper reaches of the Hudson River. Hike or bike the 4.7 miles to Great Camp Santanoni through the beautiful winding roads of the preserve to the main lodge of this historic and restored Adirondack Great Camp.

If you don't plan on attending any of the events or programs at the AIC, you can still visit anytime and hike their trails whenever it suits your schedule, for free.

Check out the entire events schedule for other options while in the Schroon Lake Region.

 

Mid-winter in the Schroon Lake Region means EVENTS!

• Snowshoe hikes at the Adirondack Interpretive Center
• Bird walks at the Adirondack Interpretive Center
• Full moon parties
• Great camp tours
• Chili cookoff
• Fishing derby

 

Coming up during the next few weeks, there's lots to keep you busy and it's all about the outdoors when it comes to events.  

Take a hike at the AIC...

The Adirondack Interpretive Center in Newcomb has a fairly full schedule this month, some of the best of which are its Snowshoe Hikes and Bird Walks.  Join one of their naturalists for outings into the wild forest surrounding the AIC and learn about your natural surroundings. You can learn about the winter bird population while getting some exercise on the Audubon Bird Walk, or join in one of the Snowshoe Hikes held weekly during February. 

"Snow" Moon party

February's full moon is also known as the "snow moon", and aptly so! This year it falls on Valentine's Day! In nearby North Creek (just a 20 minute drive from Schroon Lake), the day brings the North Creek Ski Bowl Full Moon Party with 1/2 price tubing and twilight ski tickets. The Ski Bowl turns on all the lights for this great evening of fun and celebration of the Full Moon.

Great camp Santanoni tours

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On select weekends this winter the NYS DEC and Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH) will open up historic Great Camp Santanoni for tours during the dates February 15 - 17 and March 15 - 17. The self-guided XC ski or snowshoe tours to Camp Santanoni will include historic interpretation by members of the AARCH staff upon arrival at the camp. The staff will be in residence at the Camp for the weekend.  The trip into Camp Santanoni is a 9.8 mile round trip on the gently sloping carriage road. 

Calling all chili cooks!

Schroon Lake's 3rd Annual Chili Cook off takes to the stage on February 22 at the Mountainside Gymnasium. Cooks will compete in the categories such as Best Meaty, Best Veggie, People's Choice and Best Chili from a fire, ambulance or rescue squad. 100% of proceeds go to Schroom Lake EMS. The event begins at 11:30 am, with tallying of votes and announcement of winners at 1:30 pm. 

Who can catch the biggest fish?

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Hooray! This year the ice in Schroon Lake is ample depth to hold the 22nd Annual Schroon Lake Ice Fishing Derby. Join in on March 1st and 2nd and try to catch the biggest fish from daylight on Saturday to sundown on Sunday in the designated waters of Schroon Lake. There will be three categories this year - trout, northern pike and salmon - and cash prizes!  Don't miss this very popular event!

If you haven't already made plans to spend a night or two, check out our lodging options. See you around the events circuit in Schroon Lake!

Schroon Lake Base Camp Gore Mountain Ski Trip 

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As a working mom of three, including toddler twins, it's a rare occasion to enjoy time with my girlfriends. More often than not this time is much needed, and helps me refresh to really be a better mom and on top of my game. Traveling is important to my husband and I and we make time for quick jaunts here and there, however the girls trips are few and far between. Let’s face it- my idea of a girls trip is the polar opposite of The Hangover Movies. There are no tigers, mokeys or tattoos and the iPhone photo stream may be silly but we always recall what happened. Most often we find ourselves in constant communication with the kids, slow easy cocktails with water and lemon on the side, and always in bed very early. One of the best parts of traveling for me is the uninterrupted sleep; no bottles or diaper changes, even if for only one night- the little things.

Ski Trip

When my cohort Kelly and I decided to take a trip to Schroon Lake for a Gore Mountain ski trip the timing couldn't have been better. I have traveled to Gore from multiple directions, and chose Schroon as our base camp, only 20 minutes from all the ski action and a lot to do in town. From Lake Placid we took Exit 26 off the NYS Northway per our Google Map and this proved to be about an hour and a half drive to the base lodge- the same distance from Albany. Proximity is very important to me when I plan a quick trip, both for child care and maximizing fun time!

