Where to go for Memorial Day Weekend?

It’s going to be a nice weekend but cold it seems. Regardless, the black flies will be out in mass. Here are some options I’m considering.

Branch Pond Road – Classic choice but often very buggy in the Green Mountains National Forest. I hate how wash boarded Kelley Stand Road is and it a long trip back on that.

Prospect Mountain Road – Been enjoying that more since discovering that last Memorial Day Weekend. Limited campsites might fill up quickly, steep hill and could still be seasonally closed. Got to watch out for potential snow and ice as it’s a steep road. Nice thing is I have good cell reception there which is nice for streaming audio up at camp. Also if the sites on that road are taken, then George Aitken Wilderness Road or even Somerset Reservoir Road are other options.

Burnt Rossman State Forest – Betty Brook might be fun to camp at but it could fill up quickly with the two sites. Fewer potential black flies too, though it was buggy up at Duck Pond last May. The big advantage is I could avoid traffic coming out to see the family after camping. Plus a nice ride on the Catskill Scenic Trail are options.

NY 8 / East Branch Scandaga River – In some ways I wouldn’t mind another trip up there, but who knows if I could get campsite 5 on Memorial Day Weekend. Lots of black flies for sure up there. Not sure we’re I would hike, one of my concerns would be the trails would be very wet. Also the number of campsites along that road are somewhat limited and might fill up quickly.

Pisceo-Powley Road – Is it open north of the Potholers? I guess I could try to reach the forest ranger or Town of Pisceo to find out. Again, lots of black flies, though I did do this trip for Memorial Day Weekend about 15 years ago.  Certainly can ride Pisceo-Powley Road but it would be probably much too cold to swim, and even kayaking might e cold not to mention the wind would be bad for riding on East Canada Creek.

Speculator Area – The past few years with remote work I’ve been heading up to Mason Lake – Perkins Clearing Area and working the day before Memorial Day Weekend. Black flies will be bad but the nice thing is I have cell service up there so I can stream audio and videos. That said, it does take away a bit from the wilderness experience, and reading the e-books I’ve already downloaded if a video or podcast is just a few clicks a way. Lots of good roads to ride there.