Northeast Wild

By mid-October, fall foliage season has moved out of the Adirondacks and has headed south. I often follow the colors and explore wild areas in downstate New York, as well as in neighboring states. I have fond memories of hiking in the Catskills and Shawangunks, backpacking the Appalachian Trail in Connecticut, kayaking Cape Cod, and canoeing the rivers of the Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey. However, October and November hiking and paddling trips within the Adirondack Park and surrounding area still remain in the mix. It is nice to enjoy the wilds without the irritation of mosquitoes, black flies, and other biting insects. Also, popular destinations are minus the crowds of summertime and early fall, so I can enjoy them peacefully. The colors are more subtle – the gold of tamarack trees (a conifer that drops its leaves for winter), the heathery tones of the mountainsides, the greens of spruce and balsam up high, and quite possibly, the whiteness of snow on top. Fall is a great...

HOW TO BE A GOOD CAMPER - a new series from Nehasane. #1 - Do not leave foil, cans & other metals in the fire pit. Carry out all trash. Metals don't burn. Empty containers are a lot lighter than the full ones you carried in. NYSDEC Regulations . #2 - Do not burn plastics in the campfire - this releases cancer-causing dioxins & other nasty stuff - carry it out. Note that many "paper" food wrappers like oatmeal packets are lined with plastic. More info. https://grist.org/…/whats-worse-burning-plastic-or-sending…/ ... http://www.ejnet.org/dioxin/ #3 - Use dead and downed wood for your campfire - do not cut or strip standing trees, dead or alive - it's not good for the trees & looks unnatural, wherever there are paper birch trees you can find bark on the ground for starting fires. #4 - Be Considerate of Other Visitors. Most visitors to wild places go for the quiet & peacefulness - it is not a place for fireworks, gun practice, drones, et...

May 23-25, 2023 (Tue-Thu) The trip started on a high note. As we were driving in on the dirt section of Cedar River Rd we saw a moose in the road - unfortunately, it ran into the woods before I could get a pic. The plan was to car camp for 2 nights at a primitive (picnic table, fire pit, & outhouses) site near Wakely Dam & get in some paddling & possibly some hiking.                                                              Day 1 - After setting up camp, we paddled out onto the flow & headed S staying near the E shore. Passed 1 loon. Paddled up Buell Brook & turned around at a small beaver dam. Continued S - the usual grasses had not grown in yet so it was easy to locate where the river comes in. Soon came a beaver dam - there was an opening on the L but the current + a bit of a lift necessitated a short car...