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Mid week is always better- Why I love Thursdays

We picked a Thursday for our ski day, completely unaware it was a $12 Thursday- seriously- $12 to ski for the FULL DAY. This is less than my Starbucks order, and will be taken advantage of again. We parked in row 3 and were in the base lodge within minutes getting geared up and ready to go. We shared a table with with a couple up from Saratoga for the day. This was a bi-weekly trip for them and the $12 tickets were a bonus.

Kelly and I were lined up at the Northwoods Gondola in about 20 minutes after unloading from the car. Using the words “lined up” maybe is off target- let’s say “walked up” because there was no line we just walked into our chariot. As you can tell this day has been going rather well, quick drive, cheap tickets, front lot parking with no charge, and no lines; I love Thursdays.

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Skiing how it should be- Great!

The trails at Gore Mountain were groomed to perfection with corduroy from top to bottom. If I had a quarter I would have rolled it down the line and picked it up at the bottom, but there was no time for this- only time to ski. The views are spectacular, high peaks and glimpses of both Lake George and Schroon Lake. Run after run Kelly noted how it was like we had our own mountain, there were no crowds just your own line figure eight style. The majority of terrain was open including trails for all abilities, this mountain really does a great job from top to bottom. We were excited to have old school favorite trails like Rumors and Hullabaloo open- these are really solid runs.

Each trip up the Gondola we met cool people, most of whom had traveled up and a few who were staying in Schroon. It was recommended to us by one gondola buddy to head to Sticks & Stones Restaurant in Schroon Lake for our apres fun. This restaurant was on our line up and it was great to get a referral. He said to be sure and ask for Gary, they grew up together back in Albany... to be continued.

We skied for the majority of the day until the light grew dark and it was time to call it a day. It was a tough call for such a fun day- but it was also closing time. We snuck in one last run for good measure and headed on to our next adventure.

Apres in Schroon Lake

Schroon Lake is only about 20 minutes from Gore Mountain and stop one on our list was Witherbees Carriage House Restaurant. Upon pulling up we knew we were in the right spot for some Apres fun, the key indicator being the giant red Gore Gondola hanging above the entry next to the silo and music booming from the outdoor speakers... The entry way was decked out in Gore ski signs, the kind only the patrol can get their hands on. The owners, who have been there for the last seven years have the don't ask don't tell rule- they came with the place, true ski dining decor.

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 Kelly and I were hoping to grab a drink and a bite at Witherbees although it happened to be the Town of Schroon's annual dinner. Normally I would have been game to crash any annual dinner, however still in our ski pants and helmet hair we decided it may be frowned upon if we tried to shimmy in and maybe best to move onto destination number two. We did sneak a photo of the upstairs to give you an idea of how cool this place really is. Witherbees, we shall return almost certainly on a Thursday- because we love Thursdays.

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Another round please

After leaving Witherbees we headed to Sticks & Stones Bistro and Bar. By this point I had worked up quite an appetite and my lite fair was now going to be an all out dinner. Greeted by a roaring fire outside Kelly and I entered an awesome Adirondack Style restaurant with a modern feel. Newly opened in June of 2013, Sticks & Stones really has their niche defined. From wooden bar games, decorative accents everywhere, a huge stone fireplace, to a purple wood stove for pizzas and creating toasty eats. They also serve a nice selection of draft beers including 2 from the Paradox Brewery, the local brewery in Schroon Lake.

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Where's Gary?

Yes, we walked in and immediately asked for Gary. Both Gary and Steve the super friendly owners came out slightly confused and ended up having a good laugh from our gondola story. Gary and Steve gave us the run down of the menu including their Apres specialty Soup to Nuts! They make a variety of homemade soups daily and offer a platter with samplings of three soups of your choice and warm wood fired nuts. This is a treat to be had- not listed on the menu, but ask and you shall receive.

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A Great Day and Night

The Food was all delicious and the company was great too. I really felt like this was a great place to visit and I could see myself dining here another night. One of the fun parts- my phone was almost dead from so many photos all day and the bar comes equipped with outlets to plug in and re-charge- very cool unexpected amenity.

