kwc
Member
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2016
- Messages
- 947
Last week we took a hike (5.3 miles r/t) on a snowmobile trail on the eastern side of the Sacandaga River ... this follows an old road that once connected Speculator with the town of Griffin. Griffin no longer exists having been abandoned in the 1930s when the tannery folded.
Griffin Gorge
![1586981030589.png 1586981030589.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/88/88106-2a6f1d3f77905e451a5dd264b524e893.jpg)
![1586981070953.png 1586981070953.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/88/88107-2db5bda2b50506200f9c50bdb67b61b2.jpg)
![1586981091454.png 1586981091454.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/88/88108-9262463b167268a86eba911a5a516898.jpg)
We encountered a few patches of ice/snow as we got further into the hemlocks
![1586981123300.png 1586981123300.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/88/88109-2d4ed3688ab9e30c32fa81fbb5ebfa5a.jpg)
The trail eventually reaches and follows the Sacandaga River. Downstream (to the left) of this photo is Auger Falls, where the river plunges through a narrow gorge. It is very difficult to access the falls safely from this side of the river.
![1586981189964.png 1586981189964.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/88/88110-b08bd846a4ccfd97bbe7e4cdd0b1da02.jpg)
![1586981307437.png 1586981307437.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/88/88111-ecb0996a3fc1147be4a75a920df6c8f9.jpg)
A small waterfall we noticed off the trail
![1586981344183.png 1586981344183.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/88/88112-58d575e034aab2b2c572fe51c8a288ab.jpg)
The power of water ... there were heavy rains up this way early in the winter and this snowmobile bridge was moved completely off the trail.
![1586981392263.png 1586981392263.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/88/88113-4c8cf71bb3d081b57d6020ed8dfa3ddd.jpg)
Here's another bridge, definitely a more substantial bridge, that was moved several feet by the rushing water. The bridge used to meet the other side below the red/orange fencing (the fencing was put there by the DEC to help prevent the snowmobilers from nosediving into the creek.
![1586981420308.png 1586981420308.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/88/88114-848c1123bd0fdeecf74ab2892c292b64.jpg)
![1586981670017.png 1586981670017.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/88/88115-72f4fab2eafefe6aa8282717809bc8e5.jpg)
Glacial erratic off in the woods beside the trail ... this was the largest of the erratics that we saw
![1586981701335.png 1586981701335.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/88/88116-ac8f84c16fa30ebc982d83542fb409ab.jpg)
Griffin Gorge
![1586981030589.png 1586981030589.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/88/88106-2a6f1d3f77905e451a5dd264b524e893.jpg)
![1586981070953.png 1586981070953.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/88/88107-2db5bda2b50506200f9c50bdb67b61b2.jpg)
![1586981091454.png 1586981091454.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/88/88108-9262463b167268a86eba911a5a516898.jpg)
We encountered a few patches of ice/snow as we got further into the hemlocks
![1586981123300.png 1586981123300.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/88/88109-2d4ed3688ab9e30c32fa81fbb5ebfa5a.jpg)
The trail eventually reaches and follows the Sacandaga River. Downstream (to the left) of this photo is Auger Falls, where the river plunges through a narrow gorge. It is very difficult to access the falls safely from this side of the river.
![1586981189964.png 1586981189964.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/88/88110-b08bd846a4ccfd97bbe7e4cdd0b1da02.jpg)
![1586981307437.png 1586981307437.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/88/88111-ecb0996a3fc1147be4a75a920df6c8f9.jpg)
A small waterfall we noticed off the trail
![1586981344183.png 1586981344183.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/88/88112-58d575e034aab2b2c572fe51c8a288ab.jpg)
The power of water ... there were heavy rains up this way early in the winter and this snowmobile bridge was moved completely off the trail.
![1586981392263.png 1586981392263.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/88/88113-4c8cf71bb3d081b57d6020ed8dfa3ddd.jpg)
Here's another bridge, definitely a more substantial bridge, that was moved several feet by the rushing water. The bridge used to meet the other side below the red/orange fencing (the fencing was put there by the DEC to help prevent the snowmobilers from nosediving into the creek.
![1586981420308.png 1586981420308.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/88/88114-848c1123bd0fdeecf74ab2892c292b64.jpg)
![1586981670017.png 1586981670017.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/88/88115-72f4fab2eafefe6aa8282717809bc8e5.jpg)
Glacial erratic off in the woods beside the trail ... this was the largest of the erratics that we saw
![1586981701335.png 1586981701335.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/88/88116-ac8f84c16fa30ebc982d83542fb409ab.jpg)