Walking the trail to Moose Pond. (Provided photo — Diane Chase)

Good grief. I need to back away from the Christmas cookies. That is the mental conversation I have with my snow pants. The devil on my shoulder reminds me that I worked too hard to make the cookies and the sooner I eat them, the sooner they will be gone. Though my mental tug-o-war with sugary treats is a brief battle, I can always justify my overconsumption with some outdoor activity. This time, it’s a quick walk to Moose Pond.

The trail begins between two fields on state Route 3, between Saranac Lake and Bloomingdale. In the summer, there is the capability to park at the canoe access at the Saranac River bridge, but during winter, the seasonal access isn’t plowed. I park at the pullover on Rt. 3. My daughter and I debate whether microspikes or snowshoes are the most appropriate footwear. The microspikes win the battle. (The weather and snowfall change daily, so skis or snowshoes may be best in a few days.) We walk the additional 300 yards to the bridge. The snow is a bit sticky as we cross the Saranac River, sign the register on the other side and follow the trail.

The 1.5-mile trail to Moose Pond is generally flat with a few rolling hills. A few snow-covered boot prints mark the path, but not enough snow to ski. My daughter points out that we are the first to sign the register for the day. We stick to the left side of the trail just in case the snow coverage increases and someone is able to ski. We cross a few frozen streams and marshy areas where the snow cover is sparse. At 1.2 miles, we reach an unmarked junction and follow the trail to the right to reach the southern shore of Moose Pond in another 0.3 miles. The rocks are icy and the pond is not frozen, so we carefully maneuver around the boulders flanking the shore. We stop to enjoy the view of Moose and Whiteface Mountains and temporarily forget about any holiday stress or guilt related to overindulgence.

To access the Moose Pond trail from Saranac Lake, drive four miles north on Bloomingdale Road. Or from the Bloomingdale four corners, drive 2.5 miles south of state Route 3 (0.8-mile from the school bus garage.) The roadside pullover and unmarked entrance are on the east side of the road. If we were to count the hike in cookies, and why wouldn’t we, it’s easily a two-cookie walk. However you celebrate holidays, I wish you peace and safety.