Chair Rock Flow, Darning Needle Pond, and Grass Pond (10/29-10/30/11) (Adirondacks)

[DSettahr]

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Short trip report (I know! Really? From DSettahr?!?) because I unfortunately don't have time to type up a full fledged one, but wanted to share.

Did 30+ miles south of Cranberry Lake again this past weekend, and visited Chair Rock Flow, Darning Needle Pond, Grass Pond, and Sliding Falls. Pretty close to where I'd explored a few weekends ago, but a bit further east.

Trails were all in great shape, minimal blowdown. For the most part, easy to follow, but poorly marked and obviously not well used in some places- in particular the new trail connecting West Flow with Chair Rock Flow, and the trails to Grass and Darning Needle Ponds. The trail into Chair Rock Flow from the end of Horseshoe Lake Road seems to be getting some illegal ATV use, but nothing major.

Darning Needle Pond, which I visited on my way to Grass Pond on Saturday afternoon, was pretty neat- it's obvious that very, very, few people ever go there. I was a little bit disappointed to not find a designated campsite there, although it's obvious that there really isn't a need for one.

Grass Pond was amazing- I've been there once before by canoe from Lows Lake, and the peacefulness and solitude of the area was overwhelming. I was glad to get the same sense upon my return- I was afraid my memory would hype it up too much and it'd be a let down. I spent a very relaxing (albeit cold) night in the campsite on the North shore of the pond with a roaring fire to keep me company. In the morning, I was up for the sun rise, and spend the first half of the day exploring the old road around the pond and visiting many of the campsites. I made it as far south as the access road to the private inholding on Lows Lake before I turned around.

Grass Pond beckons to me- some day I'll make it back there and climb to above the cliffs to check out the views of the pond from above!

After returning to Chair Rock Flow, I decided to revisit Sliding Falls on Six Mile Creek, which I'd visited previously while camped at Cowhorn Pond. Definitely worth the trip to see it again, this time in the sunlight! I'd love to go back there in the summer, especially since it looks like the face of the falls would make a great backcountry swimming hole.

Also discovered a decent amount of herd paths scattered throughout the area, some of which I was able to follow. Followed one from the Darning Needle Pond trail that lead to a small campsite on the boundary line between the Wilderness and Primitive Areas. Followed another that connected the Grass Pond Trail more directly with Chair Rock Flow, eliminating the need to cross Chair Rock Creek without a bridge (which was a bit tricky, even without high water!).

Only encountered 3 other people, all hunters- one on Grass Pond, one near Six Mile Creek, and one about a mile in from the trailhead. Most hikers have, at least as far as this area is concerned, hung up their boots for the season! The hunter on Grass Pond was camped on Lows, and his group had flown in by plane- probably one of the last groups to ever get to do this.

All in all, a very relaxing weekend (courtesy of the beauty of Grass Pond!) despite the high mileage!

 

[audrey]

I've never hiked in the ADK's south of the High Peaks, so I enjoyed your report very much. Nice that you were able to capture some of that warm golden late fall light.

 

[DSettahr]

I've never hiked in the ADK's south of the High Peaks, so I enjoyed your report very much. Nice that you were able to capture some of that warm golden late fall light.

Cranberry Lake is actually due west of the High Peaks, not south- but you're right- there is a lot more to the Adirondacks besides the High Peaks! The High Peaks only make up about 10% of the public lands that exist in the Adirondack Park, which is itself larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and Glacier National Parks combined... lots and lots and lots of stuff to do and see here in addition to the High Peaks for sure.