OSGOOD RIVER & OSGOOD POND paddling, camping


July 14, 2022 (Thu) - OSGOOD RIVER & BLIND BROOK from CHURCH POND.  It had rained all night but stopped at 6:30 am - a red squirrel darted about the campsite, some no-see-ums.  2 folks working on freestyle canoeing on CP.  Short narrow canal to Little Osgood Pond, longer shallow canal to Osgood Pond, some development.  Passed White Pine Camp, Coolidge's summer White House, which curiously has RED pines around it.  Wild OR goes for 3 miles before dropping over rocks - lots of fragrant white water lilies, pickerelweed, reeds.  Shores of tamarack, black spruce, & balsam fir.  Side-trip up BB, over 2 beaver dams, very wilderness - went <1 mile & returned to OR.  Gb herons led us back to OP.  Back to CP.  Loons, C geese, eagle, hawk; white-throated sparrows sang.  12 miles, 5.7 hours.










      

Aug 5&6, 2012 - OSGOOD POND. Put in on Church Pond in Paul Smiths. A short channel leads into Little Osgood Pond (aka Frog Pond) then a shallow canal leads into Osgood. Secured a lean-to on Paul Smiths College easement land at SW end of lake expecting storms later in day. Shores dominated by white & red pines. Paddled over to White Pine Camp - very windy. Lots of time for RnR & swimming from the sand beach at the lean-to. Storm finally came thru at dinner time - 2 people in canoe got caught in 30+mph winds, initially paddling toward us but got swept down the lake. Some small leaks in back of lean-to. Loons. Some road noise. A few cottages on the lake. Only saw one motorboat. No biting flies & just a couple of mosquitoes, some non-biting flies around lean-to. Cool morning, broke camp & paddled out via Frog & Church.



Sep 28, 2009 - OSGOOD RIVER. Meacham Lake, view of Debar Mtn. Scenic twisty stream with only minor beaver dams. Side-trips into Mud & Baker Ponds. Tall white pines on the E shore esker, some colorful maples. Osprey, big gb herons. Mostly wild but did pass 3 private camps & bridges. Took a short walk over the esker & took a peek at McColloms Pond before turning back. Some road noise as one goes further S (upstream). 12+ miles, 6 hours.



Sep 27, 2009 - OSGOOD RIVER. Church Pond to Little Osgood Pond to Osgood Pond (some development) to upper Osgood River, part way up Jones Pond Outlet (bald eagle). Maples at peak color (yellow, orange, red, purple), not much else changing yet. River goes thru swamp with tamaracks & black spruce. Also explored a tributary which enters Osgood River from the NE going over 2 beaver dams. 13 miles, 6+ hours.

Sun Sep 11, 2005 - OSGOOD POND & RIVER. Put-in on CHURCH POND in Paul Smiths. A channel leads to LITTLE OSGOOD POND, then an interesting shallow 15' wide canal leads into Osgood which has some light development. I paddle around the W end (Whiteface Mt. can be seen to E) then N down the river. Boggy shores are topped with tamarack & black spruce, lily-pads line the 80' channel - white pines dominate the high ground. Can see Debar Mt. to the N. Stop at nice piney campsite for some RnR in the sun. Turned around at a logjam/rockdam when river narrows. Returned past White Pine Camp; St. Regis Mt. to the W. 12 miles, 4 hours. Swift Saranac 14, a 14' touring kayak. Camped on MOUNTAIN POND N of Paul Smiths which has several primitive drive-in campsites. 2 adult loons & a juvenile - quite vocal & active in the morning. Walked along horse trail half mile to Osgood River which is faily narrow & small-streamlike here.

Nov. 11, 2000 - Church Pond, Osgood Pond, Osgood River kayaking. Drizzle, light rain & mist, 40s, breezy - what a beautiful day for kayaking. Put-in on Church Pond on Rt. 86 just east of Paul Smiths College next to sign: "Debar Mtn. Wild Forest". Paddle thru short canal & into Little Osgood Pond & then thru longer canal into Osgood Pond. Round the point containing the 20 buildings of White Pine Camp, the summer White House of Calvin Coolidge in 1926. Headed NE & into the Osgood River, 50' to 100' wide, boggy black spruce & tamarack shoreline - great northwoods wilderness feel. Kingfisher preceeded me flying from tree to tree. Pushed thru 1 beaver dam. Stopped for lunch at piney campsite on right shore - very attractive but did find some trash. Few more minutes downstream til logjam blocks the way with shallow rapids past that. River supposedly disappears underground for a while before continuing to Meacham Lake. Spooked some hooded mergansers. Back the same way - on a nicer day could take side trip to Jones Pond. 4 hours, about 10 miles total. Wore thermalwear tights by Traverse Bay - thermal performance of 2.5mm neoprene but much more comfortable than a wet suit - Polartec 2000 inside windproof barrier. Stohlquist fleece top for warmth & moisture transport & St. waterproof touring jacket w/pit zips. Not a big fan of Gore-tex but have been very happy with Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero wide-brimmed hat. Wool socks inside the Chota neoprene mukluks.

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