Adirondack Sports June 2024

JUNE 2024 11
HIKING & BACKPACKING continued from 9
that only the trucks can reach. There is a campsite and
canoe launch nearby, but the views of Crane are limited
without venturing farther out along the shore.
Look for the hiking trail that leads south from the
parking area, crossing the pond’s outlet on a substantial
footbridge. This, too, was once a road, but its quality is
worlds apart from what you’ve just experienced. The trail
gradually climbs through hemlock-rich forests to a junction
at 2.6 miles (0.7 from Crane Pond) where the hiking
trail to Pharaoh Mountain bears right. A few minutes later,
at three miles, you reach the turnoff for Oxshoe Pond at a
scenic junction beside Glidden Marsh.
The pond-like north end of Glidden Marsh is one of
the joys of this adventure. The trail hugs the shoreline and
provides several photographic vantages. A brief interlude
through the woods brings you to the south end of the
marsh, which is indeed more wetland than pond – but
still scenic, nonetheless.
After crossing the outlet of Crab Pond, the trail climbs
to yet another trail junction at 3.7 miles; a left turn here
would lead to Crab Pond. Trail signs refer to this spot as
“Hay Marsh Junction,” after a wetland that lies off-trail
to the northeast. The trail to Pharaoh Lake continues
straight ahead.
By this point the trail has already shed its road-based
origins and narrowed into a rugged foot tread, but what
follows is the remotest section of the route. The distance
between Hay Marsh and Pharaoh Lake is only 1.6 miles,
but it will seem substantially longer. From an elevation of
about 1,200 feet, the trail gradually climbs to 1,460 feet as
it keeps to high ground above a chain of wetlands occupying
a notch between Pharaoh and Treadway Mountains. A
zigzag between two of the wetlands leads to a short level
section, and then comes the 0.3-mile, 300-foot plunge
down to Pharaoh Lake’s northwest corner.
At 5.3 miles, you reach a junction with the loop trail
that encircles the lake. There are three designated campsites
in this vicinity, including one tiny “solo” campsite to
the left and two more substantial sites to the right, each at
the tip of its own small peninsula. Be sure to look for the
yellow markers leading off the main route to each of these
campsites, which all boast fine views of this large lake. If a
lean-to is more your style, the nearest option is found on
the far side of Split Rock Bay; upon reaching the aroundthe-lake
trail, bear left and continue for an additional 0.5-
mile to the prominent shelter.
The drawback to this route is that when the time comes
to pull up your tent stakes and return to Crane Pond Road,
your day will begin with that 0.3-mile, 300-foot climb back
into the notch, with almost no preliminary. But then the
long descent toward Hay Marsh and Glidden Marsh will
improve your outlook, and the final 1.9 miles along the
abandoned road will breeze right by.
Bill Ingersoll is a cofounder and vice-chair of Adirondack
Wilderness Advocates: adirondackwilderness.org.
He is the author of the recently published guidebook,
Wilderness Camping in the Adirondacks: 25 Backpacking
and Canoeing Overnight Adventures, which features
relatively easy outings, and you can buy it from a local
outfitter, bookstore and online.
◀ GLIDDEN MARSH.
BILL INGERSOLL
▲ SPLIT ROCK BAY.
BILL INGERSOLL