Winter Bulletin 2019 - 2020
Early November, on the trail heading from the parking area to Berlin Mtn. to do trail work. Picture by Mike Boucher
End-to-End Challenge Registration
The 25 participant openings for the May 9, 2020 End-to-End Challenge were filled within 3 hours after the registration start at 5:30 AM on December 1, 2019. Registration slots are still available on the Wait List.
New Reroute on the TCT
Our ambitious trail crew has completed a reroute on the TCT just south of the Mattison Hollow trail junction. The reroute replaces a steep, rocky and at times treacherous section of old trail with a new path that is easier to travel in summer and winter. Many thanks to Ed Slattery for marking the initial proposed reroute. Paul Jahnige, Trails Section Head of MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), joined Dave Pisaneschi and Mike Boucher on the trail to review the reroute. Paul recommended and marked a modification. After DCR approved the proposed reroute, our motivated trail workers - Dave, Ed, and Walt Addicks - spent a full day clearing the vegetation from the new trail and marking the trail. Ed added more trail markers the next day. Both Dave and Ed ran out of markers during the project. Cliff Prewencki and I went there another day (in the snow) doing more clearing, adding trail markers and then GPS’d the trail for the next edition of the map. Winter made an early arrival before we could make a second assault on a patch of hobblebushes! Thank you to our trail crew! by Martha Waldman
Mattison Hollow Parking
The small parking area near the Mattison Hollow Trail no longer exists. As the culvert and bridge were replaced this summer the parking area was removed. In addition, the landowner had withdrawn his approval for parking. Although there is no longer a designated parking area there are a few roadside spaces beyond the new bridge. Please take care parking so that you do not restrict access for people that live at the end of the road, and always respect the property owners in the area!
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is reviewing the matter. It is a complex issue with environmental concerns.
2020 Renewals are Due
You may renew online or by mail. Be sure to update changes in your contact information: email, phone or address. If you have already renewed, THANK YOU!!!!!
To renew a membership by credit card or PayPal, go to the membership page of the Taconic Hiking Club website, or click here https://taconichikingclub.org/membership
To renew by mail, make out a check payable to the “Taconic Hiking Club” in the amount of $10. (per person). Send completed check to:
Taconic Hiking Club
Sue Jordan - Membership Chair
276 South Manning Blvd
Albany, NY 12208
Grafton Lakes State Park Winter Fest 2020 scheduled for Saturday, January 25:
Save the date! Join us at the GLSP 2020 Winter Fest! Once again, the Taconic Hiking Club will have a display booth in the new Welcome Center! Volunteers are needed to staff the THC information booth and to lead a couple of short snowshoe outings at the park. This is a great time to meet other outdoor enthusiasts! There will also be plenty of other winter activities and booths you can enjoy if/when you are not volunteering. Contact: Karen Ross, kcoyross@aol.com or 518 794-7474, to volunteer!
Tilden Pond, Pittsfield State Forest, 11/13/19 outing. Pic by M Waldman
Parker Brook, Pittsfield State Forest, 11/13/19.
View towards Pittsfield, Pittsfield State Forest, 11/13/19.
Upcoming Outings
For the most up to date information and new outings check the Outings page of the Taconic Hiking Club website. Also check out the THC Facebook page to see pictures from past outings! Please take care to match your physical condition and abilities to the stated length and elevation gain of the outing you choose. It is your responsibility to have appropriate equipment and clothing for an outing. See you on the trail!
The club has a rating system for the outings, from a C for the easiest to B-, B, B+, A to an A+ for the most difficult. See the outings page on the web site for the chart.
Winter is upon us: occasionally an outing leader may post a snowshoe or cross-country ski outing a week or two before the date, planning for optimum conditions. Be sure to check the website periodically for new listings.
DECEMBER
Tuesday December 10: Hopkins Memorial Forest to Snow Hole B
Starting from the Rosenburg Center we’ll hike the Lower Loop and Birch Brook trails to the TCT and continue to the Snowhole. We’ll return via the Upper Loop back to the Rosenburg Center. Round trip distance will be about 10 miles with a 1,500+ feet elevation gain. Traction devices may be needed. Contact leader for meeting time and location.
