Write-up: Bobbie Scarpino
Leader: Bobbie Scarpino
Co-Leader: Mike Huss

Lots of snow and perfect winter temperatures greeted 30 members as we filled the main lodge and both prayer cabins for our 7th annual winter weekend at Camp Fowler in Speculator on Friday afternoon, February 16. For almost half of our group it was their first experience for this favorite Tramp adventure.

Upon settling in and making up beds, we gathered as usual in front of the fireplace in the Great Room for our cocktail hour before dinner. A walk in the dark on the premises helped to digest the pasta meal we had all enjoyed. It was necessary to wear microspikes because the roads around the camp were sheer ice. Rowdy pitch games and ping-pong matches followed until retiring for bed.

One particular Tramp found his bed mysteriously missing upon return from playing ping-pong in the basement. Perhaps his roommate had decided he was not worthy of sharing a room? Luckily for this Tramp, Mike intervened to have the mischief makers keep the bed inside the lodge rather than outside in the snow. However, before the bed was retrieved by the unfortunate fellow, 4 ladies enjoyed the comfort of his bed in the Great Room.

After breakfast Saturday morning with the sun shining, it was decided to snowshoe/microspike Sacandaga Lake. Since the lake was rutted and crusty, skiing didn’t seem to be feasible.
Emil was not one to be discouraged. Donning his skis and staying close to the shoreline in a snowmobile track, he glided along with ease and had a wonderful time. Many on snowshoes explored the camp across the lake and continued on to the other side where they found a beautiful picnic area.

Meeting the interests and needs of many people, we broke up into a few groups after lunch to go to different places. Bobbie had scoped out the Dunning Pond Trail on Friday, with Jorden, our cook, who knew the area, along with Carolyn, and Diana who broke trail the whole way in deep snow.

This trail goes from Gilmantown Rd. in Wells over to Rt. 30 and has not been used since a blow down in the late 90’s. Six Tramps went back to this area with Bobbie Saturday afternoon to snowshoe a little over 1.5 miles into the pond, with a short bushwhack down to the pond for a round trip of almost 4 miles. Many decided to snowshoe the trails at Oak Mountain to the top of the downhill ski slope taking in awesome views on the way back down. Still others followed Emil’s earlier route on the lake with skis. When we all returned from our outdoor activities, a delicious pork roast dinner awaited us.

Madonna and Don gathered up a few others in Mapledale to join us for a ski along the Kunjamuk on Sunday. We were grateful for the few inches of snow that had fallen during the night to make for great skiing conditions on the trail. But more snow had fallen southwest of Speculator to cause hazardous driving conditions and a longer than normal drive up. A decision was made to send small groups off on the trail as they arrived to ski/snowshoe.

Of course this meant that people returned and left for home at different times. One Tramp in one of the last groups off the trail, saw the car she had ridden in to the trailhead leaving the parking area. She had come with a few others before the hike to skate in Speculator’s outdoor rink, leaving her purse in the car (with phone and car keys tucked safely inside). She reminded one of her companions (the same one who had his bed stolen) that she would retrieve it at the end of the hike to ride back home with others in the group . . . but he forgot! We tried calling their cell phones, but they were turned off. Numerous calls were made to her cell phone in her purse . . . but they were never heard! Alas, this small party of three had to track the culprit back to his house to collect the purse! (He got what he deserved the next day with a beating over the head with a wet noodle.)

Many of our group enjoyed a beverage and dinner at the Oxbow Inn to end another wonderful Tramp weekend in Speculator. Join us again next year, same time, same place!