I guess it is always a good idea to check the trail guide when you are sure which way to go.  Given that Mark has dropped his pack it looks like a long study session is in order.

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Been there and almost been there.

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In planning for our Dug Mountain Waterfalls trip Matt offered this useful ice crossing information:

As a general guideline, 1 inch of black or white ice will probably hold you up. Two inches is safe, and six inches will hold up a moose. Thickness of suspect ice can usually be determined quite quickly by using an ice axe or auger to drill through. However, for advanced trip planning, you can use the following formula to estimate the thickness:

Z = ice thickness in inches
S = degree days accumulated below 32 oF
A = a coefficient which varies as follows:

(.8) -windy lake with no snow
(.5 to .7) - average lake with snow cover
(.2 to .4) - sheltered small river with rapid flow

S is calculated as follows: Suppose ice is formed December 15 and the mean temperature for December 16 was 5o F. To find degree days, subtract 5o F from 32o F for a value of 27. If on December 17 the temperature is 4o F, subtract 4o F from 32o F for a value of 28. S would then have a value of 55 by December 17 (27o F + 28o F = 55). Next take the square root of 55 (7.4). To determine ice thickness, multiple 7.4 by the appropriate coefficient A (say .8 for a windy lake with no snow), and your answer is 5.9 inches of ice. If you don’t know the date of ice formation, you can estimate by the following technique:

• For lakes 3 - 10 feet deep, freezing occurs very close to the date when the 3-day running mean temperature is 32o F and where temperatures remained mostly below that for the rest of the winter.
• For lakes 20 - 50 feet deep, the date of freeze-over occurs when the 40-day running mean temperature reaches 32o F.

Alternatively you can tie a rope around the largest group member and if they make it over safely, most should be good to follow.

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This is a good example of a pre-trip coordination email sent by Murphy’s Lake trip organizer Mark. It gives meeting times, coordinates travel, shelter and food groups, gives directions and trail mileage all with a dash of humor. Good Job, Mark!

Good morning WinterCampers!

Last evening I had a very nice conversation with the patriarch (Uncle Jim) of WinterCampers.com regarding the plans for this coming weekend. After coming up with a plan with him I then called my brother Matt to finalize these plans and make a few adjustments.

Here are the final arrangements. We will plan on meeting at 10am this Saturday morning at the trail head. Matt, Chris, Sparky and Beth will be meeting Uncle Jim and Skip at the trail head on Hope Falls Road. The four of them will then pile into the back of Uncle Jim’s truck and bounce their way to meet Danielle, Mark and our dog Natalie at the trail head on Pumpkin Hallow Road where we will begin our trek.

It is approximately 3.8 miles per the trail guide to the lean-to at Murphy Lake where we will camp. Some can stay in the lean-to and some in tents. I believe Matt has a new space age tent he is looking forward to trying out and will have room for one in that tent. I plan on bringing my tent which Danielle, Natalie and I will be staying in unless we bring the tipi then a few people can stay in the tipi with us. It is a very nice lean-to though if some people want to stay in that and don’t care about leaving the security of a nylon tent.

The next morning we will then hike the second leg which is also 3.8 miles back out to Hope Falls Road where a car will be waiting to take myself and Uncle Jim back to get our cars.

Everyone should bring their lunch for Saturday and breakfast for Sunday. We talked about 2 cooking groups for dinner: Uncle Jim, Skip, Danielle and I as one group then Matt, Palmer, Sparky and Beth for the other. Dinner is not a cooking contest though according to Uncle Jim. (RIGHT!?!

Members of the Great East Floyd Chapter should meet the Sprakers Chapter and Friends shortly before 10am at the Murphy Lake Trailhead on Creek Road.

Per the Southern Region Trailguide…To reach the trailhead take NY 30 N from Mayfield. After crossing the bridge over the Sacandaga River at Benson, drive another 4.1 miles and turn right onto Creek Road. Proceed up Creek Rd for 2.3 miles to the trailhead on the Left and you can park on either side of the road. After spotting a vehicle there the crew should then head to the trail head at Pumpkin Hollow Road. Go back onto 30 and head north. Pumpkin Hollow Road will be on the right 3/10ths of a mile after a sign for the Town of Wells near a large building. Continue on Pumpkin Hollow Road for 1.6 miles till the trail head on the left.

