See the Santas in january

“probably the best time of year to climb the santas!”

“Who are you? Mrs. Claus?”

“I only have Couchs and Santanoni left and January's good for me.

Doug

BTW, Sacco, I got a 'Daemon Mailer' on my e-mail to you. It pretty much said the same thing as here.”

“awesome grem

it'll be nice to finally meet ya”

“hmm sounds like fun! i'm a maybe until I check the dates.”

“Is the trail into Bradley pond something easy that a sled could be dragged into?”

““Is the trail into Bradley pond something easy that a sled could be dragged into?”
LtHiker
4:34:47 PM
12/15/04
ignore this user

Most of the trail into Bradley Pond is up hill. It's not over all real steep, but there are a few spot that are. At one point you have to go up a staircase that has been built into the hillside to prevent erosion. There are also two narrow bridges you have to cross as well that would be a real pain if your sleds slide off of and into the creek below. One could probably pull a sled in, but if it were up to me, I would just carry everything.”

“on the bright side Lt, it's only about 5 miles :)”

“It is, BTW, the worst trail in the Dacks by far.

Dragging my @$$ up there is work enough for me.”

“grem - you think it's gonnna be bad in jan?”

“If the trail is broke, it will be an easier hike in January than in the warmer months. NO MUD!!!


I can take a look at my map program tonight to figure out the gain to the lean-to, but I think it's around 2000', but I could be wrong (I don't have a map in front of me right now).
last edited: 12/16/04 8:03:17 AM”

“NO MUD!!! You got that right, my friend!

Gremlin, that is the worst motherfunkin' trail I've seen in all my years of backpackin'.
last edited: 12/16/04 8:04:30 AM”

“In a strange and sick way, I like the trail in to the lean-to.”

“If the trail is broke, it will be an easier hike in January than in the warmer months. NO MUD!


that's what i was thinkin. it's pretty nice and wide right? so without mud it should be pretty easy ?

(not counting fresh, soft, post-holing snow)”

“Hey man, we own that trail!!”

“It's going to be snow on top of ice. Snowshoes if we're lucky, crampons and if we're not.

It ought to be easier in winter conditions, which is what I hoped for last November during the week-end that ate my Jeep.

I just feel the need to finish the 46 and never go back.

Therapy, maybe therapy would help.

Naaaah, I tried that.”

“I keep remembering the manyu times I'd have to throw my pack over a downed tree and crawl in elbow deep water under it - all during a snowstorm.

I guess I'm beyond therapy if I'm going back.”

“that's what i was thinkin. it's pretty nice and wide right? so without mud it should be pretty easy ?

(not counting fresh, soft, post-holing snow)”
sacco
8:07:44 AM
12/16/04

The trail to the lean-to is fairly wide. The herd paths up to the mountains are narrow. I wish I could go, but I’m signed up for another trip that same weekend. Oh well, the Santanoni Range isn’t going anywhere.”

“Oh well, the Santanoni Range isn’t going anywhere.”
lumberzac
8:13:40 AM

don't push your luck zac!

(aren't they moving like an inch/year or something?)

better to play it safe, come along before they move away.”

“I read they grow about 1 to 3mm each year. I haven't seen anything about lateral movement. Do you have a link? I find that stuff interesting.”

“no link.
just heard something, somewhere, sometime.

ofcourse i could have dreamt the whole thing.”

“I find the geology of the Adirondacks quite interesting and unique. There aren’t too many young mountain ranges in the world that are made out of old rock.”

“aren't they the oldest in the world?”

“Nope. The rock that makes up the Adirondacks, is among the oldest (1.3 to 1 billion years old), but the event that caused the mountains to rise happened about 50 million years ago; makes the Adirondacks one of the youngest mountain ranges in the world.
last edited: 12/16/04 9:01:56 AM”

“interesting...
many of the lakes are leftover from the wisconsin glacier right?

do you have a decent link to the geology of the adks?”

“many of the lakes are leftover from the wisconsin glacier right?

I believe so. This link explains the geology of the Adirondacks in a way that you don't need a degree in geology to understand fairly well.
http://gretchen.geo.rpi.edu/roecker/nys/adir_txt.html”

“i'll check that out

thanks zac”

“The Adironacks are actually part of the Canadian shield - which a lot of people find hard to believe. They cross over in the Thousand Islands area and they also spread into Minnesota.

My home is on the northernmost edge of the Dacks, about 1 km north of the US/NYS border. From my place the slope of the escarpment descends to the Châteauguay Valley.”

“no way jose

the canadian shield is part of the adirondacks is more like it!”

“It’s just another example of the Canadian plot to invade the US, eh.
;D”

“lousy canucks!
they want to rape our horses and plunder our women!”

“Ok so sleds are out. I was just wondering about that. So it is Sacco and the Horny Canadian on this trip so far. I still am waiting for the right moment to check this trip with the boss.

You guyss make this trail sound like so much fun!”