Leader & Reservations: David Pisaneschi, dapadk@gmail.com or 518 227-5630
Tuesday, December 17, Grafton State Park, Grafton NY, C 4.5+ miles
I plan to go up the relatively underused Conklin Pass trail from Babcock Lake Rd. A short stretch on the Spruce Bog trail brings us to the Fire Tower trail. After enjoying fire tower views, our return to cars is about 4.5 to 5.0 total miles. This is fairly moderate, although the Fire Tower trail is on the steeper side. A few variations are possible depending on trail conditions and inspiration. Be prepared with snowshoes and micro-spikes.
Leader: Bob Armao 518 322 6889 (mobile) or bob_armao@yahoo.com Contact leader for time and details.
JANUARY
Saturday, January 11: Windham High Peak B
This will be a snowshoe (hopefully!) from Rte. 23 to the summit of Windham. At 3,524 feet, Windham High Peak is the second lowest of the Catskill peaks over 3,500 feet in elevation; it offers great views south to the Black Dome Range and north towards Albany and the Adirondacks. Come prepared for winter conditions. This hike is approximately 7.3 miles RT with about 1800 feet of gain. Contact leader for meeting time and location, please include recent hiking experience.
Leader: Martha Waldman, email: martha829r@aol.com phone: 518 869 5109. Coleader: Cliff Prewencki, cprewencki@aol.com
Saturday, January 11: St. Regis Canoe Area - Ski (B)
I’ve canoe camped here many times, but never visited it during winter. Since I’m staying at the Wenzel cabin with the ADK Iroquois Chapter, it’s an easy drive for me. I plan to ski the Fish Pond Ski Trail to Fish Pond and possibly loop back over St Regis Pond. We also have the option of visiting other ponds. Let me know if interested and we’ll find a convenient meeting time and place.
Leader: David Pisaneschi, email: dapadk@gmail.com phone: 518-227-5630
Thursday, January 23: Kinderhook Preserve, East Nassau NY C 4 miles
This creek-side preserve has 4 miles of trail including one very steep ascent or descent. Trail conditions will decide whether we include this section. Snowshoes or traction devices if we have snow or ice on the ground. Bring water, snacks as we will probably not sit down for a formal lunch.
Leader: Sharon Bonk, 518-674-0042; scbonk@gmail.com contact leader for carpool meeting place and time.
Saturday, January 25: Grafton Lakes State Park Winter Fest
Join us at the Friends of Grafton Lake State Park at the 2020 Winter Fest! Once again, the Taconic Hiking Club will have a display booth in the new Welcome Center (warm, no shuttle buses involved)! Volunteers are needed to staff the THC information booth and to lead a couple of short snowshoe outings at the park. This is a great time to meet other outdoor enthusiasts!
There will also be plenty of other winter activities and booths you can enjoy if/when you are not volunteering.
Contact: Karen Ross, kcoyross@aol.com or 518 794-7474, to volunteer!
Wednesday, January 29: Moreau Lake State Park B
We will snowshoe (or use micro-spikes) alongside Lake Bonita and take the Lake Ann Trail up to the Palmertown Range. Once on the ridge we will take the attractive White Birch trail to the Western Ridge trail. There we can enjoy some of the great views across the Hudson River. We will make our way back the same way. The hike will be approximately 7 miles round trip with about 1000+ feet cumulative gain. If the trail is not broken beyond Lake Ann, we may modify the outing by continuing towards the ridge and taking the new trail (not on the map) to the High Point and return to Lake Bonita and complete the loop around the lake. The actual distance depending on snow depth and group size. Contact leader for meeting time and location.
Leader: Martha Waldman email: martha829r@aol.com phone: 518 869 5109
FEBRUARY
Sunday February 2: Huckleberry Point, Elka Park (Catskills) C+
In all my Catskill hiking I haven’t yet been to Huckleberry Point. It looks like a fine snowshoe. We’ll start at the Plattekill Clove parking area and hike 2.3 miles to Huckleberry Point for the beautiful view. After returning to the parking area those interested can hike across the street to enjoy Plattekill Falls and Devil’s kitchen. Snowshoes and traction required. This is rated as C+ however if snow is deep it may increase to a B. Contact leader for meeting time and location.