After dinner and great conversation it was time to retire for the evening and of course call home to check in on the family. My legs were tired from an awesome ski day and another day was just around the corner. Check back in a couple weeks to see Day 2 of our Schroon Lake trip, including the powder day to follow. Here's a sneak peak of whats next to come from my Schroon Lake visit- you're going to be surprised with all of this powder what we decided to do...

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PS. Since our trip I have travelled the Northway a few times and have stopped in to see Steve and Gary, of course to also get a chuckle about the masked man who sent us there- one day we are sure he will be identified!

 

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Snow Tubing Isn't Just For Kids

Need a fun outing for the kids or the young at heart? I recently spent a day learning about what fun winter activities Schroon Lake, NY has to offer! 

One activity that stood out amongst the more traditional options was snow tubing at the golf course. Of course I had to see for myself how big this hill was so, I took a quick ride to the golf course to scope out the tubing potential. I was pleasantly surprised to find a 700 foot long hill in front of me. One side of the hill is used for tubing and the other offers a tow-rope for skiers to get a lift to the top of the hill. Not only is this a FREE activity, yes I said FREE but there is a little warm-up room and a concession stand for those particularly chilly winter temperatures.  

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During the season the hill will be open starting at 4pm under the lights on Friday evenings, it will also be open during the evenings on Saturdays, Sundays, and throughout school holidays. So bring your tube or skis but most importantly your love for fun! Take some time to enjoy an activity that will make you feel like a kid again.

Getting There

The Schroon Lake Tubing Hill is an easy find if you're not familiar with the area. Just take Exit 27 on the New York State Northway, either from north or south bound. From there follow the signs to the Town Park and golf course off the exit ramp. When you see the golf course on your left follow the road as it travels around the course until you reach the back, there you will see the hill along with a large parking area. After you exhaust yourself with fun and laughter take a trip into town and enjoy a walk boasting beautiful lake views and a meal to refuel for your next adventure!

 

 

 

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It's not unusual some winters to have ice fishing season extend well into March on many waters, after daylight saving time goes into effect, when you can fish in comfort on some of those special 45-degree days,leisurely watching your tip-ups and maybe even doing some venison on your portable Coleman stove while you wait for a flag to pop. 

There have been some days when I've even returned home with a sunburned face. 

This, however, is not one of those winters, not one of those extended ice fishing seasons where you can walk on water without worry. 

There's not much we can do about it, except maybe rationalize that because our ice-fishing season fizzled amid a warm weather trend and some heavy mid-March rains it could mean an earlier kickoff to the open-water season, particularly for backcountry brook trout. 

That's nothing to sneeze at; the remote brook trout ponds in the Schroon Lake region are teeming with brookies, thanks to an ambitious DEC stocking program, much of it done via air. Nowhere will you catch more beautiful fish in more spectacular surroundings, and depending on how far you plunge into the wilderness, there's always a chance – especially at mid-week –you'll have the water all to yourself, with the exception, perhaps, of a pair of loons. 

All we can do now is wait for open water. And prepare for our first backcountry excursions of the spring. 

For sure, there are maps to dissect. Stocking lists – you can get them from the DEC – to check. Gear to ready. From the time-tested LakeClear Wabblers to small spoons such as Little Cleos or perhaps lures like the famed Rapalas, lines must be replaced, rods readied, and canoes or float tubes checked closely for signs of wear and tear from last season. 

In the Schroon Lake region, your biggest challenge might be deciding just what water to target. The options are many, including Moose Mountain Pond and Bass Lake in North Hudson; Black Pond and Barnes Pond in Minerva; Latham and Livingston ponds in Newcomb; and Gull Pond and Pharaoh Lake in the town of Schroon. 

Some require a little more effort than others, but if you can handle the hike, keep in mind the quality of the fishing is often directly proportional to the amount of pain necessary to get to the water. 

So get ready. Winter will release its grip sometime, the ice will depart and the brook trout will be hungry. Make sure you're there to take advantage of it all. 

Winter in the Schroon Lake Region about getting out & enjoying the outdoor events 

Learn about our natural environment

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In Newcomb at the SUNY-ESF Visitor Interpretive Center, outdoor events fill the calendar. For some cool and educational treks and gatherings check out:

• January 9, 16, 23 & 30 - "Smammeling" - One of our research projects is small mammal trapping (smammeling). Learn firsthand about the critters we catch and why they are important to the ecosystem.
• Full Moon Snowshoe Hike and Chili Chow-down - enjoy a great outdoor full-moon snowshoe trek and take in the great North woods by moonlight, followed by chili and hot chocolate.
• January 25 - Winter Survival for Mammals - Join us as we explore the woods and discover how some of our mammals survive the winter. This program is designed for families and we'll provide snowshoes.