“Here is what it looked like this past Labor Day weekend.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/185381852/185384613QodsWA
http://community.webshots.com/photo/185385312/185385312EFpVuV
http://community.webshots.com/photo/185385915/185385915JqGJWg
http://community.webshots.com/photo/185386370/185386370RJkCEW
And it was dry that time.”

“Lt, actually the trip leader is lee, from adkforum. i'm just sorta... co-producing.

the trip so far is:

lee
gremlin
ben (another non-TTer)
myself”

“The Canucks are coming - well one rather small Canuck is coming.”

“Gremlin, I didn't really need to know that much detail. I 've heard stories about you.”

“the gain elevation gain to lean-to is just under 1500' over 5 miles”

“So, my reputation preeceeds me, eh?”

“Ok...this trip definitely has my attention. I'm getting ready for some backpacking in the Sierra Nevadas in February, so why shouldn't I freeze in upstate NY as well?

How long a drive would it be from North Jersey to where you guys would be meeting?
Is a 3 season-tent OK? I've got the other gear, and if I get my friend Ted to come with me, we could probably rent one somewhere.

If it matters we're 50 some odd years young, who have friends and families that don't understand this clmbing/trekking stuff.....they just know we have to do it..

Thanks for the info...”

“Hey Climb, I am not the trip organizer but I am sure that you would be welcome. Just remember that it will be freaking cold up there. I think that the plan is to hike into a leanto Friday which would mean we would probably sleep there but you would still need some kind of shelter, you can't depend on getting a shelter. I will be bringing my tarp and bivy. The tarp works well to close off the leanto also.
The drive for you should be about 5-6 hours I think depending on where in NJ you are. Plug in Keene Valley for an approx. location.”

“Are you guys going to ski in, or will you be using showshoes? I also assume you'll be using double plastic-boots.

What time will you be meeting up Friday morning? I'd probably have to get there the night before and stay nearby. Any suggestions?

Thanks...
last edited: 12/21/04 11:34:44 AM”

““Are you guys going to ski in, or will you be using showshoes? I also assume you'll be using double plastic-boots.

I tried getting some info on this trail but couldn't find any info on mileage and altitude. Any idea of daily distance and altitude gain?

Thanks...”
ClimbHi
11:32:44 AM
12/21/04
ignore this user

I don't have the info here, but I can post it later tonight or tomorrow.”

“Climb, read a few of the earlier posts. The trail is horrible and we're hoping it's a little better in winter.

Ski-ing is possible up the road to where the trail goes into the woods, but you'd have to stash them.

I'll be wearing plastics and bringing both snowshoes and crampons.

I'll be bringing my bivy sack which I prefer in winter. I believe that closing the lean-to is against the rules.

Hope this helps.

Doug”

“Lumberzac, Gremlin,

Thanks for replies..What took so long? :<)
Just read the other email, and saw the miles and elevation gain. This looks better and better. I think I'll mention at work that I might be out for a day or two in January.

For get the skies - sounds like snowshoes and crampons are the plan.

Any idea what time we might be hiking out on Sunday? If I'm beat I'll spend the night somewhere, but if it's early enough I'll drive back home.

Bruce
last edited: 12/21/04 11:46:24 AM”

“Gremlin, you can use a tarp to close in the leanto. It say so in the rules. You just can't use nails or screws except for exsisting ones.
I'll be bringing my plastic boots, snowshoes and crampons. I hope the trail is frozen with good snow cover. Those bridges are a pain with just a foot of snow.

Sunday we usually get up an hike out so we should be out for lunch I would assume.”

“Hey guys,
I'm still in a TT sabbatical, but I'm watching the trips. As some of you know, we're still on strike at work, so I can't plan on any trips until it's settled. If I'm back to work, I'll be up there for sure.

ClimbHi - a 3 season tent should be ok. Not as strong as a 4 season so if there's a heavy snow, you just have to keep shaking off the snow to prevent a collapse.

My gear will consist of plastic boots, crampons, snowshoes, bivy sack, ice ax, white gas stove with extra fuel for melting snow, and lots and lots of warm clothes.
last edited: 12/21/04 7:59:12 PM”

“Trailhead to Bradley Pond Lean-to, 4.5 miles, 1350’ gain, 130’ loss
Bradley Pond Lean-to to Time Square, 2 miles, 1405’ gain, 65’ loss
Time Square to Couchsachraga Peak, 1.4 miles, 275’ gain, 780’ loss
Time Square to Santanoni Peak, 1 mile, 460’ gain, 160’ loss
Time Square to Panther Peak, .2 miles, 160’ gain, 0’ loss”

“Geez Zac that makes it look so easy!”

“There's nothing easy about these babies.

What Pennsy said. I hope you can make it, Bruce, it's always a blast when we get to-gether.

Last year (November 29, 2 003) I wrecked my Jeep instead of staying over in the storm. I could have stayed in Placid and ended up at the Hotel Saranac anyway.”

“What time will you folks be meeting at the trailhead on that Friday?

If you're meeting early I come up Thursday night, any recommendations for a motel?


Bruce”