Seward, Donaldson & Emmons

[escapee]

Our party of four base-camped at the bottom of the Calkins Brook herdpath. We did Donaldson & Emmons on Saturday and Seward on Sunday. All wore snowshoes (MSRs) above base-camp and traction aids of choice for the approach. We had hoped to ski the approach, but there was not enough snow. Road is plowed all the way, but is gated and closed to public past the Racquette River trailhead. Road is being used by logging trucks, and was solid ice and hard-pack with a dusting of snow on top. Blueberry Trail and Calkins Brook Horse Trail had little base, many exposed or barely-covered rocks. The herd path has little snow low, a couple of feet up high. Trail is broken, packed and well-defined. 5 other hikers Sat, a man and 2 dogs Sun.