Leader: Leslie Siegard, email lsiegard2@gmail.com
Friday, February 7: Dyken Pond Environmental Center, Cropseyville, NY C 4-5 miles
Where we begin will be dependent on if the western most parking lot (preferred) is open. Loop hike through the woods to and around ponds. Temperatures are usually a few degrees cooler here than in 'town'. Bring snowshoes and micro-spikes. Bring water and lunch; we will have lunch in the lean to.
Leader: Sharon Bonk, 518-674-0042; scbonk@gmail.com contact leader for car pool information and time.
Sunday, February 9: Won Dharma Center, Claverack
This is a co-hike or snowshoe with the Berkshire Knapsackers. For more information about the beautiful facility and walking trails check the Won Dharma Center website. Bring water and lunch. Distance 5 miles. Bad weather cancels. Meeting time is 10 AM at the parking lot at the center. Contact leader to register.
Leader: Vicky Singer, email: vsinger30@gmail.com
Friday, February 21: Grafton State Park, Grafton NY C 5+ miles
This will be a circular snowshoe from Mill Pond Parking Lot over rolling forested terrain: Spruce Bog Trail-Chet Bell-Long Pond Rd-NIMO-Cut Over-Mill Pond. Bring water and lunch. Bring snowshoes and micro-spikes.
Leader: Sharon Bonk, 518-674-0042; scbonk@gmail.com contact leader for carpool info and time.
Monday, February 24: Wilkinson Trail B-
A moderately easy trail in the Saratoga National Historical Park. The historic Wilkinson Trail is a 4.2 mile lollipop loop through fields and woods. A lovely visitors center opens to the trail. Snowshoes may be required. Contact leader for meeting time and location.
Leader: Lori McCarron, email preferred: mmccarr2@nycap.rr.com phone 518-587-1957
MARCH
Saturday, March 7: Huyck Preserve, Rensselaerville, NY C+ 5-6 miles
This snowshoe or hike includes two steep sections (1 ascent; 1 descent) but otherwise flat or gentle up hill; trail may be wet in spots near the lake and icy at the beginning and end. For a change we will start on the east Lake Trail to Ordway to Wheeler Watson trail, circuit, Lincoln Pond where we will stop for lunch at the research center, then continue on the west Lake trail to the base. Bring snowshoes and micro-spikes.
Leader: Sharon Bonk, 518-674-0042; scbonk@gmail.com contact leader for carpool info and time.
Sunday March 8: Lost Pond and Berrymill Pond, Ticonderoga B
These two ponds are real gems. Both are accessed from the Putnam Pond campground road. We’ll first hike into Lost Pond. This hike is roughly 4 miles including the hike around the pond, 3 miles without the hike around the pond After returning to the cars we will drive a short distance to Berrymill Pond, another 4 mile hike. Berrymill pond has a lean to for a more comfortable rest stop. There is some nice bushwacking around the pond with beautiful views. Neither hike has much elevation gain. Total trip distance 8-10 miles depending upon how much poking around we do. Snowshoes and traction required. Contact leader for meeting time and location.
Leader: Leslie Siegard, email lsiegard2@gmail.com
Thursday, March 12: Prospect Mtn. XC
We’ll take advantage of the groomed trails and usual great snow at this southern Vermont area east of Bennington. Now owned by a nonprofit, it offers good food, rentals if needed, a cozy old-fashioned lodge, and a variety of terrain. We’ll explore 5-6 miles over several hours. Bring layers, food, and water. Contact leaders for meeting time and place
Leaders: Vicky Singer vsinger30@gmail.com, 413 442-3701, Karen Ross, kcoyross@aol.com, 518 794-7474
Saturday, Mar 21: Tongue Mountain Traverse B
We will spot cars and hike/snowshoe the northern portion of the Tongue Mountain Range starting from the Clay Meadow trail-head and ending at the trail’s northern terminus on Route 9N. Total distance will be approx. 7.5 miles with 1800 feet elevation gain. Contact leader for meeting time and location.
Leader: David Pisaneschi, email: dapadk@gmail.com phone: 518-227-5630