Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Boreas Ponds biking

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Boreas Ponds biking

    Until the purchase is classified, is it ok to bike to Boreas Ponds?

  • #2
    A couple months ago when a friend & I backpacked in, the DEC website mentioned "public foot traffic only, horses & bikes prohibited". Now it says:
    DEC is in the process of developing interim plans to provide trails, parking lots and waterway access sites for public use in the summer. With this announcement, the public may access and recreate on the lands and waters by non-motorized means only while a full management plan is developed.
    http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/42077.html

    Comment


    • #3
      Ride in while you can before it's locked up!

      Comment


      • #4
        Can Jenny ride her own bicycle or would she have to ride on yours?
        Zach

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Zach View Post
          Can Jenny ride her own bicycle or would she have to ride on yours?
          Zach
          She does her best to try & keep up with me...
          https://youtu.be/f9C2IDHbTnQ

          Comment


          • #6
            I saw no reason why not to bike to Boreas Ponds. Indeed, there was a generic DEC sign at the gate saying biking is permitted on roads everywhere except in wilderness areas. So, off I went. Slight uphill much of the way but nothing difficult. The view at the first pond is, indeed, jaw dropping. But that's the only one.
            It's possible to keep going around the ponds, coming back on the "winter" road, as it is called. Other bikers showed me the way.
            The classification war will start soon. After today, I vote for allowing bikes and cars on the road to the first pond only. It's a long shlep to carry a boat and the ponds are not that extensive. The views from the ponds, however, are extraordinary and the best way to appreciate this exceptional spot. The road is in excellent shape.
            Unlike Essex Chain of Lakes, I see no reason to keep the other roads open to bikes as there are no views or anything of special interest for bikers. Classifying the rest wilderness would be good.

            Comment


            • #7
              Cool report Tmount, thanks for sharing!

              Comment


              • #8
                We saw a total of ten other cyclists...a group of eight that we passed on our way in and their way out. They had camped for a few days near Sandy Brook. Two other guys doing a day trip, same as us. And there was a group of 4 backpacking in for the weekend.

                Those first 2 miles have an elevation gain of nearly 600 ft, with some steep sections. 2nd gate at 3 miles in...why is it even there? Yeah, the views are impressive, really need to go back with a canoe, maybe I can rig my canoe cart into a bike towable trailer. The ride in has very few views, but plenty of shade. Temps were in the 50's, more like a fall day. Didn't have time to poke around the shore much.






                Last edited by stripperguy; 07-03-2016, 08:30 AM.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Nice photos, Stripperguy!

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Is the road flooded or is that cameraman standing on a log or something? The more I look at that photo the more confused I get about what's going on. The photos are beautiful, as always.
                    Zach

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Zach,
                      Thanks for the compliment...sometimes I get lucky!!
                      That part of the road is about half way between the Lebiere Flow views and the bridge at the Boreas Ponds dam. There is a small watercourse next to the road, with a partially collapsed culvert running under the road. The water on the road was maybe 3 inches deep at most. The day before had torrential rains, so I would guess that the spot would dry up in a day or two. The water was still overflowing onto the road when we passed through. It must be a frequent occurrence, you can see in the photo (with hickoryskier, not MDB) a saw horse with flagging to warn of a problem. The road was plenty firm, so even though it was not a problem, it sure looks good in the brochure!

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by tmount View Post
                        I After today, I vote for allowing bikes and cars on the road to the first pond only.
                        If you are referring to Lebiere Flow (just before the little log cabin), I totally agree.
                        Life's short, hunt hard!

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          I'm guessing everyone on this thread has conveniently missed this notice on DEC's website:

                          Boreas Ponds Tract
                          •The State of New York has completed the purchase of the tract. (4/15)
                          •While DEC develops an interim recreation plan, access to the tract will be limited to foot traffic only beyond the closed gate. Motor vehicles, bikes and horses are prohibited. (4/15)
                          •Additionally, the public is prohibited from trespassing in and around the lodge on Boreas Pond and the leased hunting camps. (4/15)
                          It is found on DEC's trail condition page for the High Peaks region.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by **BOREAS** View Post
                            I'm guessing everyone on this thread has conveniently missed this notice on DEC's website:



                            It is found on DEC's trail condition page for the High Peaks region.
                            Boreas,
                            That was back in April.
                            You must have missed the latest update:
                            "May 2016: Governor Cuomo announced that the 20,758-acre purchase of the Boreas Ponds Tract caps acquisition of 69,000 acres of lands from The Nature Conservancy. DEC is in the process of developing interim plans to provide trails, parking lots and waterway access sites for public use in the summer. With this announcement, the public may access and recreate on the lands and waters by non-motorized means only while a full management plan is developed."]May 2016: Governor Cuomo announced that the 20,758-acre purchase of the Boreas Ponds Tract caps acquisition of 69,000 acres of lands from The Nature Conservancy. DEC is in the process of developing interim plans to provide trails, parking lots and waterway access sites for public use in the summer. With this announcement, the public may access and recreate on the lands and waters by non-motorized means only while a full management plan is developed."
                            Here's the updated link:
                            http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/42077.html

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Says nothing about bikes.

                              The notice I posted was originally publicized in April, yes, but the page is updated weekly. Most recently today.

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X