Northeast Wild

  Sep 24, 2013 - MITCHELL PONDS & CLIFFS hike, moose tracks in road on drive over.  Easy not-so-old dirt road most of way to ponds, good view across pond to cliffs from a campsite.  Turn off for narrow trail along N side of ponds not marked & not eay to spot.  Some blowdown.  After visiting campsite at end of trail whacked up to the cliffs & great views - ponds were shimmering in the sunlight & fall foliage was excellent. 6 miles.    SUMNER STREAM paddle upstream from bridge.  Soon had get around a downed tree, then over several beaver dams, turned around at another downed tree.  N shore has tall white pines rising above colorful hardwoods, S shore woods are sparse with some tall tamaracks & some pine.  Coyotes howling close to campsite at night.  Sep 23 - LOST PONDS hike on trails on both sides, each dead-ends.  Moose tracks.  Bushwhacked to Sumner Stream Stillwater - dam went out & now a fair amt ...

  Sep. 1-3, 2001 - Cranberry Lake kayak camping. Cranberry is the 3rd largest lake in the Adirondacks, ~10 sq. mi. with 75% of shoreline state land, lots of bays & inlets. Northwest Kayaks Synergy ($1,799 used). Sep. 1 - Paddle 8 mi. from state boat launch at north end of lake & into the SW arm, Dead Creek Flow. After some searching around we settle for an island site near the NW shore. In evening paddle to the end of the flow & watch sun set on the return. Back at camp, we watch the almost full moon rise over the hills across the flow. Loons & owls serenade us from time to time. Possibly the looniest bunch of people I've paddled/camped with this year! Chilly night reminds us that fall is not far off. Some maples already starting to turn red. Most campsites have campfires & we assume fire ban is off. Many campsites occupied by motorboaters, few kayaks & canoes seen. Also heard chainsaw from one nearby site. Otherwise pretty quiet before 9am & after 6pm. ...