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…