ESTN 2009: Suggested roads and routes

[Oilhed]

I zoomed as far as I could in Streets and Trips and didn't see anything labeled "99". Did you mean 9N? Anyway, is this close to what your route is? A northern loop might a cool option as people may very well have ridden the south/central Dacks before but never got above the Tupper/Saranac/Lake Placid line.

What you have labeled as 26 near Loon Lake is "old 99".  That's it!  Some rough stretches and maybe even a detour or two but it's sweet ADK riding IMHO.

[Sport-Touring]

[chas]

I was on 99 a couple of weeks ago.  The first half around Loon Lake is very nice, twisty's with elevation changes.  The second half is like everyone says not for those afraid of broken pavement and sand.  It is indeed remote.  It ends up in another good area around Owls Head.  Up here there is a story from back in the 30's, of some local justice.  A pedophile was given some local justice.  He was caught by a local, striped naked and let out in the middle of the woods in January.  Since it gets down to 30 below, he didn't appear till the spring thaw.

[chas]

I would suggest for your Vermont ride to go as far as Jeffersonville and do Smugglers Notch.  It goes through a couple of Vermont's best ski areas.  Head back to Burlington and take the ferry to NY. getting back on 9N.  The northern VT, and NY, sections are Bleh.  Your out of the mountains.  The ride of the ferry is very nice and Burlington has a lot to offer.

[garry]

I would suggest for your Vermont ride to go as far as Jeffersonville and do Smugglers Notch.  It goes through a couple of Vermont's best ski areas.  Head back to Burlington and take the ferry to NY. getting back on 9N.  The northern VT, and NY, sections are Bleh.  Your out of the mountains.  The ride of the ferry is very nice and Burlington has a lot to offer.

Thanks for the tip. I will adjust the loop tonight. I also saved 25 miles on the south end by using the Ticonderoga ferry instead of the Crown Point bridge.

[chas]

The Crown Point Bridge is under construction, one lane at a time, some delays.  The Ticonderoga Ferry goes right by the Fort.  You must stop at  Fort Ticonderoga for a look see.  There is a Revolutionary War reenactment that weekend.  The scenery from the Fort looking up and down the lake is impressive.

[R Doug]

Here's my first attempt at a "Vermont Loop" (375 miles).

Via points 2-3 and 16-17 are my two favorites roads in the entire Adirondack / Green Mountain area.  

[garry]

Here's an updated Vermont Loop (321 miles) that skips northern VT and NY as per Chas' suggestion to use the ferry. You can shorten it to 285 (if you want to be a tourist along the way) by just staying on 9N in NY on the way home and skipping the back way to Whiteface...

[chas]

Most excellent trip.  You must have some kind of ESP when it comes to picking out routes.  Between 3 and 4 there is a little bit of possible confusion to navigation due to local signage.  I was thinking of stopping in Placid and seeing how the reservations were going, maybe making one myself.  I'm willing to share a room if someone wants to.  Anything you want me to check out down there?  

[garry]

Most excellent trip.  You must have some kind of ESP when it comes to picking out routes.  Between 3 and 4 there is a little bit of possible confusion to navigation due to local signage.  I was thinking of stopping in Placid and seeing how the reservations were going, maybe making one myself.  I'm willing to share a room if someone wants to.  Anything you want me to check out down there?  

ESTN 2005 was in Stowe, VT and I got there via the Dacks (stayed in Tupper Lake), so I'm not completely unfamiliar with the area. I used to drive to Lake Placid a couple times a summer to hike in the High Peaks (80s).

When you're in Lake Placid, how about documenting what is between town and the hotel. It's a mile from downtown, but I'd like to know what is within an easy walk of the hotel. Figuring out where to buy good beer is a priority. I recall there being a Sunoco gas/conv store that had a fine selection of beers.

Couldn't hurt to take a look at the conference room in the hotel and get a feel for how many people it would hold for a buffet dinner of some sort.

If you're feeling adventurous, explore some of the county roads in the area that look promising and take notes on pavement condition, etc.

BTW, THANKS  FOR HELPING!!!

