Stoney Pond State Forest

The 1,469 acres offers visitors an opportunity to view a range of different flora and fauna.

The 44 acre Stoney Pond was constructed in the late 1950’s to provide wildlife habitat. Populated with largemouth bass and panfish, it is home to blue herons, Canada geese, mallard ducks and other waterfowl. A parking area and boat launching site is located on the pond. No gas powered motors are permitted. A day use area is located adjacent to the ramp.

Camping is allowed at 17 designated campsites and requires a camping permit between May 1 and September 30. These sites are varied. Two sites are accessible only by foot and are for tent camping. Most of the sites are nestled among a white pine plantation at the south end of Stoney Pond. Each site contains a fire ring. A latrine services the camping area. There is no water well.

13 mile-long Stoney Pond Nordic Ski Trail is an important part of multiple use management of the forest. The trails wind through both natural forests and plantations and around Stoney Pond. Most trails are designed for skiers with a beginner or intermediate skill level. Caution must be used for safe, enjoyable skiing. Snow covered trails may contain hidden obstacles or hazards. Skiers are responsible to ski safely and under control at all times.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/8111.html

Good Morning – December 22, 2021

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Good morning! Happy Days are Getting Longer ☀️ !

I mean we add about 8 seconds of daylight today although maybe it will be fairly cloudy do it will not be super noticeable.

Cloudy and 29 degrees at the Stoney Pond State Forest. ☁ There is a southwest breeze at 9 mph. 🍃. Things will start to thaw out at Friday around 11 am. 🌡️

So far the wind hasn’t picked up yet, 🌅 but as the sun rises it seems like the breeze is picking up. I could stay at this campsite another night although it sounds like it might be quite windy 🌬️ and maybe snowy ☃ later on so I’m thinking of heading back east where I could camp a little more protected from the breeze. Red skies this morning.

After cleaning the pilot light, camp stove and just running things hard 🔥 all my propane appliances are working perfectly again. The stove and heater are full output, the pilot light is burning cleanly and strong. The key 🗝 was to just run things a lot and using a Q tip with rubbing alcohol in the pilot light. I’ll have to remember to keep some q tips and rubbing alcohol in my truck. Good for cleaning cuts too.

Weather Update – December 21, 2021

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Today.
Feels like …
January 5th.

Decreasing Clouds

Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny.

Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.

and

33 degrees , 4:31
sunset.
Tonight.
Feels like …
December 10th.

Mostly Clear

Mostly clear.

South wind 7 to 11 mph.

and

24 degrees , 14 max wind chill, 7:31
sunrise.
Wednesday.
Cold !

Chance of Snow Showers and Breezy

A slight chance of snow showers before 9am, then a chance of snow showers after 3pm. Partly sunny.

Breezy, with a southwest wind 9 to 14 mph becoming west 16 to 21 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

and

31 degrees , 13 max wind chill, 4:32
sunset.
Wednesday Night.
Feels like …
December 29th.

Snow Showers is likely and Breezy

Snow showers likely, mainly between 7pm and 1am. Mostly cloudy.

Breezy, with a northwest wind 18 to 23 mph decreasing to 11 to 16 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

and

19 degrees , 7 max wind chill, 7:31
sunrise.
Thursday.
Cold !

Partly Sunny

Partly sunny.

West wind 6 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

and

30 degrees , 7 max wind chill, 4:33
sunset.
Thursday Night.
Feels like …
December 7th.

Chance of Snow Showers

A chance of snow showers, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy.

Chance of precipitation is 30%.

and

25 degrees , 7:31
sunrise.
Friday.
Feels like …
December 26th.

Mostly Cloudy

Mostly cloudy.

and

35 degrees , 4:33
sunset.
Friday Night.
Feels like …
November 20th.

Chance of Snow then Snow

Snow, mainly after 1am. Low around 30. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

and

30 degrees , 7:32
sunrise.
Christmas Day.
Feels like …
December 26th.

Rain/Snow

Rain, possibly mixed with snow. High near 35. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

and

35 degrees , 4:34
sunset.
Saturday Night.
Feels like …
December 7th.

