Thursday, June 1, 2017

DEC Opens Part Of Road To Boreas Ponds

Boreas Ponds in the Adirondack MountainsThe state has reopened Gulf Brook Road on the Boreas Ponds Tract as far as the interim parking area created last year.

As a result, the public can drive 3.2 miles up the dirt road. From there, hikers must walk another 3.6 miles on roads to the southern end of Boreas Ponds. Mountain bikers will once again be able to ride as far as the ponds, but no farther.

It’s a long haul for paddlers, but they have the option of shortening the portage by paddling a half-mile across LaBier Flow, a dammed stretch of the Boreas River. The flow is 2.5 miles from the parking area.

Click here to read full story on Adirondack Explorer website.

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Phil Brown is the former Editor of Adirondack Explorer, the regional bimonthly with a focus on outdoor recreation and environmental issues, the same topics he writes about here at Adirondack Almanack. Phil is also an energetic outdoorsman whose job and personal interests often find him hiking, canoeing, rock climbing, trail running, and backcountry skiing. He is the author of Adirondack Paddling: 60 Great Flatwater Adventures, which he co-published with the Adirondack Mountain Club, and the editor of Bob Marshall in the Adirondacks, an anthology of Marshall’s writings.Visit Lost Pond Press for more information.




14 Responses

  1. Paul says:

    Could we build a canal? So we can paddle from the gate?

  2. Justin Farrell says:

    I still think that the second gate makes the most sense for an acceptable balance between all of the differing proposals.

    • Boreas says:

      Justin,

      As you know, I agree. And iff the administration’s new idea of adding infrastructure for glamping or hut-to-hut trails stays on the table, it is likely the final classification decision will be kicked farther down the road. I would venture to guess the current interim plan will stay in effect until the mess gets sorted out. My only hope is that plans of this sort are shifted to MacIntyre E / W areas instead of BP, at least for any significant infrastructure changes. I think those parcels would be a better fit because of existing infrastructure – primarily a paved, public road for access.

    • James Marco says:

      I agree, I think the interim gate is OK, except for making the trail too short. But, it is acceptable.

    • Kathy says:

      And I’m happy to be able to either walk or canoe at the distance set now. Never would I want to see it developed further for glamping. And if a way develops for people physically unable (accept with permit) to share the privilege the shortest distance possible…..

      • Boreas says:

        Kathy,
        I agree. If it looks like this may drag on for a few more years, perhaps DEC can work out a plan using the existing MAPPWD Policy (CP-3) program in the meantime.

  3. Paul says:

    It will be interesting to monitor the amount of use the area gets under this scheme over the summer.

    I hope they keep track of what they go in there to do (hike, paddle, etc.)

  4. Byron says:

    If horse drawn wagons can navigate the roads surrounding the pond, so can a bicycle.

    • Jim S. says:

      Cars could navigate the roads surrounding the pond also. That doesn’t mean they should.

      • Sean says:

        Why shouldn’t bike be allowed do they cause for degradation to the trail that freaking horse. I don’t think so. I’m just here fighting for good mountain biking trails that already exist.

        • Sean says:

          Yeah I got spelling at grammar errors. Sorry to many concussions from eating branches

        • Boreas says:

          Sean,

          Until the parcel has been classified by NYS / APA, the interim plan is in effect. The final classification may indeed allow bikes.

    • Phil Brown says:

      It would be possible to bike the “inner loop” around the ponds. The “outer loop” contains stretches so overgrown they would be impassable.

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