[garry]

Here are a couple links I scavanged from other threads on riding in the region:

http://www.newenglandriders.org/Great%20Routes%20and%20Rides/Ride%20Information.htm

http://www.newenglandriders.org/Catskills/Catskills%20Rides.htm

http://motorcycle-vermont.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highways_in_Essex_County,_New_York

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_State_Routes_in_New_York

[chas]

Did a little scouting today.  I went to Placid and reserved my room.  They have a small indoor pool with a hot tub, looks good.  I spoke with the front desk clerk and he said that there were 7 rooms available.  The trolley went by as I was standing there.  It goes by once an hour.  There is not much till you get to the main street.  Once there though you have a plethora of choices.  He said that he was willing to put something together in his conference room...pizza's, etc.  he seemed very willing to help.  Didn't look at the room though.  Place seems to be good.  I took some pictures but this old fart can't get them to post.  I tried all your suggestions.  Now if some one wants to send me an e-mail, I can attach them in a reply.  I too frustrated to play around with it.  I went to the "T" road to check out the navigation.  It is a little confusing but "T" road is Essex County Route 6.  You arrive at the end at an intersection in Moriah.  Our return route is County Route 4.  The sign is tough to spot because it is blocked by a building.  Don't go past this set of intersecting roads because this is where 4 starts.  The great news is 4 is just a good as the "T" road.  They are posted for 35 with continuous twistys for nearly 30 miles.  No tar snakes or frost heaves, no sand.  They are tight and narrow, you dump it and there is a pine tree waiting to embrace you.  Cell phone services are limited and there are no services.  Please, no one get hurt here, nearest hospital is 60 miles away.

[garry]

Did a little scouting today.  I went to Placid and reserved my room.  They have a small indoor pool with a hot tub, looks good.  I spoke with the front desk clerk and he said that there were 7 rooms available.  The trolley went by as I was standing there.  It goes by once an hour.  There is not much till you get to the main street.  Once there though you have a plethora of choices.  He said that he was willing to put something together in his conference room...pizza's, etc.  he seemed very willing to help.  Didn't look at the room though.  Place seems to be good.  I took some pictures but this old fart can't get them to post.  I tried all your suggestions.  Now if some one wants to send me an e-mail, I can attach them in a reply.  I too frustrated to play around with it.  I went to the "T" road to check out the navigation.  It is a little confusing but "T" road is Essex County Route 6.  You arrive at the end at an intersection in Moriah.  Our return route is County Route 4.  The sign is tough to spot because it is blocked by a building.  Don't go past this set of intersecting roads because this is where 4 starts.  The great news is 4 is just a good as the "T" road.  They are posted for 35 with continuous twistys for nearly 30 miles.  No tar snakes or frost heaves, no sand.  They are tight and narrow, you dump it and there is a pine tree waiting to embrace you.  Cell phone services are limited and there are no services.  Please, no one get hurt here, nearest hospital is 60 miles away.

So the desk clerk said that only 7 of our 30 rooms are left? That would mean that something like 16 people have reserved room in the last week. Cool.

Thanks for the scouting trip and info. I know CR-4 is good and twisty, just didn't know how the pavement was holding up.

[garry]

I'm tweaking the "Vermont Loop". So far I've added an "out and back" on Bethel Mountain Rd (adds 20 miles total).

My question regards an alternate way from Cambridge to Burlington. The original route just follows route 15. But what about a less traveled route such as:

Pleasant Valley / River Rd
Short hop south on 15
Browns Trace/Jericho Rd
then slab into Burlington (10 miles) on I-89

Any Vermont locals care to comment on those roads?

Also, this route includes two ferry rides. Any words of wisdom on how much time to allow for waiting and the ride itself?

[danham]

Lots of ferry info here, including the very nice bike discount:

http://www.ferries.com/central_schedule.asp

It's a great scenic boat ride, but the road over the Hero islands is pretty fun too.

-dan

[NHFZ1]

Here a some route suggestions:

To bypass downtown Stowe try Moscow, Barrows and Luce Hill Roads roads.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=VT-100%2FWaterbury+Rd&daddr=44.455227,-72.727261+to:Mountain+Rd%2FVT-108&geocode=FSYJpgIdjIKq-w%3B%3BFZSfpgIdmHGq-w&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=13&via=1&sll=44.451551,-72.72563&sspn=0.066784,0.132351&ie=UTF8&z=13

Rt 100B is only about 8 miles but is twisty.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Rte-100+S%2FVT-100%2FVT+Route+100+S&daddr=44.28257,-72.736359+to:Rte-100%2FVT-100%2FVT+Route+100&geocode=Fd4NowIdGImp-w%3B%3BFQJcpAIdEv2p-w&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=13&via=1&sll=44.28085,-72.719193&sspn=0.066979,0.132351&ie=UTF8&z=13

