I found the trail to Crowfoot Pond by driving a back road at about thirty miles an hour. The trail leaves the Tracy Road in Moriah at the northern end of the Hammond Pond Wild Forest. At a spot where the road takes a sharp turn to the left, a DEC trail sign on the right marks the turn to an ample parking area. (44.04.335'N, 73.37.778'W) The trail along Crowfoot Brook begins with a disheartening washed out bridge but that should not deter anyone. Judging from the river debris hanging in the trees at a height of about six feet, I suspect Hurricane Irene was to blame. A short detour brought me to a crossing upstream. The new ice on the cobbles looked tricky but proved safe. It's probably not so safe with more water.
Beginning from my first step on the far shore I found myself loving this trail. Starting out into a hemlock forest the trail heads uphill close enough to the brook to hear it's chilly gurgling. Funny in November to see so many summer plants. Many stay green under the snow -- goldthread, partridgeberry, wintergreen, foamflower, pipsissewa, and the different club mosses. The true mosses look like miniature forests--very festive with the morning's snowflakes.
The Crowfoot trail crosses back and forth over the brook on nice wide bridges that are open to snowmobiles in winter according to the DEC maps. There's a hunting lease that crosses the trail about two-thirds of the way to the pond. It's well marked and I had no problem respecting the line, especially since it's still hunting season technically. The yellow state trailmarkers are clearly hung.
Crowfoot Pond itself was completely black and white on Tuesday. There is a new cover of snow on what is obviously still very thin ice. The open water is black and clear. Soon to be black ice for backcountry skating we hope.
Why hike this trail? Low elevation, wide trail, varied forest, soft ground, falling water, woodpeckers and otter tracks. Views down into dark pools pouring pristine water over prehistoric rocks. There was scat from a very well fed coyote, mushrooms that have the texture of soft suede shoes and dark, cool pools to quench the dog's thirst. The soundtrack is excellent: running water and that lively near-silence of wild places.
2.5 miles one way.
