Please keep this list for
reference throughout the ski season.
We will choose from this
list* on the basis of what we can learn about ski conditions each week. Please call
ECOS at 370-4125 each Monday afternoon for the Tuesday ski trip information
after 3:00. To be included on our
email list contact Nancy Peterson nancyjeanpeterson@gmail.com. We’ve included information about the
difficulty level of each trip. In some
cases we can divide into smaller groups to accommodate the needs of
participants. ECOS participants MUST
stay with the group. Bring your own
water & snack.
*Trip
leaders may choose alternate locations not listed as needed.
All
trips will meet to carpool at ONE of the following locations, see area
description for which location will be used:
(1)
Friendly's parking lot opposite the Glenville Queen
at Rte. 50 & Glenridge Road.
(2)
Home Depot Parking at Crosstown (Rte. 7) and
Watt St. across Rte 7 from Crosstown
Plaza; park in first area off Watt
St.
(3)
Office Max on Campbell Rd across from
Rotterdam Square Mall; park in lot to
right of store.
(4)
Park and Ride off Herbert Dr. behind the VW dealer, which is between
the Latham Circle and the Northway. Turn on Herbert as if going to Penny's in
Mall and then take first right which is opposite the Mall entrance.
(5)
Park & Ride on Rte. 20 a quarter mile
east of the Duanesburg exit 24 of I-88.
(6) Park & Ride about 3 miles west of Scotia just beyond I-890 bridge; take first left after bridge onto Van Buren Lane, and then another left into the P&R.
The following directions are given from the
carpool location; you may choose an alternate route at your convenience and
meet us at the trailhead. Please note
that meeting times vary due to driving distance to trailhead. We plan to arrive at the trailhead at about
9:30. A small donation to carpool
drivers would be greatly appreciated.
Albany Pine Bush Madison Avenue Pinelands Mixed terrain. Meet at 9:00 at carpool
#2. From the parking lot turn right
toward Albany St. Follow Albany St about
5 mi., turn right onto Rte. 155 (New
Karner Rd). Turn right at the water
tower at the intersection of Rte. 155 and Madison Avenue Extension (note: Washington Ave. Ext. on left of Rt.
155). Park at the end of this road at
the trailhead.
Albany Pine Bush Karner Barrens East Mixed terrain. Meet at 9:00 at carpool
#2. From the parking lot turn right
toward Albany St.; turn right onto Rte. 155 (New Karner Road). Park behind the Pine Bush Discovery Center on
the left (east) side of Rte. 155
Charleston State Forest (Montgomery County) Mixed terrain. Meet at 8:45 at carpool #5;
turn left out of parking lot to Rte. 20, follow Rte. 20 for about 10+ mi. At
Sloansville turn right onto Rte. 30A; go
about 6 miles north; look for State Forest parking on right.
Clapper Hollow (Schoharie County)
Mixed terrain. Meet at 8:30 at
carpool #5. Take Rte. I-88 south to Richmondville Exit 20; take NY Rte. 10
south to Baird Corners, about 5 miles south of Summit; continue on Rte. 10
about one mile beyond County Road 64 turn right onto Moxley Street Rd. (Rte.
15) and immediately right again onto Clapper Hollow Rd; go one mile and
look for parking on the right.
Dyken Pond (Rensselaer County) Dyken Pond
Environmental Education Center Mixed
terrain. Meet at 8:30 at carpool
#4. From the parking lot, turn left onto
Troy-Schenectady Rd. Turn right (north)
at Northway. Follow Rte. 7 (next exit
off Northway) going east into Troy.
From Troy, take Rte. 2 east about 7 miles to Cropseyville. At the Dyken Pond sign on the right, turn
onto Blue Factory Road (Rte 79). In 2 miles turn left onto Madonna Lake
Rd. Proceed 2.2 miles, then turn right
on Dyken Pond Road. Follow this narrow
road 2.2 miles to the Center. Parking is
on the right, opposite the information board.
Featherstonhaugh State Forest (Schenectady County) Flat or mixed terrain. Meet at 9:00 at carpool #3;
turn left onto Campbell (Rte.337); turn left onto Putnam Road; turn right onto Mariaville Rd. at blinking light (Rte.
159); continue west 5.3 miles to Lake Rd.; go left on Lake Rd. about 3 miles to
Hardin Rd.; turn right on Hardin and park along side of road.; ski or walk
along road to trail access on either side, just below brow of hill.
Grafton Lakes State Park Mixed terrain.
Meet at 8:30 at carpool #4. From
the parking lot, turn left onto Troy-Schenectady Rd. Turn right (north) at Northway. Follow Rte. 7 (next exit off Northway) going
east to Troy. Go through Troy and 2 mi.
beyond WalMart take right on Rte. 278 (church on corner) to Rte 2, turn left
onto Rte. 2 and go east about 9 miles; use winter entrance ½ mile past summer
entrance.