Historic Great Camp Santanoni Tours

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Another wonderful outdoor excursion in Newcomb is the Winter Weekends at Camp Santanoni. Although not normally open in winter, three weekends in January are designated for tours of this historic camp. On these very special weekends, one of which falls on January 18-20, snowshoers and XC skiers will be welcomed with tours and a warm-up at the Artist's Studio before their return trips. Great Camp Santanoni has been undergoing a complete restoration over the past few years. We'll learn firsthand about the conservation and restoration work during these interpretive tours of the site, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The round trip is 9.8 miles. 

Lots to entertain you at nearby Gore Mountain

With winter in full swing, there is a great deal going on at Gore Mountain, located just a short 20 minute drive from Schroon Lake. From special rate weekends, to live entertainment and especially the Take Your Kids to Gore Week, when kids ski free, there are lots of reasons to visit the Schroon Lake Region for skiing.

Check out the other January events in the Schroon Lake Region as well as at Gore Mountain Ski Center on our main events calendar and plan a trip for winter fun in Schroon Lake!

Cross Country Skiing In Schroon Lake Recon

With winter looming, but not QUITE here yet, I decided one day recently to do some recon for cross country ski season in the Schroon Lake Region.

I’ve done a lot of hiking in the region. In reviewing the trail systems for this recon mission, however, I realized that most of my hiking - both summer and winter - has been in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness. There are other wilderness areas for me to explore; including the Hoffman Notch Wilderness area (where I HAVE gone snowshoeing once), and the Hammond Pond Wild Forest - a network of trails that I’ve never traversed.

Gear, Trails and Companions 

I looked at the map and descriptions, and decided that the Moose Mountain Pond and/or Bass Lake seemed to have great potential for cross country skiing. (I also asked the advice of my friend Elizabeth Lee, a licensed guide familiar with the region, and she agreed it would be a great ski or snowshoe destination.)

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“Wild Forest” seems like somewhere you’d go unwillingly alone in a fairy tale. And as it was a week day and I WAS alone, I brought my trusty dog Katie with me on this recon mission. 

On the Trail in the Adirondacks 

We donned bright colors as it was hunting season, brought a small pack with water and lunch, and reviewed the sign in the empty parking lot at the trailhead, which is located on Ensign Pond Road in the Town of North Hudson. Moose Mountain Pond was 3.2 miles and Bass Lake (cleverly edited by local hooligans on every sign, I noticed) was 2.4. I decided that we’d head toward Moose Mountain Pond, and decide at the junction for Bass Lake whether I felt like tackling both lakes.  

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The day was unseasonably mild, calm and sunny, but I stretched my imagination and pictured the trail covered in snow, and myself gliding on my classic cross country skis.

The hemlock-lined trail is quite wide and generally flat, without much elevation gain in the beginning. The trail parallels a stream, and a nice waterfall; perfect for a dog to muddy their paws and get a drink - though small enough that it would likely freeze over during ski season. After a mile or so, my keen investigative eye caught sight of one section that might be tricky on skis, but certainly navigable, and depending on snow depth maybe easier than it appeared with the rocks and roots visible at this time of year.

We were trekking along quickly, even without skis, and soon arrived at the junction for Bass Lake. I decided to head straight to Moose Mt. Pond and lean-to, which was another 1.8 miles from that point, and perhaps visit Bass Lake on the return trip.

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Shortly after that junction, we crossed a small bridge at a dam at the end of a huge marsh. There were at least three beaver lodges visible from the trail, which parallels the marsh on its left for a bit. This section, blanketed in pine needles instead of snow at this time, included some rolling hills - quite a nice surface for skiing without requiring real technical moves.

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Before long I could see that we were nearing the pond itself - and there was an area that appeared to be an obvious rest stop (there was even a cast iron pan left hanging on a tree.)  The trail, however, continued to navigate around the lake to the left. We continued along this section - scanning the landscape for the lean-to that would signal the end of the trail. This section was narrower, but still a fine trail for skiing.

