Author: Harvey

Skier, Blogger, Ski Blogger. Editor-in-chief NYSkiBlog.

The Ski Season in Photos #11

Posted on by Harvey

Hiking Mittersill at Cannon MountainMadPat Hikes Mittersill • Cannon Mtn • February 27, 2012

All season it seemed that eastern skiers were waiting for the start of winter. When temps got cold in early February, the pattern failed to deliver any significant precipitation. Finally, late in the month, forecasters predicted a coincidence of cold air and moisture.

In some ways, the first day of the Northeast Ski Blogger Summit in the White Mountains was a microcosm of the season.  We skied at Cannon and we worked for everything we got. We battled the weather and for our efforts we found pockets of satisfaction and natural snow.

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Tagged: Friday Fantasy Photo, NHLeave a comment

The Halfway Brook Trail

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The Halfway Brook Trail was another traditional path through the Garnet Hills, in the Southern Adirondacks. It was used by locals for decades prior to the land’s inclusion into the Forest Preserve. In the 1930s, it was traveled by mine workers moving from their North River living quarters to the mine each day. In the last 50 years, the trail has been used mostly during the winter by backcountry skiers.

William Blake Pond.
William Blake Pond

Halfway Brook Trail now officially extends all the way to the old farm road, absorbing (and shortening) a trail that had been called “Overlook” on the Garnet Hill trail map for years. I was never sure if Overlook was actually a new name for part of the Halfway Brook Trail, or something truly distinct.  To further complicate things, the first section of the trail, became known as the William Blake Pond Trail — another result of the way lodge guests used the route.

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Tagged: Adirondacks, Backcountry, Hiking, Siamese Ponds Wilderness2 Comments

The Raymond Brook Ski Trail

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The Raymond Brook Ski Trail is one of the oldest ski trails at Gore Mountain. Today it’s on state land, but it is still important part of the trail network around North Creek, NY.

Raymond Brook Ski Trail

The Raymond Brook Trail has been through several phases of use. In the “ride and slide” days, it was a major route. The ski from the top of Gore down to the river was long. The need to “sweep” Raymond Brook was one factor behind the creation of New York’s First Ski Patrol at Gore.

At some point in time the Raymond Brook Trail went unmaintained and it stayed that way for many years. When I first learned of the route, I didn’t know it by name.

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Tagged: Adirondacks, Backcountry, Gore Mountain, Hiking, Nordic Skiing, Ski History5 Comments