With a total climb (and eventual descent) of 1,700 feet, this is a trip for advanced or intermediate skiers who know how to control their speed. From there, it’s an uphill climb of 2 or 2.5 miles, depending on which trail guide you use. It’s about four miles to the Sacandaga Lean-To. Our route followed the East Branch (of the Sacandaga River) Trail from a parking lot on Route 8, a 10-minute drive south of Wevertown. We had a big day planned, and night comes fast in January.Īs it turned out, our planning skills would be tested at our destination, far from the car. As we set off, I thought of all the extra gear I’d brought: three sets of gloves and mittens of different thicknesses, a spare set of socks in case my boots got wet (frostbite would set in quickly in such temperatures), a Thermos of tea and a down jacket for when we stopped. Fortunately, between the three of us, we had decades of experience staying warm in the cold. With a forecasted high in the low teens, this was not a day for newbies. Our plan was to cross-country ski to Siamese Ponds, a popular warm-weather destination with plenty of winter skiing potential. The readout finally settled on a relatively balmy minus 8 as my friend Steve Goldstein and I pulled into the parking area and joined Phil Brown, former Explorer editor. Whatever the final temperature, it would be a chilly morning for sure.
It ranged from minus 13 to minus 18, depending on whether we were climbing or descending a hill. Steve Goldstein, left, and Phil Brown make their way up a hillĪ ski trip with spare parts on a frigid dayĪs we drove to the trailhead to the Siamese Ponds Wilderness, I eyed the thermometer on the dashboard.
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