Mission Aborted

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Mission Operation East Branch of the Sacandaga River Camp Aborted. 

Back home after I got to where I was going to camp and there was over two feet of snow and the propane froze so no heat or light with the sun rapidly set. I bought a bag of firewood from Stewart’s to get the fire started but with so much snow it would be difficult to find enough extra firewood and no propane heater to take the chill off the tent and  warm my butt by the fire. 

I got lost on the way up there and the roads were icy in spots so I had to go slow. Took several wrong turns as I had no cell service. I didn’t get hiking until quarter of noon so it was getting dark by the time I was setting up camp. 

 I didn’t bring my thermal overalls on grounds of packing less stuff. I was prepared for ice not snow but I should have been more ready for snow, as I recognize that the Adirondacks get a lot of winter weather. It’s just dumb luck that I had my snowshoes for climbing Spruce Mountain as I had planned to use just crampons although based on my experience next time I’ll use cross country skis as it ain’t really steep. 

And the campsite I used to like to camp on with the plowed pull off is no longer a designated campsite. So I tried to camp at the different site, which I managed to get the truck stuck in the snow. Dug it out and it wasn’t a big deal but shoveling all that snow was a pain in the ass. I finally dug it out but at that point, I said I’m going home. 

Which is fine. It’s warm at home and my bed is much more comfortable than a tent in the woods. I’m not going back camping in the Adirondacks until the snow is gone. It’s not a winter like last year… 

January 1, 2017 Afternoon

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Good afternoon! Partly sunny and 33 degrees on Spruce Mountain in South Corinth. There is a west breeze at 13 mph. That wind is whipping around a top the mountain but the tower cabin is open and sheltered. About two feet of fresh snow in the area. A bit chilly up here, I will need more layers as the day goes on I expect. 

The sun will set at 4:31 pm with dusk around 5:03 pm, which is 53 seconds later than yesterday. At sunset, look for partly sunny conditions and 31 degrees. There will be a west breeze at 10 mph.

The rest of New Year’s Day will be mostly sunny, with a high of 33 degrees at 1pm. Two degrees above normal. West wind 10 to 13 mph. A year ago, we had snow and a high of 38 degrees. The record high of 57 was set in 1966. 9.2 inches of snow fell back in 1961.

Waxing Crescent Moon tonight with 26% illuminated. The moon will set around 10:09 pm. The First Quarter Moon is on Wednesday night with mostly cloudy skies expected. The Full “Wolf” Moon is on Wednesday night.

Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low of 17 degrees at 6am. One degree above normal. West wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm after midnight. In 2016, it got down to 29 degrees with periods of snow. The record low of -20 occurred back in 1970.

In four weeks on January 29 the sun will be setting at 5:04 pm, which is 33 minutes later then today. In 2016 on that day, we had snow and temperatures between 38 and 25 degrees. Typically, you have temperatures between 31 and 15 degrees. The record high of 54 degrees was set back in 2002.