The Road Less Travelled-Hunts Pond

Volume 3-Hunts Pond NY State Forest

I recently spent several hours skiing in this, yet another beautiful NY State forest. I have visited this destination quite a few times.

This 1397 acre parcel was acquired in the 1960s by NY State and includes the 50 acre Hunts Pond, a shallow weedy pond with a maximum depth of 12 feet. My first experience here was a campout with my Boy Scout Troop in 2007. At the time it was an operating NY State campground. For the last ten years or so it has become a State Forest. Camping is still allowed, however, it is free. The down side is no services like water, showers, or flush toilets. They do provide a couple of porta-potties.

I started out on the plowed section of road for about three quarters of a mile. They keep the road plowed to allow access for ice fishing, a popular activity here. I saw three or four groups on this day, quietly occupying their shanties spread out across the lake. Not much could be heard, a few distant conversations.

The plowed road was snow covered, since they do not salt or sand. It runs through the first camping loop and to the main parking area for the pond. This makes for great, if not too fast skiing conditions. I had to be careful on the hills. After stopping briefly to observe the ice fishermen, I continued on and reached the unplowed section.

The second camping loop is unplowed and has a gate to prevent motor vehicles. Luckily, the road was travelled by snowmobilers as a snowmobile trail passes through a portion of the park. My friends they are! Makes for great skiing conditions.

This section is beautiful, the road is narrower and more tree covered. The forest canopy hangs over me creating a new world, quiet and peaceful. On this day the sun emerged creating a glow on the evergreens.

I stop fairly often to take photos. This day I brought with me a few lenses that I recently purchased as part of a kit for my cell phone. The interchangeable lenses clip on to the phone to provide varying effects such as telephoto, macro, kaleidoscope, and fish eye among others. I experimented with the fish eye and kaleidoscope lenses this time.

It was fun. Something different to play around with.

After reaching the end of the camping loop I circled back towards my car. I took a brief side trip exploring the snowmobile trial that uses part of the park, then exits to create another new experience. I may explore more of this trail in the future. So much to explore!

After about 3 miles and 2 hours, I returned to the car. Another great workout, great skiing conditions. January was a good month for skiing. We had consistent snow cover for most of the month which isn’t always guaranteed these days. Hoping February will provide the same. As I write this, were are receiving another storm that promises 6 to 12 inches. It's turning out to be quite a winter.

Stay tuned for more adventures.