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Going through my WinterCampers.com archives I found these Limericks from our Murphy’ Lake Trip.

There was a hiker from Carlisle
Who hiked in 3.8 miles
Until he came to a bog
Through which he did slog
But he did it with excellent style.

Sparky skipped a date with his bride
In giving his fellow hikers a ride
But he quickly lost his big grin
When much to his chagrin
He found that his battery had died.

Pretty and polite was the hiker Danielle
She looked like a fashionable belle
But you should have heard the wars
That went on behind closed doors
When she gave Mark holy hell.

There was hiker from Cotton Hill
Who displayed considerable skill
He traveled fast and light
Because his load was so slight
But to stay warm he relied on Matt’s goodwill.

As I laid wide awake
I thought this trip a mistake
My ears were a roaring
From the sound of the snoring
That night on Murphy’s Lake.

That was a fun trip - the great food group cook off challenge - comfortably won by multi-course meal group. Read on for a description of the trip.

Group shot at Murphy’s Lake

Natalie, Danielle, Mark, Skip, Sparky, Chris, Jim and Matt

Anxious for snow and to show off our new camping gear we “warmed up” for the winter camping season by scheduling a pre-season overnight at the Murphy Lake lean-to. We made this journey as a thru-hike; coming in from Pumpkin Hollow Road (3.8 miles), staying at Murphy Lake and hiking out (3.6 miles) to the Creek Road trail head on Sunday morning.

Trail conditions varied from mud to boggy to full running water. The most treacherous portions of the trail were the slime covered corduroy logs and wet bridge boards used to protect the trail. Upon reaching the Murphy’s Lake we had to bushwhack to skirt a large flooded bog that added 45 minutes to our hike.

Upon reaching the leanto we donned warmer gear and had a rousing session of StopLight!

At night we did a cook off between two competing cook groups with the steak, onions and peppers fajitas coming in 2nd to the multi-course meal of appetizers (10 year old sharp cheese, smoked salmon on crackers with mustard sauce), salad with sun dried tomatoes/feta cheese and choice of 2 dressings, creamy potato soup, chocolate pudding followed by some Merlot.

Chris and Matt load up on fajitas while Mark stirs the soup.

Although the temperatures dropped quickly Saturday afternoon the overnight temperatures remained in the mid-30s with only an occasional snow flake and Sunday morning temperatures were in the low 40s.

Upon emerging at the trail head our return home was delayed by a dead battery in waiting van. After 30 minutes of automotive diagnostics Sparky and Chris lashed on sneakers and jogged back (via roads) to our vehicles at the Pumpkin Hollow trail head. Within an hour they returned from their 7 mile jog, we applied jumper cables to the van and were headed home. Having a couple of serious runners along was a real plus.
Additional photographs from this trip can be found here.

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Our 2007-08 winter camping season has wound down.  For the off-season I am thinking of:

• writing a more comprehensive How-To section
• soliciting additional “what’s in my pack” articles from other winter campers
• canoeing and canoe camping
• getting “Aunt Corrine” to fabricate some primaloft pants

In the meantime, nothing beats a warm diner and good 3-egg omelet at the end of a trip.

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Backpacker Magazine has published it annual Gear Guide on-line.  While the comprehensive gear review examines all season gear there are evaluations relevant to Winter Camping.  For instance, their review of sleeping bags does single out two models they consider suitable for winter camping: the Marmot Lithium and the Exped Swan.  We all know there are lots of sleeping bags targeted towards winter camping.  The Backpacker Gear Guide does not try to evaluate common winter camping models: Feathered Friends, Western Mountaineering, Mountain Hardware; but it is a start.  Check out Backpacker Magazine online for their reviews of backpacks, footwear, tents, and essentials.  Maybe we should petition them to not just focus on a spring gear guide oriented towards the summer crowd, but a fall gear guide oriented towards winter camping!  Your thoughts?

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I have been tracking the voting status in the “Return to the Outdoors” contest since being notified of our selection this past weekend. My request to have the entry formatted was accomplished so the poem is recognizable and reads more like a poem.

