Santanoni Camp 1/19/05

[Kevin]

Trail to the camp was ROCK SOLID. Myself and Joe (adk-46r) bare booted the entire 5 miles (10 RT) without post holing once. Started at 8AM from the parking lot, arrive back 11:45AM. We weren't even hiking hard or fast, the trail conditions were so perfect today it just carried us.

Didn't see anyone else until we were almost all the way back, then skiers galore!

Worth noting were the groaning sounds from the ice on Newcomb Lake. VERY freaky!! It was -25F the night before and the lake sounded like it was too much for its stomache. Never heard that much noise from a lake in the winter time.

Afterwards we went to the infamous Lumberjack in Tupper Lake for grub. Had a stack of strawberry pancakes with whipped topping. Yummy!

Here's a picture of Joe at Newcomb Lake.

[redhawk]

LUMBERJACK!!!

[daxs]

I am thinking of going into Santanoni Preserve in Feb. I imagine the snow conditions will change by then, hopefully, and it will be more than bare booting. I am looking for a place where part of the group can hike/snowshoe and the rest can ski. Are the lean-to's on the lake well used in the winter?

[lumberzac]

We used one of the lean-tos last year and it looked like no one had been there since the snow started to fly.

[redhawk]

We used one of the lean-tos last year and it looked like no one had been there since the snow started to fly.

That the one where you guys postholed crotch deep with snowshoes on the FYAO IV?

[lumberzac]

That the one where you guys postholed crotch deep with snowshoes on the FYAO IV?

That's the one. I wish someone had a GPS and then we could have marked a waypoint where the shelter was, because you can't see the shelter from the lake, but it was much easier walking across the lake than over the trail.

Here is the trip report from last winter:

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/29141,-1.php

[adk-46r]

This is used by skiers and snowshoer's all winter long. Quite ofton the V.I.C. offers ski trips into the camp. I have been into the camp probably 1 dozen times and have never walked around the lake. I know there are campsites and out houses around the lake but I am not sure if there is any lean-tos. Your best bet would be to contact the D.E.C. and find out if they are there or not. Lean-tos are becoming a thing of the past with the state removing them faster than they are raising taxes.

[redhawk]

That's the one. I wish someone had a GPS and then we could have marked a waypoint where the shelter was, because you can't see the shelter from the lake, but it was much easier walking across the lake than over the trail.

That was a new lean to which doesn't show on the maps. Wasn't it located at that little peninsula that juts down on the North of Lake Newcombe, East of the smaller Island and North of the Larger Island. It's right by a marsh area and the outlet of Santononi Brook into Newcomb Lake? Which is the reason it';s set back from the Lake a little? If that's the case, I can approximate the waypoint close enough to be able to find it.

18T 568501mE 4874226mN

I'm going from what I read about the trip last year.

[lumberzac]

The location of the Newcomb Lake lean-to is at about
18T 567961mE 4873957mN UTM coordinates, Datum NAD83


If you plan to walk the lake DO NOT access the lake at the bridge. It got to –26 our last night there and there was open water at the bridge. I suggest that you access the lake at the great camp.

[Rick]

Kevin - I've stayed at the L/T twice, but never had the pleasure of walking along the lake. I always took the trail which intersects with the road on the left about 1/2 to 3/4 mile before the Great Camp. (Though we did sleep at the milking house across from the Barn along the road on the way in one fine winter night - It was awesome)

Both times on the trail in December it was a muddy mess. Course it was early enough that the lake hadn't frozen over.
I do not recall that L/T being new, though. I recall it being probably close to 15-20 years old and not in great shape - Course this was back in 96 & 98, so they may have replaced it by now.

[redhawk]

Kevin - I've stayed at the L/T twice, but never had the pleasure of walking along the lake. I always took the trail which intersects with the road on the left about 1/2 to 3/4 mile before the Great Camp. (Though we did sleep at the milking house across from the Barn along the road on the way in one fine winter night - It was awesome)

Both times on the trail in December it was a muddy mess. Course it was early enough that the lake hadn't frozen over.
I do not recall that L/T being new, though. I recall it being probably close to 15-20 years old and not in great shape - Course this was back in 96 & 98, so they may have replaced it by now.

This may be a different lean to Rick:

When I was going in, there were locals skiing out and they referred to it as the new lean to and said it was real nice.

Zach can probably comment on the condition because he and the others got there. I had to abort because of my emphysema and I had forgotten my inhalers.

[lumberzac]

This may be a different lean to Rick:

When I was going in, there were locals skiing out and they referred to it as the new lean to and said it was real nice.

Zach can probably comment on the condition because he and the others got there. I had to abort because of my emphysema and I had forgotten my inhalers.

The lean-to was definitely not new, but it didn’t seem to be in too bad of shape. Then again the night before I slept in a bivy on the side of the trail so any kind of shelter looked pretty good at that point.

There is a second lean-to located on Ward Brook Pond. I don't have any info on its condition though.

[redhawk]

Hey Zach........ I see we had a "Gremlin" join the forum here. Is that another of those Canadian Imports (or is it exports?).

Bringing the FYAO bunch over here?

[lumberzac]

Hey Zach........ I see we had a "Gremlin" join the forum here. Is that another of those Canadian Imports (or is it exports?).

Bringing the FYAO bunch over here?

I guess he can stay considering he geologically lives in the Adirondacks. I think it might be Sacco bringing them in, unless of course it ends up being a good thing, then I wouldn't mind taking the credit.

[redhawk]

I think it might be Sacco bringing them in,

Ah that makes sense. Sacco bringing in other "Vertically challenged" baclpackers.

Welcome aboard Gremlin! Is Johnny Walker close behind?

Scott you getting AmyG, Dare and MarkO over here too?

We got an infestation of Canadians so I guess we might as well let the Pennsylvanians in too......

Hey Gremlin, meet Neil, Martin, Bodiak and Yvonne, some of your countrymen.

If you're a glutton for punishment, Hook up with Neil, he can't get enough of the peaks.