Indian Meadows Mostly easy, with a couple difficult spots. Meet at 9:15 at carpool #1. Turn right onto Rte 50 and almost immediately
left onto Van Buren. Go to Swaggertown
and take a right; go 0.6 miles to Droms Rd, and turn right; drive to the Park
sign 0.6 mile on right.
Lapland
Lake GROOMED, FEE. Choice
of all levels; groomed. Meet at 8:45 at carpool
#1. The Park & Ride near the
Information Center at the intersection of Rte. 29 and 30 (new traffic circle)
will be a secondary meeting point. We
should pull in there about 9:15 and then continue north on Rte.30 past Sacandaga Lake to left turn onto Benson
Road; watch for Lapland Lake sign and turn right to ski area.
Mohawk River State Park
(formerly Schenectady Museum Preserve)
Choice
of terrain: flat to challenging. Meet at
9:30 at trailhead parking lot. Coming
from the intersection of River Rd. and Balltown in Niskayuna, take River Rd.
east about 3 miles to Whitmyer Dr. on left and follow to the end. Or you can approach from the
intersection of Union Street and Rosendale Road; turn left onto Rosendale and
follow it about a mile and a half to left turn onto River Rd; go west about 2/3 mile; turn right onto
Whitmyer Dr. Park in the lot at the end of Whitmyer near the Preserve sign.
Moreau Lake State Park Choice: rolling or
challenging terrain. Meet at 8:30 at carpool #1. Take Rte. 50 north
roughly a dozen miles and turn right onto Brookline Rd.; about half a mile
brings you to a right onto Rte. 67; follow this to the Northway; go north to Exit 17S; follow
the signs into the park.
Partridge Run (Albany
County) Mixed terrain. Meet at 8:30 at carpool #2. Turn left onto Rte. 7; take 890 east
(toward Thruway) to exit 9B which leads
to Rte. 146; turn left on Rte. 146; turn left following Rte. 20 & 146; in ¾
mile Rte. 146 turns right toward Altamont; go through Altamont to Rte. 156;
take 156 to right turn onto Rte. 443;
turn left on County Rte. 1; from
here you can either take Rte. 13 (Sickle Hill Rd.) directly up to Partridge
Run; or you can go on to Rte. 6, which is less steep; it will circle around to
Rte. 13 and to the same parking area.
Pineridge Cross Country Ski
Area (Rensselaer County) – GROMMED, FEE.
Mixed terrain; groomed. Meet at 8:30 at carpool #4. From the
parking lot, turn left onto Troy-Schenectady Rd. Turn right (north) at
Northway. Follow Rte. 7 (next exit off Northway) going east into
Troy. Go over the Collar City bridge and make your first right onto 8th
St. Continue on 8th St for a little less than 1 mile and take a left onto Route
2 (Ferry St). Go a little more than 1/2 mile on Rt 2 and bear right onto
Pawling Avenue (Route 66) for about 4 miles.until it merges with Rt 355. Bear
left on Rt 355. Continue on 355 East to Poestenkill to the four way stop and
continue straight on Plank Road (County Route 40). Go 1.6 miles on Plank
Road (CR 40) and turn left onto Blue Factory Rd (County Route 79) for .8
miles. Turn right onto Columbia Hill Rd (CR 44), which becomes Plank Road
(again) after 1.5 miles. Go about 2 miles and Pineridge parking lot will
be on your left. (There are signs for Pineridge starting at Plank Road)
Prospect Mountain Ski Center
(Vermont)
GROOMED, FEE. Mixed
terrain; groomed. Follow directions for
Woodford on page 4, but don’t pass the Prospect Mountain Ski area!
Rockwood State Forest (Fulton County) Mixed Terrain. Meet at 8:30 at carpool #6. Take Rte 5 west through Amsterdam, continuing on Rte 5 for about 15 miles, passing the intersection within Amsterdam where 67 joins 5. West of Amsterdam, take a right onto Rte 67. Continue about 8 miles into Johnstown, where you take Rte. 29 west (left turn); continue west about 7 miles. Shortly beyond the junction of Rte. 10A, look for County Forest parking on the left.
Sanders Preserve Challenging terrain. Meet at 9:00 at carpool #1. Turn right onto Rte. 50 and immediately left
onto Van Buren, right onto Swaggertown, left onto Bolt Rd; right onto Rte. 147,
and almost immediately left onto Church Rd. which becomes Sanders when you
cross Ridge Rd. Continue on Sanders Road to parking on the left at preserve
sign.
Saratoga Battlefield Rolling
terrain. Visit Museum in National Park
Visitor Center. Meet at 8:30 at carpool
#1. Take Rte. 50 north roughly a dozen miles and turn right onto Brookline Rd.;
about half a mile brings you to a right onto Rte. 67; follow this to the Northway; crossing Northway, go straight
ahead on Dunning St. to County Rte. 108 (Plains Road); turn right on 9P and
follow the lake shore around to right turn on Rte. 423 (Battlefield Road);
continue about 4 miles; take a left on Rte. 32 and proceed to the Battlefield
which is clearly marked.
Saratoga Spa State Park Flat to rolling terrain,
groomed. Meet at 8:45 at carpool #1.