Coming from Lake Placid you might consider this route.  9N can be pretty fast but is sometimes patrolled.  I personally like CR7/Lincoln Pond Road south from Elisabethtown.  Twisty elevation changes and some new pavement.  I am reading in some of the local forums that CR6/Tracy road is being patrolled on the weekends.  After CR4/Ensign Pond Road try CR7 and CR2 to Rt74.  I took some people through there earlier this spring and everyone was very pleased.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=NY-73%2FNYS+Route+73&daddr=County+Rte-7%2FLincoln+Pond+Rd+to:County+Rte-7%2FLincoln+Pond+Rd+to:County+Rte-6%2FTracy+Rd+to:County+Rte-4%2FEnsign+Pond+Rd+to:44.059589,-73.509178+to:County+Rte-2%2FCreek+Rd+to:County+Rte-2%2FCreek+Rd+to:Fort+Ti+Rd%2FNY-74&geocode=FbLzogIdXiqa-w%3BFcwgogIdajmd-w%3BFUAooQIdR4Sd-w%3BFTKKoAIdSi2c-w%3BFZn4nwIdNFWd-w%3B%3BFdyMngIdjKme-w%3BFbY_ngIdOA-e-w%3BFaQonQIdkjWg-w&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=5&sz=14&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7&sll=44.048301,-73.52437&sspn=0.033622,0.066175&ie=UTF8&ll=44.207927,-73.600416&spn=0.033531,0.098877&t=p&z=14

Between way points 8 and 9 looks like Old Sawmill Road.  I am pretty sure that it is dirt so, you may go a little farther east on Rt73 before you pick up Rt30.

Between way points 22 and 23 I would suggest going north on Silver Lake Road to connect with Rt3 rather than west on Union Falls and Alder Brook roads.  Silver Lake has pavement that is maybe 2 years old and a nice ride.  I was on Union Falls and Alder Brook roads in mid to late May and they were dirty and bumpy.  Then again it was mid May and they may be better now.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=County+Rte-4%2FUnion+Falls+Rd&daddr=44.595968,-73.850956+to:Unknown+road&geocode=FZ5OpwId-u6Y-w%3B%3BFU2NpwIdh0GX-w&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=13&via=1&sll=44.575429,-73.902969&sspn=0.066642,0.132351&ie=UTF8&ll=44.556962,-73.87207&spn=0.133326,0.395508&z=12

As far as Pleasant Valley/River roads and Browns Trace/Jericho roads, I was on them last year sometime and don't remember them as being bad or good.  So I suppose that means they were OK.

Now I just need to figure a way to make ESTN so I can ride with you guys.

Chuck

[chas]

I just got back from my second scouting trip. Starting from Malone, took 30 to Long Lake.  Nice Adirondack scenery, but a bit of a cruiser road.  If you need to make time coming up from the south it's fast, take 3 then to Placid.  Be advised that there is a trooper barracks in Tupper and he only has three roads to patrol.  He snagged one today.  Route 28N to Newcomb is bumpy, suspension settings to plush.  Newcomb to North Hudson on Essex 75 is back to the twistys with elevation changes.  Recommended.  North Hudson, south on 9,  (just below CR4), is very good, new pavement and a very pleasant ride.  Route 74 starts off wide but as you climb the mountain it narrows and turns back into a real Adirondack road.  74 crosses what I think is the prettiest lake in the Park,  Eagle Lake.  Coming off the mountain there is a terrific vista of the Lake and the Green Mountains.  Kind of reminds of the Blue Ridge, they were blue in the distance not green.  Turned north on 22 at Ticonderoga.  The Adirondacks hugs you on the left, the Lake is just to you right and the Vermont Mountains in the distance to your right.  This is a very beautiful area.  I found route 7, Lincoln Pond road and like the last guy says..   Best run from east to west.  9N takes you back in the high peaks, with a great view to be had.  Traffic is very light.

[DmCole]

did a trip through some of these roads on the first of the week, bloomingdale-Wilmington(don't know CR #-River Road) has some construction, also rt 17 in vermont is very rough/broken in sections.
Most others appeared to be in good shape.

[chas]

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[chas]

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