Chimney Pond - September 5, 2002

[askus3]

Date of Hike: Thursday, September 5, 2002

Pictures: link to Gallery - Baxter Park Trip - Album II - #1


Route: First we went from Roaring Brook Campground to Sandy Stream Pond on the Sandy Stream Pond Trail. From the pond we retraced our steps back to Roaring Brook Campground. Now for the main hike we followed the Chimney Pond Trail from Roaring Brook to Chimney Pond. From here we took the Dudley Trail up steeply. When we reached the Pamola Cave Spur Trail we followed that to its dead end at the caves. From this point, we retraced our steps all the way back to the Roaring Brook Campground and our cars.

Total Distance: 9.0 miles

Difficulty: moderate/strenuous

Conditions: excellent

Weather: sunny, windy 50s

Participants: Aaron Schoenberg, Dean Gletsos, Alex Lantino, Eileen Berch, (Lake George group) John Devine, Bill Glendening & Bill La Rocque.

Hike Statistics: Total elevation gain: 2,500 feet.

0.0 1480 7:25 AM Roaring Brook CG - Start of Hike
0.5 1504 7:35-8:00 Sandy Stream Pond
1.0 1480 8:10 Roaring Brook Campground
3.1 2500 9:10-9:20 Basin Pond
3.3 2550 9:35 Jct. North Basin Cut-off
4.0 2850 10:05-10:15 Jct. North Basin Trail
4.3 2900 10:20-10:40 Chimney Pond
4.6 3100 11:00 Cave Jct. on Dudley Trail
5.0 3140 11:20-11:45 Pamola Caves
5.4 3100 12:10-12:15 Cave Jct. on Dudley Trail
5.7 2900 12:30-2:00 Chimney Pond - Lunch
6.0 2850 2:05 Jct. North Basin Trail
6.7 2550 2:30 Jct. North Basin Cut-off
6.9 2500 2:45-3:00 Basin Pond
---- 2310 3:10-3:20 view
---- 1510 3:55-4:20 Jct. Helon Taylor Trail
9.0 1480 4:25 PM Roaring Brook CG - End of Hike

Trip Report:

The previous evening the three person group from Glens Falls ADK Chapter arrived and joined us. John Devine was the leader of this group. I wanted to look for moose at Sandy Stream Pond, and since John wanted to hike to Chimney Pond, I talked them into adding this extra early morning excursion. To our luck, there was a moose here across the pond and the only one we saw one this trip.

Chimney Pond is a beautiful locale. When we were there it was cold and windy. Katahdin was in the clouds, although it was sunny at the pond. I was glad we weren't climbing Katahdin today (too windy & cloud cover). I learned about Pamola Caves and thought that would be an interesting short excursion. I figured at 10:40 AM, we should be back at noon, so Eileen and the Glens Falls group waited for us and walked around the pond. Alex, Dean & I went to the caves. What a trek! First the Dudley, up and up and up. Then the cave spur path - up and down, up and down, up and around. I banged my head on a rock (lifted it too soon). Dean took off his pack to get thru a narrow opening. Then on the way back it was misplaced and at first we couldn't find it. On the way back, we realized we were going to be 1/2 hour late to Chimney Pond. Then we lounged and explored this scenic location, bunkhouses and camp. We leisurely returned to Roaring Brook.