No, we didn't go to Drunken Charlies Lake, this was just the closest description to where we ended up. I intended to take the family to Swans Mill Pond but too many unmasked hikers put the wife's kibosh on that adventure. Instead we went a bit further down the road and had lunch at Stossel Creek Pond; then walked the road a ways that takes you to Drunken Charlies. Any day outside...
Type of Hike
Day hikeTrail Conditions
Trail in good conditionRoad
Road rough but passableBugs
No bugsSnow
Snow free
Comments
mato on Marckworth Forest
Well, you didn't miss much. Probably people there too...
Bad year to try to find some solitude outdoors. Seems like with nothing else to do, EVERYONE hit the trails this year. Nothing wrong with that, I suppose; but I'm finding I have to share some walks now where I never used to see anyone before.
Posted by:
mato on Jan 10, 2021 07:57 PM
Ups n Downs on Marckworth Forest
I tried an old logging road off Hwy 18 on Saturday and there was three cars there. I'm seeing a lot of trash and human waste which is sad. Hard to figure out where to try next.
Posted by:
Ups n Downs on Jan 11, 2021 08:02 AM
goingdowngametrails on Marckworth Forest
Might I suggest the logging roads off of monroe log camp rd just past the old T-H barn? They go up to explorer falls and you can continue in many ways (notable route is cross country up the ridge right before crossing the top of the falls cr) or continue the logging roads around and to the top. Or echo lake in the back which has a fabled dock for fishing.
Posted by:
goingdowngametrails on Jan 15, 2021 06:48 PM
Ups n Downs on Marckworth Forest
I appreciate the suggestions and enjoy your reports. I took the baby years ago to the falls but never beyond so I've added it to my list.
Posted by:
Ups n Downs on Jan 17, 2021 08:05 AM
goingdowngametrails on Marckworth Forest
I'd like to see a trip report or pics of this. It looks to have been logged a few years back. Bring a trash bag!
PS: there's a shortcut, right before going across the creek at the top of explorer falls, forge uphill on the ridge to a scenic west facing clearcut that connects to the logging road system on the top to make a big loop that includes echo lake.
Posted by:
goingdowngametrails on Feb 21, 2021 01:39 PM
goingdowngametrails on Marckworth Forest
PPS: there is also the trail from above the falls that leads to the decrepit shelter/sekrit firepit nearby but that logging road system is much more encroached by brush and the other ridge connects to the new "mainline" much faster
Posted by:
goingdowngametrails on Feb 21, 2021 01:52 PM
Ups n Downs on Marckworth Forest
Great intel. Another reporter I follow going by the handle of Mato filed a report about his trip to Echo Lake in the last year. Pull his page up and have a look. Happy trails!
Posted by:
Ups n Downs on Feb 22, 2021 02:58 PM
mato on Marckworth Forest
I went back and deleted a lot of my old reports, and I think I got a bit overzealous and did more of them than I needed to, Echo Lake included. Left up the pics, and went back and added a sentence or two on some of them to give them some context. I am trying to be more careful nowadays about seeming to encourage people to go check it out; and instead just offer up suggestions of places to go exploring. Figure it out yourself type of thing. That's why it surprised me that my Heather/Triple Creek report drew so much attention.
So! I have decided to wait a week or two to file a report, and just backdate it. That way it stays off the front page. (I will probably do last weekend's trip to Lost Lake next Monday.) So for you two, you'll have to scroll back a ways, or go to my page to see what's up. The reason for this change can be found in the comments in a report for Heybrook Lookout by JimK. (12/29/2020)
As always, I love comments and have no problem elaborating on a report if someone asks. In fact, I would rather have a comment than a "like"!
Posted by:
mato on Feb 22, 2021 04:24 PM