Today, my friend Sue and I had a great opportunity to take a nice easy walk into Chase Lake in the Shaker Mt. Wild Forest for another episode of "Lunch at a Lean-To". Taking it easy, we arrived at the Pinnacle Rd. trailhead at a leisurely 10:30.
1a TH - Copy.jpg
Slapping on our packs, we hit the red disked trail and headed into the heart of the Shaker Mountain Wild Forest in northern Fulton County.
1b TH - Copy.jpg
The trail is fairly level as it skirts some private land. It passes through a magnificent hemlock forest for most of the way.
1e trail - Copy.jpg
For most of the way, the trail follows well graded old roads that used to snake through this country.
1g trail - Copy.jpg
After 45 minutes of walking, we came to the junction of the yellow disked trail to the site of the old lean-to. This trail brings you to a very marshy shoreline and isn't that great of a destination except in the winter. In hard water season, this makes a great route for crossing the lake to the current lean-to site and completing a lollipop route.
1h junction - Copy.jpg
With thoughts of ice crossings in our mind, we dodged a few light showers as we kept up a good pace.
1i trail - Copy.jpg
The trail eventually descends through a mixed forest to the lean-to site.
1o trail - Copy.jpg
The lean-to was the best I've ever seen it in half a dozen visits over the years. We were only able to find a little micro-litter and we had to look hard for it.
2b LT - Copy.jpg
While we enjoyed reading the lean-to journal and soaking up the remote feel of the destination, the lake was calling us.
2f CL - Copy.jpg
There is a large basking rock at the lake shore and it was a great place for lunch. We soaked up the late October sun and enjoyed our meager rations. Unfortunately, a shower came by and "chased" us back into the lean-to...get it?
2c CL - Copy.jpg
After waiting out the rain and making our log entry, we headed back out to the trailhead. The walk back seemed to go by too fast as we carefully made our way over the wet leaves. We both did a little slipping and sliding, but managed to keep out of the Forest Ranger Weekly Report; always a goal of ours. We made the pledge to come back here in the winter and enjoy the lollipop route across the lake as well as explore the many ice falls on Pinnacle Mt. All that was left to do was get in the truck and hit the Great Sacandaga Brewing Company in Vail Mills to wash the trail dust out of our throats. Good times.
1a TH - Copy.jpg
Slapping on our packs, we hit the red disked trail and headed into the heart of the Shaker Mountain Wild Forest in northern Fulton County.
1b TH - Copy.jpg
The trail is fairly level as it skirts some private land. It passes through a magnificent hemlock forest for most of the way.
1e trail - Copy.jpg
For most of the way, the trail follows well graded old roads that used to snake through this country.
1g trail - Copy.jpg
After 45 minutes of walking, we came to the junction of the yellow disked trail to the site of the old lean-to. This trail brings you to a very marshy shoreline and isn't that great of a destination except in the winter. In hard water season, this makes a great route for crossing the lake to the current lean-to site and completing a lollipop route.
1h junction - Copy.jpg
With thoughts of ice crossings in our mind, we dodged a few light showers as we kept up a good pace.
1i trail - Copy.jpg
The trail eventually descends through a mixed forest to the lean-to site.
1o trail - Copy.jpg
The lean-to was the best I've ever seen it in half a dozen visits over the years. We were only able to find a little micro-litter and we had to look hard for it.
2b LT - Copy.jpg
While we enjoyed reading the lean-to journal and soaking up the remote feel of the destination, the lake was calling us.
2f CL - Copy.jpg
There is a large basking rock at the lake shore and it was a great place for lunch. We soaked up the late October sun and enjoyed our meager rations. Unfortunately, a shower came by and "chased" us back into the lean-to...get it?
2c CL - Copy.jpg
After waiting out the rain and making our log entry, we headed back out to the trailhead. The walk back seemed to go by too fast as we carefully made our way over the wet leaves. We both did a little slipping and sliding, but managed to keep out of the Forest Ranger Weekly Report; always a goal of ours. We made the pledge to come back here in the winter and enjoy the lollipop route across the lake as well as explore the many ice falls on Pinnacle Mt. All that was left to do was get in the truck and hit the Great Sacandaga Brewing Company in Vail Mills to wash the trail dust out of our throats. Good times.
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