2025 HIKES PART 2
Hike Report M23 Lower Pond > Jackson Pond > Johnson St > Elmer Jackson Loop 07/26/25
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A cool morning to start at NY23 FLT crossing with Nancy B, Banana 🐾, Joyce P, Brenda R, Melissa T, Steve E.
We carpooled to Lower Pond and headed West through the woods to John Smith Rd and Jackson Pond.
There was a little uphill after the old CCC camp / boy scout camp and anytime we ascended thereafter I was asked if it was the same hill.
Of course it was because I had said there was only one hill!
We found a DEC survey marker surrounded by stones on the trail to John Smith (photo)
Crossed John Smith Rd. and continued on the FLT to the Jackson Pond Dam (photo)
The trail past the dam has the mark of John Carhart who maintained that trail for many years.
His corduroy puncheons are still holding, and evidence of his work.
When we got to the top of the 'same hill' to the brambles after the timber sale we were greeted with full sun and prickers.
This clear cut is ready for trail maintenance and the DR mower.
The trail where we thought we needed puncheons was dry and if we can get to it before another deluge it will be easier.
We came to the register and passport station which is an island of woods in the clearcut.
There was an entry from HotFoot, Ziggy & Stardust hiking West > East Terminus (photo)
Then through the brambles and to Johnson St. where we took a vote.. go back or a road walk to Elmer Jackson.
The road walk won and probably a good idea as I wasn't sure I had enough blood to go back after the scratches that wouldn't stop bleeding.
On the road walk we came across the largest ostrich ferns that I have ever seen. (photo Brenda for reference)
At the corner of Johnson and Elmer Jackson by Don W's big ash there is now a sign 15' up the trunk that says:
"Pissin' Tree" which may have contributed to the demise of that tree. (photo)
Down Elmer Jackson we walked to the CCC culvert and saw a trout on the downstream side.
The structure is amazing and shows how hard the CCC crew must have worked. (photo)
Melissa brouth banana bread to share after the hike.
We hiked ~4 miles with an elevation gain of 260'
Map:
Photos:
Hike Report M18 Old 76 Rd > Shindagin Hollow > White Church Rd. 0724/45
This morning 4 hikers and our mascot Lucy set out to get some of M18 completed.
Joanne Finch, Cindy Starbird Salak, Lucy 🐾, Malia Popovik & Steve Ellsworth
We hiked uphill from Old 76 to Shindagin Hollow SF, took a rubbing at the Passport station and continued to the Lean-To.
The lean-to was outfitted nicely with pots and pans and even had a toboggan hung on the side of the lean-to, I suppose for some fun in case it snowed.
Shindagin SF has a lot of mountain bike trails that criss crossed over the FLT trail.
There were signs of the recent torrential rains in the area with paths washed out and trees down from the winds.
I remember going to a couple of Indian sweats in New Mexico.
It was a dry heat with almost no humidity.
Which might have been why they felt the need to have a sweat lodge.
We did not need any sweat lodge today as the temperature was over 90 and so was the humidity.
We sweat enough and now feel as cleansed as if we had been in an Indian sweat lodge.
The map shows 6.3 miles but the gps app recorded 7.5 miles
Map:
Photos:
Every picture tells a story,
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqi_m-pMuoI in case you want to hear the tune!
