Pharaoh Lake Winter, wait... what?

 My post Xmas trip was planned to be back in the Pharaoh Lakes. There were 4 lean-tos on the main lake that I still need to camp in, the final in the area is an orphan which can be done as a single overnight in the future. As usual I invited others and sent my itinerary to those who might be interested. In years past, TonyO and Justin would join me for a night, Dan & Shannon the entire trip. This time it would be just Shannon and I, with Kalie joining us for the first night. The possibility of TonyO finding us for the final night.

Day 1: Shannon, Kalie and I arrived close to noon at the TH and hiked in the old road to Pharaoh Lake. There was no snow and the trail was a bit muddy with all the recent rains. The week was expected to be rainy for the next few days, with the final night temp dropping low enough to snow. The trail went quickly enough, even with my heavy pack and me not having backpacked much lately. The new bridge needs some steps as it is a big step up and down especially for us shorter folks. Glad the new bridge was installed as the river was quite deep. We sspent the first night at Lean-to #1, spent the most of the afternoon gathering firewood which we knew would be scarce in the area as this is very popular in the summer months. Soon we had a fire and we all relaxed and enjoyed each other's company as well as a few brews (the main reason my pack was so heavy).

Day 2: The day started with a misty rain as expected so we put on our rain gear after a lazy morning. Kalie would be hiking out while Shannon and I would go around the lake to lean-to #5. About halfway there, I took off my rain jacket as it was too warm. Lean-to #5 was one of the double-wide lean-tos on the lake, and would be the third one Shannon and I have shared over the years. The others being Woodhull and Seventh Lake. I will have to do some research to find out if there are any others. Wood was even more scarce on this peninsula but we found enough to have a decent fire. The lake fogged in, and then cleared, then would fog over again. We arrived at the lean-to rather early around 2pm so we had plenty of time to hang out. Was a long afternoon even with spending time gathering wood. Misty rain came in the early evening. this would be typical of each day. Better than the expected rains all day long. We were in bed before hiker midnite. Some "Sleepy Bookshelf" eased us both in a early slumber.

Day 3: We would spend the day exploring all the campsites around the lake as a way to spend more time hiking instead of just sitting at the lean-to. I marked a few nice ones on the map. These would be good for a future canoe trip. Not sure whether it is better to carry in the hornbeck the 4 miles, or hope to find one of the many stashed canoes around the lake. We stopped for lunch at Split Rock lean-to where Dan and I had camped a few years back. We then made our way back around to the eastern shore stopping for a break at wintergreen point and then at lean-to #3. We figured we added a mile or so extra with all of our campsite explorations. I found a large downed piece of maple about 100 yards from the lean-to which I bucked up into 5 large pieces. It was a bit of work not just cutting, but carrying the sections back to camp. At least this would be enough for a very nice warm fire. Again some misty rain came in the early evening and the lake fogged in. The rain subsided enough for us to enjoy the warm fire for a bit. Shannon climbed into bed even earlier than usual. I was not that long after. I had also finished my final beer for the trip. Tomorrow would be a short day, and expected to be the worst weather.

Day 4: Foggy morning. Enough coals in the fire pit I was able to coax it back for a morning fire. With just over a mile to our last campsite, we enjoyed the fire with some coffee. The bad weather so far has not appeared. We were definitely ahead of the game with the forecast for the trip. When we eventually packed up it was close to 10 and we would get to the last lean-to in about half and hour if we walked slow which we did. On our way we stopped at some lookouts over the lake. Across the way at #5 there were two people on the shoreline. We waved and they returned the visual greeting. Secretly I hope it might be Dan and Tony with some extra beer to replenish my now empty pack. Gathering wood here was difficult, I went back to our first lean-to a quarter mile away and brought back some of the wood we had left over from our first night and stowed under the eave to stay dry-ish. Shannon opted for a nap. Someone had cut a large red? pine and left a 16 foot section with an 10inch diameter. With the saw I cut it down to some smaller sections to carry back to camp. This would be the majority of our fuel. It smelled nice while it burned too. The weather really did cooperate the entire trip. Not long after we arrived the misty rain started again. It was off and on all afternoon. A deck of cards left in the lean-to allowed us to play some rummy to pass the time. Another early bed time with the help of the Sleepy Bookshelf.

Day 5: Best night's sleep of the trip for me. Not sure why. When I awoke there was no pitter patter of rain or drippings from the trees as I was accustomed to hearing. When I looked out, I could see why. The rain had turned to snow. A gentle fluttering of snowflakes like someone had recently shook up our snow globe. Some was beginning to cover the ground in the more open areas. All morning the snow would continue although a few times it would be extremely light. As we packed up a solo hiker passed by the lean-to on his way around the lake. We put on our rain gear for the hike out. Glad that it didn;t get cold enough to make the trail and bridges icy. As we approached the parking area a few more hikers were headed in. The lot had even more cars than would account for the people we saw. The ones we missed must have made their way to the western shore before we arrived at the outlet. Was nice putting on some clean clothes at the car for the drive home.

