kwc
Member
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2016
- Messages
- 947
We hiked the Botheration Pond Loop trails today in the Siamese Ponds Wilderness. Temps in the low 60s, some breezes, mix of sun and clouds, and the bugs weren't too bad overall.
Early trail
![1591582418104.png 1591582418104.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89211-e6872db45fd85c390c5503365b97b3ae.jpg)
some pretty tall trees along the trail
![1591582449238.png 1591582449238.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89212-5e0c3e105e7ea4e34848a7669f563598.jpg)
the trail as we approached Old Farm Clearing ... this was the road to a farm that was abandoned in the 1920s
![1591582483496.png 1591582483496.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89213-db9c128b6b8ceff8ac6a3a8c277ffaa4.jpg)
East Branch of the Sacandaga River - we had to rock hop across as the bridge was long gone
![1591582543071.png 1591582543071.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89214-cb5ee0ddb70d56ec57fcd5f8eda94a88.jpg)
Here's what's left of the bridge over the East Branch ...
![1591582588376.png 1591582588376.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89215-d46de45e04d40e4937ed035a21335c14.jpg)
Another bridge further down the trail as we crossed back over the East Branch ... this bridge has seen better days for sure!
![1591582630181.png 1591582630181.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89216-c35add4d0fe975bb6a64bfb5bbec9085.jpg)
view upstream from the bridge
![1591582691265.png 1591582691265.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89217-0969b522b8543dad16a94be855b719ec.jpg)
further upstream the beavers have dammed the river in a couple spots and created a vly
![1591582731006.png 1591582731006.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89218-8acac108b0d33c8ac75d1b18daa6852d.jpg)
Loon on Botheration Pond
![1591582785879.png 1591582785879.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89219-b70972d98b35935c5f1ff39a19782550.jpg)
This was probably once a flooded beaver pond that has mostly drained out now ... the trail skirts around the edge of this
![1591582816773.png 1591582816773.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89220-d03b3dad4e1a465d061ddcdf050f7c79.jpg)
Another vly further along the trail ... it's all wetland in the grasses & the bullfrogs were very vocal here
![1591582880509.png 1591582880509.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89221-c4ee1665a96d1240a255e3ac8312cba2.jpg)
looking back to the vly as we traveled down the trail
![1591582946734.png 1591582946734.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89222-f501dd5cec0c97871598cb10a974c324.jpg)
William Blake Pond ... note the large beaver lodge in the middle of the pond
![1591582989779.png 1591582989779.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89223-3bcaf9b4fe8f495c147682024418cbeb.jpg)
Although the early trail photos portray a nice trail, once we turned off the trail to Old Farm Clearing and headed towards the ponds the trail changed considerably. It was apparent that this trail wasn't highly used. We didn't see any other people until we were almost out to the trailhead where we met two small groups of hikers.
Early trail
![1591582418104.png 1591582418104.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89211-e6872db45fd85c390c5503365b97b3ae.jpg)
some pretty tall trees along the trail
![1591582449238.png 1591582449238.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89212-5e0c3e105e7ea4e34848a7669f563598.jpg)
the trail as we approached Old Farm Clearing ... this was the road to a farm that was abandoned in the 1920s
![1591582483496.png 1591582483496.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89213-db9c128b6b8ceff8ac6a3a8c277ffaa4.jpg)
East Branch of the Sacandaga River - we had to rock hop across as the bridge was long gone
![1591582543071.png 1591582543071.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89214-cb5ee0ddb70d56ec57fcd5f8eda94a88.jpg)
Here's what's left of the bridge over the East Branch ...
![1591582588376.png 1591582588376.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89215-d46de45e04d40e4937ed035a21335c14.jpg)
Another bridge further down the trail as we crossed back over the East Branch ... this bridge has seen better days for sure!
![1591582630181.png 1591582630181.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89216-c35add4d0fe975bb6a64bfb5bbec9085.jpg)
view upstream from the bridge
![1591582691265.png 1591582691265.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89217-0969b522b8543dad16a94be855b719ec.jpg)
further upstream the beavers have dammed the river in a couple spots and created a vly
![1591582731006.png 1591582731006.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89218-8acac108b0d33c8ac75d1b18daa6852d.jpg)
Loon on Botheration Pond
![1591582785879.png 1591582785879.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89219-b70972d98b35935c5f1ff39a19782550.jpg)
This was probably once a flooded beaver pond that has mostly drained out now ... the trail skirts around the edge of this
![1591582816773.png 1591582816773.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89220-d03b3dad4e1a465d061ddcdf050f7c79.jpg)
Another vly further along the trail ... it's all wetland in the grasses & the bullfrogs were very vocal here
![1591582880509.png 1591582880509.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89221-c4ee1665a96d1240a255e3ac8312cba2.jpg)
looking back to the vly as we traveled down the trail
![1591582946734.png 1591582946734.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89222-f501dd5cec0c97871598cb10a974c324.jpg)
William Blake Pond ... note the large beaver lodge in the middle of the pond
![1591582989779.png 1591582989779.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/89/89223-3bcaf9b4fe8f495c147682024418cbeb.jpg)
Although the early trail photos portray a nice trail, once we turned off the trail to Old Farm Clearing and headed towards the ponds the trail changed considerably. It was apparent that this trail wasn't highly used. We didn't see any other people until we were almost out to the trailhead where we met two small groups of hikers.