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Finally, there it was; a lean-to located above a beautiful pond. We scampered down to the water’s edge, I unpacked my snacks, and Katie went for a swim and fetched sticks for a while before returning to my comfortable lunch spot, realizing that her snacks were in my bag, too.

It was a lovely day, warm in the sun, but the days this time of year get shorter, and we had to turn back in order to ensure that we returned to the trailhead before dark.

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If it was winter, once the lake was frozen, I could have skied across the lake’s surface directly back to that spot where the cast iron pan awaited, rather than through the woods.  But we hiked back along the trail - eventually reaching the bridge at the dam. We soon were back at the junction to Bass Lake, but given the time, I decided that destination would have to wait until we returned on skis this winter.

Though we hadn’t seen one person since we left the car, I put Katie back on her leash for the last mile or so to be good citizens, just in case we encountered anyone. We ran much of that last mile at speeds much like we’d achieve on skis, and I imagined that if I really WAS on skis, Katie could have pulled me, skijoring-style, skillfully navigating the trail and delivering me safely to the car.* 


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I’m pleased to report that the reconnaissance mission was a success. I’m definitely going to return on cross country skis, which typically allows one to cover terrain a bit faster than on foot, giving me time to check out (B)ass Lake, too.  
 
* Note: We’ve never skijored before, and I’m pretty sure that if I were simultaneously on skis and tethered to my dog, we’d have been in those woods LONG after dark, trying to untangle my legs and poles from the trees that line the trail. But that’s not how I imagined it. 

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Kim Rielly is the director of communications for the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism.

[img:Pharoah_Mtn-looking_at_Schroon_Lake.jpg] Pharoah Mountain--the name itself has enough allure to make a hiker curious.  This week the trail was as satisfying as expected.  From the beginning of the day we knew we were in for a spectacular outing.   We left the car that has lower clearance in the Crane Pond Road parking area and drove my vehicle somewhat further into the Goose Pond trailhead. Crane Pond Road is passable by higher clearance vehicles all the way into the Pond but I elected to spare my CR-V the rocks, ruts and puddles-of-unknown-depth. The hike to Crane Pond along Alder Pond is lovely anyway so we walked it.

Crane Pond is a great destination unto itself.  It was quiet and we checked out the shoreline, finding lots of fresh water mussel shells, probably left by otters. We crossed the bridge at the west end of the pond and headed into the woods. The trail rolls gently along through hemlocks and then mixed hardwoods. There was loads of sunlight dancing around and even a very gentle breeze.  This year there is hard mast everywhere I go and the Pharaoh trail was no exception--beech nuts crunched like gravel under foot in one section.

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It's a short distance to Glidden Marsh where the sun on the open water lit up the forest.  We got a nice view of our destination and kept up a quick pace with the help of the temperature, which was still in the 50's. Following the two mile trail we found the going mostly easy. The grade gets steep in a few places but not for long stretches. As you rise there are still pretty fall asters and goldenrod along the trail. The ferns are browning and curling but add texture. The incredible red color of the hobblebush leaves is stunning, especially with green highlights of veins that haven't surrendered all their chlorophyll yet this season.

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Most of the canopy had already started turning color so we wound our way along from one pretty scene to the next.  Both of us have a fondness for cedar waxwings and as we got closer to the top we heard them peeping all around us.  The mountain ashes were covered with orange berries and we saw all sorts of flitting small birds flush as we approached.

One of the beauties of Pharoah is that there are views in every direction. We stopped on one outcrop to look back at Schroon Lake and Goose Pond. From there we continued to the long sloping ledge that looks 270 degrees,  panning the Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest, Hoffman Notch Wilderness Area, Dix Mountain Wilderness Area, Hammond Pond Wild Forest and the stunning Champlain Valley to Lake Champlain and Lake George.  On a clear sunny day this view rivals the High Peak vistas.  It's expansive and wild but not so daunting as some views from higher elevationd.

We took a few more minutes to go over to a slightly different view from the sloping rocks at the top of the trail that comes from the south.  You can see more of Pharoah Lake and lie on the warm rocks in the sun.

This is a very satisfying hike--perfect for nice views of fall color.

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