Chance of Snow Showers and Breezy

A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy.

Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

and

25 degrees , 11 max wind chill, 7:32
sunrise.
Sunday.
Cold !

Chance of Snow Showers and Blustery

A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy.

Blustery. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

and

29 degrees , 10 max wind chill, 4:34
sunset.
Sunday Night.
Feels like …
December 21st.

Mostly Cloudy

Mostly cloudy.

and

21 degrees , 13 max wind chill, 7:32
sunrise.
Monday.
Feels like …
January 15th.

Partly Sunny

Partly sunny.

and

32 degrees , 13 max wind chill, 4:35
sunset.

Good Morning – December 21, 2021

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Good morning! Happy First Day of Winter ☃️ !

Kind of a cool and gray winter day out here in Central NY. Warm enough things are kind of foggy from the ice and snow melt from the past weekend. A very typical day for December when there isn’t snow in Upstate NY.

Mostly cloudy and 29 degrees at the Stoney Pond State Forest. ☁ There is a northwest breeze at 8 mph. 🍃. Things will start to thaw out at around noontime. 🌡️

I was hoping for better weather for today but December can be tough. 😕 When it’s not super cold and snowy, it tends to be cloudy. But I’m glad to at least get away for a few more days before the year is done. 🥧

It’s just nice to be away, 🚜 see some of the rural and wild country of Madison County even if it’s damp, gray muddy and smells like cow manure. 🐮

Today I want to run to Cazenovia and get some isopropyl alcohol and q tips to try to clean the heater a bit better. ♨ Then do some hiking around the village and maybe some of that great rail trail before heading back to camp ⛺.

It’s the first day of winter 🌨 so I don’t necessarily have a lot of time to dilly-dally around. But I’ll make the most of it. Hopefully it will clear out this afternoon and be fairly decent.

Sunset Times …

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Sunset Times …

  • Albany – 4:24 pm
  • Allegheny National Forest – 4:47 pm, 23 minutes later then Albany
  • Blenheim, NY – 4:27 pm, 3 minutes later then Albany
  • Dolly Sods, WV – 4:58 pm, 34 minutes later then Albany
  • Fox Lair – 4:22 pm, 2 minutes earlier then Albany
  • Kelly Stand, VT – 4:15 pm, 9 minutes earlier then Albany
  • Massena – 4:20 pm, 4 minutes earlier then Albany
  • Moose River Plains – 4:24 pm
  • Montauk – 4:22 pm, 2 minutes earlier then Albany
  • Jamestown – 4:47 pm, 24 minutes later then Albany
  • Staten Island – 4:32 pm, 8 minutes later then Albany
  • Syracuse – 4:32 pm, 8 minutes later then Albany

Good Evening – December 20, 2021

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Good evening! Out in Madison County for the next few days. ⛺

Nice evening not too cold for winter camping. Tonight is beautiful with a lot of stars ✨ and the full cold moon 🌕.

Mostly clear and 28 degrees at the Stoney Pond State Forest. There is a south-southwest breeze at 9 mph. 🍃. Things will start to thaw out at Wednesday around 10 am. 🌡️

I am off this week from work 🏡 as I needed to either use the time or loose it at the end of the year. ⏳ I wasn’t sure what my plans were but for a while I was having problems with both the camp stove and the heater – ran some bad fuel or more likely dirt through them. Warmed both up inside, cleaned various parts using soap and water and been running both hard trying to burn off the carbon/propane gelling.

Driving out to Madison County I was a bit concerned with all the ice on the trees 🎄 but it was mostly just a dusting of snow 🌨 and a little ice as I got past Sangerfield. The road to camp has a dusting of snow and maybe some light icing but not too bad. The hill isn’t that steep on the road.

I don’t really have a big set plan 📜, I can stay here until Thursday without a permit but I might drive home on Wednesday depending on how cold and snowy it turns out to be.

Also depends on how reliable the heater and stove turn out to be, ♨ though things are definitely getting better after running them and cleaning them. I hate to waste propane – at $4 a gallon – but I’d rather get my equipment running good again and running it hot and long seems to be burning out the clogs. But it might use up my propane early.