Oxshoe Pond, NY

It has been a while since I've had a good trip in, so I'm glad to report on a camping excursion 12 of us took to Pharoah Wilderness Area. The trails are well maintained and marked, as well as being of different lengths and difficulty levels. In short, this backcountry camping destination is perfect for all backpacking needs.

Of the many lakes and ponds to chose from in the area, we chose the closest location with a lean-to at Oxshoe pond. From the trailhead, this was just over a mile hike in. It is mostly a wide, even trail. As I was to arrive at night, with backpacking/camping virgins, I chose this easy locale. If you have a truck or a all-wheel-drive vehicle, you can drive right up to the trailhead to park. Otherwise, from where I've marked "parking" on the map, its approximately a mile. The road is full of pot holes, rocks and at the very end (we parked before this point, since we only had 4-wheel-drive cars, not SUVs) there is a flooded area that is about 2 ft. deep.

Driving up from NYC, took around 4 hours on Friday evening. We knew we'd be hiking at night, so we prepared for it with the proper lighting equipment. The trail changed from a red blaze to a blue blaze about half way in. We missed the turn towards the lean-to area, but were alerted to this mishap with the changing of the blaze to yellows and back-tracked. When we got there, the novices were unaware of the beauty that surrounded them. The four gentlemen who had come in that morning to secure the lean-to for our party were waiting on us.

When they woke up to find the pond just steps from the lean-to, they were happy that the "hardships" they endured were well worth the rewards. Those that didn't fit in the wooden structure pitched tents in the surrounding areas. The fire ring is well weathered and sturdy. There are different level ground areas along the way to accommodate other campers.

Just across the pond from the camp site is a rock ledge that is deep enough for a safe jump, but low enough to get people to actually do it. There are signs for fishing permits being required. We had them and the poles, but didn't catch anything, despite their taunting jumps mid-water. We did see some fun wildlife, including an enormous alligator snapper in the water.


During the day, a small delegation from our group took it upon themselves to summit Mt. Pharoah. I opted for the sit by the water and pretend to fish with a glass of bourbon choice for the day. Grueling through a steep upward climb, sometimes having to use their hands, those that finally peaked over the Wilderness area were rewarded with a grand view of their surroundings. Luckily, I'd done it before and got to be reminded with pictures.