Ringin' In the New Year on Eleventh Mountain

A little Alberta clipper whizzed through the Adirondack Mountains yesterday, and since I've been on a roll with bushwhacking, I decided to climb Eleventh Mountain. Sophie insisted she wanted to come along, so the two of us headed out to enjoy a mountain bushwhack in the snow.

Eleventh Mountain is enchanting because it is so wild. There are no public trails to the upper elevations, and the chances of finding anyone else climbing Eleventh are next to nil. That's what makes this trip, and others to trailless Siamese Ponds Wilderness peaks, so special. All you need to safely enjoy deep wilderness is a guide to show you the way.

Speaking of which, there are some places available in my mid-week January Snowshoe Safaris. And what do we do if there's little or no snow? We'll just slip the Yaktrax on our boots and hike the wilderness trails.

Adirondack Wilderness: Late December

All this holiday vacation week, winter hiking in the Adirondacks wilderness is what's hot. The predicted heavy snow did not make its way to the Gore Mountain region, but below-freezing temperatures will make hiking on wilderness trails a cinch, as long as you have some Yaktrax slipped onto your boots.

The ferns and mosses are still lush, the winter birds are having a wonderful time in the unseasonable warmth, and the firs, spruces, and pines are brightening the forest. Do you know your Adirondack evergreens? Come and learn about them and the winter habits of the northeastern coyote, deer, moose, fishers, beavers, and mink. And let's follow their tracks! The Siamese Ponds Wilderness awaits.

No Snow This Holiday? No Problem!

Wondering what to do on your holiday vacation with the downhill skiing way below par? Go winter hiking in the Adirondacks wilderness!

Although I bemoan the lack of snow like everyone, I must say that I've never seen winter hiking as good as it is now. Yesterday, the 20th, was a hiker's dream. A frozen Siamese Ponds Wilderness trail with very little ice, cloudless blue skies, and a temperature just above freezing.

My client and I luxuriated in the stillness, feasted our eyes on the extraordinary views of Eleventh Mountain and its neighboring hills, studied animal tracks, and gloried in the wintry beauty of the Sacandaga River.

And when the snow hits, and it will, explore snowshoeing in the Adirondacks wilderness.

Snowshoeing in the Adirondacks

I was perplexed by an article I read in the New York Times today about snowshoeing. According to surveys and statistics, snowshoeing is a sport that appeals primarily to older people. That hasn't been my experience. From what I've seen, snowshoeing is a sport enjoyed by people of all age groups, including very young children.


As far as wilderness winter explorations are concerned, snowshoes are the easiest and most versatile mode of foot transportation when the snow is more than six inches deep. Adirondack trails are often rife with fallen trees, and snowshoeing over them is so much easier than skiing around them.

Don't get me wrong, I love backcountry skiing; yet in my experience it's necessary to scout a trail immediately before planning a trip to make sure the conditions will support skiing. With snowshoes, there's a need to know a trail, but whatever the conditions throw at you, you're okay with snowshoes. And for those with safety concerns, snowshoes have skis beat for safety hands down.

An Easy Mountain Snowshoe Hike

No, the title is not an oxymoron. In the southern Adirondacks, there's a beautiful mountain hike with spectacular mountain views. And you don't have to be an expert snowshoer to make it to the summit. Just one caveat, however. We do need at least eight inches of snow. Check out the views from the peak taken during last fall's safaris.

The temperature did not rise above 14 degrees today, and it felt chilly, though with the sun shining, who could care? Today was the day for Sophie's makeover--she had to have her fur trimmed all over in preparation for our snowy adventures. Neil's Pet Salon in Glens Falls groomed her beautifully, and now the Adirondack weather can throw at us whatever wintry stuff it wants, the snow won't weigh Sophie down.

Last night it got as low as zero, and tonight the mercury will go down to the single numbers. To celebrate, we'll hike tomorrow morning on a notoriously muddy trail that follows the Sacandaga River in the Siamese Ponds Wilderness. Frozen mud is my favorite kind of mud, though Sophie is vehement in disagreement. I'll pack a thermos of hot cocoa and a bunch of dog biscuits and we'll venture forth. This trail is a great snowshoe trail, and I need to see if anyone has cleared it. If so, it'll also be terrific for backcountry skiing.

No Snow? Find Peace in the Wilderness

Everyday it snows. A wee bit. I'm not at all discouraged because the hiking is great. Best of all, many wilderness trails are better than ever because the snowmobile clubs have been out this fall clearing all the fallen trees from the trails. Thank you!

When there is just a little snow on the ground, the snowmobiles are snug in their garages and sheds, and the wilderness is so quiet. Sophie and I stop. We listen. We hear only the chickadees and nuthatches breaking the stillness. We follow the tracks of deer, coyote, and bobcat, and try to learn what they're eating. We're in awe of the roaring brooks and creeks still full from November's heavy rains.

Last winter the wilderness was quiet for months because there was so little snow. I rarely saw another human on my jaunts to wild, desolate, frozen ponds and up hill and ridgetops. I can live without the snow for a little while.

Winter Wilderness Hiking--Soup's On!

Getting in Shape for Wilderness Snowshoeing?

With nighttime temperatures in the teens and daytimes in the low to mid-twenties, the Siamese Ponds Wilderness trails are frozen and ready for winter hiking. Hooray!

Sophie (my Golden scout) and I were out all morning checking on trails. A light snow was falling in the sunshine, an Adirondack weather condition that is so beautiful. Of course, I'm hoping for a heavy snowfall at this point, so I can lead people into the wilderness on snowshoes and cross-country skis.

And though I'm a snow fanatic, I have to admit there's nothing like the ease of winter hiking. The hunters are gone, the snowmobilers are out of commission, and I have the wilderness to myself. What could be better than that?

If you're a downhill skier as I am, you'll be glad to know that Gore Mountain has been making snow 24 hours a day since Sunday, and winter sports in the region are shaping up. So, come on up before the crowds arrive.