Cross-Country Ski/Snowshoe Trip
Camp Gorham, Eagle Bay, N.Y. - January 13-15, 2006

This trip is a cross-country ski tradition at Huggers, and has been run almost every year since 1993. Camp Gorham is located on Big Moose Rd, off Eagle Bay in the Adirondacks. This place is one of the self-appointed winter capitals of New York and has been quite reliable for snow. But as we leave home, it seems like a joke. The weather is sunny and warm (in the high 50s), with nary a drop of snow to be seen. By the time we hit Rome, there are small patches of snow, but no continuous coverage, and by the time we enter the Adirondack Park, it seems possible we could ski.

Friday night is crockpot night in the cabin. Saturday: Carol Z. almost continues the Huggers tradition of cabin burning, this time using a toaster as the source of ignition. We survive, with only a little noise from the smoke detector. It is raining slightly, with copious fog, but our intrepid group of 16 does a good hike along the outlet of the Big Moose River and Darts Lake. During the afternoon a cold front blows in and the temperature plummets. Joyce and I venture out on skis to Cascade Lake in the late afternoon and find easy gliding on a frozen trail, with a few holes from water runoff. Less daring participants shopped, played games, or explored the Old Forge area.

Saturday night we have an excellent dinner in the cabin, courtesy of our trip leader Jean. Birthday Boy Steve R. provides the entertainment with a truly hilarious demo of Carol’s fabulous birthday gift of ‘fake booxxx’ (too gross to really mention).

Sunday: Overnight the temperature dropped into the negative Fahrenheit region, but many folks (Bruce, Jon, Kathy and Steve, Joyce and Richard, Jean and Trudy still ski part of the Moss Lake trail over to Sis Lake. On the way back, we vow to sometime camp on the shores of lovely Moss Lake, in better weather, of course. The splinter group (Dave & Alice, Bob & Kathy) do snow shoeing. After another birthday celebration, this time for Richard, we pack up in the cold and head back home. Another great winter cabin party, all would agree.
- Richard H.

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Last modified: February 10, 2006