Sheep's Meadow (or Sleep's Meadow) -DeBar Mtn WF

 Solo trip plan with weather looking crappy was to camp at some lean-tos. Original plan was Grass Pond Laan-to in the DeBar Mtn WF. There were a few trucks at the trailhead. At the register, a party of 5 had signed in headed to Grass Pond for 7 days. Apparently a hunting group. I headed that way anyway hoping they either had lean-to space or were just camped at a different site. I noted some footprints in the latent snow headed away from the lean-to and then another set. Figured guys were out hunting different locations. I had on me orange hat, and orange pack cover.

Approaching the lean-to I saw a large tent and carts. My guess as to a hunting group appeared accurate. No one was at the site, and 5 cots were side by side in the lean-to so I called an audible and opted to head to Sheep's Meadow. So far the weather was ok. The mileage on the map and trail signage seems off, or the trail was just easy as I made good time to the lean-to. On my way back I crossed paths with a family day-hiking. One of the hikers had a moose call, I suppose trying to call one in for a look. 

I took the horse trail as it appeared a straight shot than the old road which was likely just a smoother trail. The horse trail was easy to follow and did have some ups & downs but nothing big. I am sure it was a prettier walk than the old roadway. At least that is what I am telling myself. Perhaps I will take it on the way out. Soon after I rejoined the roadway I approached Hay's Brook. Off to the side was an old outhouse. Probably a popular campsite in years past. The bridges over Osgood and Hay's were is very good condition from what I could see.

I was well ahead of schedule approaching Sheep's Meadow. Fist in view was the stable barn to the left. The meadow, as it once was, is now rather overgrown. The temp was in the low 40's and the little bit of snow was dripping off the roof. The areas seems to be mostly conifers but I am sure to be able to scare up a little bit of hardwood for a longer lasting fire.

I made a quick cup of soup for a late lunch, then set up camp in the first lean-to and went to gather wood. I quickly gathered some spruce kindling in case the weather turned. Then I wandered around for a bit finding no hardwood, but pleanty of spruce and hemlock. On the far side of the stable I found a lone piece of maple, a nice large piece which would need to be cut first to transport. Between that and the other smaller bits nearby, I could get by for the nice supplementing with spruce.

I relaxed a bit, and gathered more wood. Grilled some dogs for dinner. The sun would set early and I wanted to eat before it got too dark. Some light snow appeared in the air, not enough to make me wet.

After the sun set, there was still some good light due to the snow reflecting the little that remained. Inside the lean-to was dark of course, the "christmas lights" provided enough to see. I read a bit on my phone, but soon I was in bed.

The temp dropped over night, with it came a dusting of snow. Was in the mid twenties when I awoke with the sun. Slept quite well, as the ten+ hours I was in bed went quickly. While I was well prepared for the cold, I was surprised how unaccustomed I was to these temps. Some soupy oatmeal for breakfast mostly just as a hot sweet drink. Instead of hiking out and driving to a different area for another lean-to, I figured I would stay here and bag the other one. The location was not that special that I would look forward to making another trip here.

So I moved my gear to the other lean-to and spent the day gathering wood. Some more on-off snow dust. While scouting a bit farther away for wood, I spotted some old rotting cherry stumps. Looking around I would find a decent log which could be cut and carried. More exploration I found more dead cherry. between this and spruce I could really get a hot fire going. I set up the largest (and wettest) pieces of cherry as backers and made a small fire with the remnant wood from last night. 

I had also located the stream down the hill behind the stable. Water was quite tannic. Between wood gathering I made some more soup. The day was spent wandering, gathering and cutting wood. Temp was barely above freezing by midday. Thnking it might get even colder in the evening and I had procured a good stash of wood with easy access to spruce at any time, I built up the fire to get a good solid base of cherry coals. 

Did some more reading between wood gathering runs. Found another large cherry which took a number of trips to carry back the pieces. It was wet on the outside so after I cut it to 4 foot lengths it was laid across the fire to dry. Made another early dinner with the possibility of a late one if needed. I had plenty of soup too. As the fire built up a bed of coals the radiant heat was really felt. I wondered if the inside of the lean-to would capture any of it. The temp did rise to 36, but I never moved the thermometer outside of the lean-to.

After sunset, I loaded up the fire with 4 foot logs of cherry and spruce intermixed. The blaze was intense, and the heat radiating from the cherry coals could be felt quite a distance away. I either got sunburned from the reflected uv off the snow, or I slightly cooked my face in the fire. Knowing it was an easy hike out I would forego coffee and just head out when I awoke so I pre-packed most things. I was in bed even earlier this evening. The light from the fire illuminated the lean-to enough that artificial light was not needed. The fire collapsed on itself and re-ignited brightening the lean-to at some point in the night. 

Again I slept well. It was light when I awoke. The temp was 25* but did not feel as cold as yesterday. Body is quick to accustom to the temps? I was packed up and moving just before 7am and was at the car a quarter past 8.