Go north on Rte. 50 through Ballston Spa; turn right at first traffic light
after SPAC; take left fork (Avenue of the Pines), obey speed limit; close to
Rte. 9 watch for warming hut sign; turn right into short road to parking lot
near warming hut. Hot chocolate will be available after skiing, and you may
bring a snack to share. We are hoping to
do this as our first ski outing on the first Tuesday in January. Call ECOS to verify.
Schenectady Municipal Golf
Course Choice of flat or mixed. Meet at Golf
Course parking lot. From Rte. 7
turn east on Golf Rd. and then left on Oregon to parking lot on right near
clubhouse. Meet at 9:30.
Strawberry Fields Farm Mixed terrain. Meet at 9:00 at carpool #6.
Take Rte. 5 continuing west about 8 miles to Cranes Hollow Rd. Turn right and continue 0.7 miles on Cranes
Hollow Rd. Look for sign on right “LEON
240 Private Road.” Turn right and go up the very steep driveway
until you come to the parking area on the left near the house.
Thacher State Park Mixed
terrain. Meet at 8:45 at carpool
#2. Turn left onto Rte. 7; take 890 east
(toward Thruway) to exit 9B which leads
to Rte. 146; turn left on Rte. 146; turn left following Rte. 20 & 146; in ¾
mile Rte. 146 turns right toward Altamont; go through Altamont to Rte. 156;
follow directins below to final destination.
Thacher
#1 Hopfield Winter Use Area continue up the hill to turn left onto Rte. 157;
left onto Rte. 256 (obey speed limit), then another left onto Rte. 157. Continue a couple of miles to the winter use
area and warming hut at the Hop Field area.
Thacher #2 Paint Mine Loop continue up the hill to turn left onto Rte. 157;
left onto Rte. 256 (obey speed limit), then another left onto Rte. 157. Park in the lot at Paint Mine Pavilion.
Thacher #3 Long Path Trail continue up the hill to turn left onto Rte. 157;
left onto Rte. 256 (obey speed limit), then another left onto Rte. 157. park in the lot near the swimming
pool/administration building.
Tree Haven (Bob’s Trees)
GROOMED, FEE. Mixed terrain; groomed. Meet at 8:45 at carpool #1. Turn right onto Rte. 50 and immediately left
onto Van Buren, right onto Swaggertown and left onto Bolt Rd. Turn right onto
Rte. 147 (Sacandaga Road); continue to village of Galway; turn left on Rte.
45. Bob’s Trees is on the right about
3.5 miles from the traffic light.
Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park
Mixed terrain, groomed. Meet at
8:30 at carpool #1. Take Rte. 50 north roughly a dozen miles and turn right
onto Brookline Rd.; about half a mile brings you to a right onto Rte. 67;
follow this to the Northway; take Northway north, continuing past Saratoga to exit 16. Turn right onto Ballard Road, and another quick right onto Edie Road. At about a mile, turn left onto Scout Road.
Look for the Preserve parking on the left.
Woodford State Park (Vermont) Mixed
terrain. Meet at 8:00 at carpool #4.
From the parking lot, turn left onto Troy-Schenectady Rd. Turn right (north) at Northway. Follow Rte. 7 (next exit off Northway) going
east to Troy. Follow Rte. 7 east all the
way to Vermont, where it becomes VT Rte. 9. Continue east through Bennington on Rte 9, and
up the mountain. Pass the Prospect
Mountain Ski area, and continue a little over 3 miles past the Park gate on the
right. A large parking area is on the left, about ¼ mile further.
Woods Hollow Meet at 8:45
at carpool #1. Take Rt. 50 north
through the village of Ballston Spa.
Beyond the village, turn left on Northline Rd. (Rte. 45). Go west about
3/8 mile; watch for the preserve sign at the main Preserve entrance on the
right, a short distance before the intersection with Rowland St.
PLEASE KEEP THIS LIST.
Since we are not scheduling specific
dates for each location, you will need to refer to this list for times and
directions each week. Our trips will be
every Tuesday, conditions permitting, through January, February and March. Each week we will make a selection from this
list, depending on where we find the best conditions.
We hope to follow the tradition of starting our season in
January at Saratoga Spa State Park.
We’ll meet about 9:30 at the warming hut and break into groups according
to how fast you like to ski. At the end
of the morning we’ll meet back at the warming hut for hot chocolate and
snacks. We will provide the hot
chocolate; it’s up to everyone else to bring something to share.
In the event that there’s not enough snow at Saratoga,
we’ll try to schedule our first outing at one of our other locations. Since most of our locations don’t include a
warming hut, we’ll then have to plan Saratoga at another date. So be sure you call ECOS the day before
every trip. Most of our
trips are half day trips. Our last trip,
at the end of March, will be a full day either in the Adirondacks or some other
relatively distant location where snow can still be found. Our March newsletter will include full
details.
For
more information contact
ECOS:
The Environmental Clearinghouse
PO
Box 9118
Niskayuna,
NY 12309
518-370-4125
info@ecosny.org