As of noon Tuesday 15 April the distribution of votes is as shown below:

The contest is open for 10 more days. Thanks to those that have participated. If you haven’t voted yet please go here and cast your vote to support the WinterCampers.com poem. Thanks

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Two weeks ago I became aware of a national contest sponsored by Timex called “Return to the Outdoors“. The contest was looking for video clips or stories that tell about an experience that inspired your love of the outdoors, or keeps you returning to it.

I entered our WinterCampers.com poem “I Am Not Going To Lie to You“. My motivation was to bring attention to our WinterCampers.com website.

I was notified the poem was selected as 1 of 5 semi-finalists winning a new Timex Expedition watch. The entry receiving the most votes by 04/25/08 will become a finalist and receive an Outdoor Adventure pack featuring The North Face, Camelbak, and Ahnu footwear and compete to win a grand prize adventure trip for two to the San Juan Islands, Moab, or Aspen!

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WinterCampers.com has been an advocate of Leave No Trace (LNT) since learning of the program in the late 1990s. We have individuals who attended LNT Trainer and Master Educator training and look to apply that training to our winter camping experiences.

There are two upcoming opportunities for LNT Trainer training: one in May as part of a larger adventure course and the 2nd in June in the normal Trainer class format.

Northern Basin Kayak Expedition/Leave No Trace Trainer Course |Adirondack Community College Adventure Sports | When: May 16 – 19, 2008 | Where: Lake George, NY

Cost: $500. Course fee includes LNT materials, meals (lunch first day – lunch last day), transportation to put-in and from take-out, camping permits and group equipment. Course fees do not include Touring Kayak, Paddle and personal equipment.

Description: A unique opportunity to experience the Northern Basin of Lake George by engaging in a dynamic interdisciplinary course combining a kayak expedition, outdoor leadership skills, expert interpretation of the natural, human and conservation history of Lake George, and a Leave No Trace Trainer training. Participants will receive in depth background on the Leave No Trace principles, guidance and practice in effective ways to present Leave No Trace to clients, ecological concerns and minimum impact skills. Successful completion of this course leads to a Leave No Trace Trainer Certificate. This is an expeditionary-based course that includes a kayak expedition 4 day 3 night kayak expedition on Lake George from Ft. Ticonderoga to Bolton Landing. Course content will also include paddling instruction and guest lecturers from local conservation agencies and ACC.

Instructor: Rick Dawson, Director of ACC Adventure Sports. Contact: Rick Dawson, ACC Adventure Sports, dawsonr@sunyacc.edu or call 518. 743.2250. Registration through ACC Center for Personal and Professional Development.

Leave No Trace Trainer Course |Lake Placid, NY

When: 9:00 AM Saturday, June 28, 2008 – 2:00 PM Sunday, June 29, 2008 | Where: Adirondack Mountain Club’s Heart Lake Program Center, Lake Placid, NY

Cost: $75 ADK members / $83 non-members (includes instruction, food, use of group gear, camping, materials, and parking)

Who: Anyone interested in learning about Leave No Trace and sharing the message with others. Participants must have proper camping clothing and gear.

Description: The Adirondack Mountain Club is offering a two-day, low-mileage backpacking format course designed to enhance your understanding of Leave No Trace practices and ethics and to increase your level of expertise and confidence in teaching Leave No Trace skills. This course is designed for outdoor educators, guides, youth leaders, agency employees and other outdoor professionals who value the land and want to teach others how to protect it. Through focused activities, hands-on field experience and both formal and informal discussions, you will be introduced to concepts and methods that will advance your knowledge of Leave No Trace issues, expand your repertoire of low-impact skills and increase your effectiveness in teaching these important skills to others. Instruction will concentrate on the incorporation of low impact techniques in camping and backpacking settings, but we will not be teaching basic camping skills. Participants should have camping or other outdoor experience prior to enrolling in this course. Upon successful completion of the Leave No Trace Trainer course each participant will become a Leave No Trace Trainer from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics in Boulder, CO. Instructor: Ryan Doyle, Master Educator, 518.523.3480 Contact: Register by calling 518.523.3441

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