FYAO XII

“Watchyall thimk?”

“Um, yeah, eh?”

“C'mon, Guys (and Gals), eh?”

“Anyone else getting horny?”

“I'm in of course but we have to work to get attendance back to FYAO VI levels.(And we have to evoke the full force of the TT gods and goddesses to get Yam to show up).”

“How long each way?”

“Zac I'm pretty sure those 3 pics were all the same shot... And they all look COLD!”

“Strat, they we all taken within a few miles of one another on the same day in the area of the Santanoni Range. It was a balmy -20F that morning.”

“Maybe we could do something a bit less 'out-there' like a ski from South Meadows to Marcy Dam. A smallish mountain, maybe a ski day at Cascade.

Whatchall thimk?

I could maybe set up a night or two (cheap)at the Alpine Club of Canada's hut (heated by wood) in Keene.”

“Is Gremlin getting soft on us?”

“I jus wrote to MarkO about this. After two years from hell worrying about and taking care of my kids, I am shaky now. Bradley Pond might be a little more than I could do for FYAO.

I thought about the lean-to half-way up DeBar Mountain in Meecham Lake State Park, right off US30 and near Paul Smith's Visitor Centre (closed by DEC, but purchased by the college) and not far from the Red Tavern and Malone. That would give us a wide choice of hiking/snowshoeing/backcountry and groomed ski trails, as well as DeBar Mountain.

What do you think?”

“I put up a suggestion on the ohter thread and would like to know what you guys think.”

“I can't find the other thread. What about one of the leantos on Taylor Pond?”

“Taylor Pond is good too. Are there as many trails and a mountain?

Oops, the suggestion was on this thread (above).”

“I know it's behind Catamount, but I'm not sure if the pond trails connect up with the Catamount trail.”

“About FYAO: if you check the map (I think you like to take I83 from Baltimore to I81 to get to upstate New York) you can get to Meecham by taking the 11 from Watertown to Malone (nice drive through the college towns of upstate NY) and then south on Hwy 30 to Meecham Lake State Park (about 30 min. S). An alternate route would be the 3 from Watertown to the 30 at Paul Smith's, then N on the 30 to Meacham Lake, difficult in snowy/icy conditions. This would be longer over winding, mountainous roads.

Go back up the 30 (on the map) to Duane Centre and look at the road west from there. That is Red Tavern Road and the inn is east of where the road exits the park on its way to St. Regis Falls north of the actual village of Santa Clara. We could hoist a few there, eh?

I'm waiting till 15 December to get my winter tyres installed. This is the legal limit. Winter tyres wear fast and I don't put them on until the last moment; after all, I drove for more than thirty years with 4-season's. I'll go down to Meacham and the Red Tavern to check the places out on the 16th. Also the Visitor Centre at Paul Smith's - lots of winter activities available in the area. DeBar's a nice mountain and neither difficult nor too long a hike.

What do you guys think?”

“Catamount is reall tough in the winter, although nice before the ice. The approach roads are the pits, however.

The two slots in in Rock - the crux - are a difficult 4 - even a 5.0 on the descent on ice.”

“I'll check out the Meacham Area and take some pics. I'll get back to you all.”

“Meechyam's entrance road is no longer ploughed. This means a long and boring hike before the trail begins.

Also I'm having avoidance issues and difficulty getting out of the car and hiking.

Does anyone have any lean-to ideas, perhaps in the High Peaks area? I'm going to need some help here (wow! how many years of therapy did it take to admit that?).”

“The Blueberry Pond leanto (Seward Range) would be nice, but it is probably too far back in with the winter trailhead.”

“What about the Placid Leanto on the Jack Rabbit Ski trail in the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness?”

“I'm thinking that your original suggestion of Taylor Pond might be the best.

As I see it right now, winter access is the main problem. South Meadows road is not ploughed and the town#country put up no parking signs along state land right up to tha ADK and its 9$ pd parking. Meacham entrance is not ploughed and I think its the same into the Seward Range.

Taylor Pond offers the advantage of roadside parking, a lean-to (on the south side) with camping.”

“I'll look up the Placid lean-to. Thanks.”

“The trailhead appears to be near the Whiteface Club. I'm not sure about parking. Follow the Jack Rabbit Ski Trail 1.5 miles to the leanto. From the leanto it's 2.1 miles to McKenzie Mountain or 2.5 miles to Haystack Mountain.”

“I like the Placid Idea. I like to get a big peak in Haystack would do.”

“Also marcy Dam would be cool. Park at the Loj and go over Whales tail. I bet Avalanch pass would be awesome dayhike or an attempt on one of the peaks around there.”

“Jackstraw, this a Haystack Mountain, not Mount Haystack. It's 2875 feet high as apposed to 4,960 feet. McKenzie is 3830 feet high.”

“BTW, no fires at Marcy Dam. Even in winter.”

“I'm driving down to-morrow to check things out.”

“Well I drove down with the attention of checking things and and staying at the ACC refuge just outside of Keene. I think Jackstraw is right, Marcy Dam (no longer there, BTW) is our best bet. I'm too cheap to pay 9 USD p.d., but there is parking on the verge of the Loj Road at the beginning of South Meadow Road (the road itself is blocked). I't not too far to ski in to the gate and to the lean-tos.

The conditions are the pits and NYS road maintenance suxs. After checking out Lof Road I drove to Keen and up Styles Brook Road to the hut, but didn't make it. I started to slide sideways at Phelps' place. Luckily I was already in the middle of the road trying to stay on what little sand had been spread and that gave me enough room to back up and turn round. The drive back down the winding, icy road was hairy.

I would not trust the road from Ausable Forks to Taylor Pond if we got a storm. Loj Road, because of the traffic would probably be the first back road to be opened.

What do you guys think?”

“That sounds good to me, Gremlin.
I trust your judgement......uh, eh?


(Gee-whiz and gosh-golly, I hope this post does not get reported by that certain somebody who reports all my posts as objectionable. I don't think I could take another scolding.)”

“marko come pick me up so I can go!!!!!”

“Mark, YGM. The week-end of 18 - 20 FWeb. would be better for me.”

“Man, I wish you would have one of these down in the Catskills.. Thats a bit more doable.... The Daks are just a bit too far for a weekend,,

'32oz”

“Post a trip, 32.

Doug”

“I changed the dates, but I'm always willing to talk.”

“I don't like posting trips for places that I am unfamiliar with.... I am learning the Catskills but wouldnt want people relying on me to lead them around....

I also dont kmnow it well enough to get us out of an predicaments..

A couple of more trips up there and I should know the area a little better..

'32oz”

“Fair enough. I'll look forward to a Catskills trip.

Doug”

“I think the change of date might be a good thing. With backcountry road access an issue Marcy Dam might be pretty busy on the holiday week-end.”

“What weekend are you talking about then?”

“Which dates?”

“18 - 20 Feb.”

“What??? Just because of a little pregnancy thing Miss G isn't active on the Frozen A$$ discussion?”

“Go figure, eh?”

“Hey what new guys? Where is FYAO this year? Santa's?

I haven't been to the Santa's since we climbed Panther during AmyG's trip back over Thanksgiving 2003. Long time. Hopefully will be finishing them this (2/3-2/4) weekend.

Will be camping somewhere in the 'daks over President's weekend, hope to run into you.”

“I give my blessing for Santononi....that F%$#@ing trail! The curse factor will be high, but I bet the views from the peaks are kick a$$ in Winter!!! If the snow is deep enough the trail is probably not half bed for hauling sleds.

I'll "only" be 8 or 9 weeks away from delivery at that point, count me in! ;)

ummm....in spirit, anyway. ”