Northeast Wild

  July 28/29, 2001 - Moose River Plains - Squaw Lake, Indian River, South Branch Moose River. Entered Moose River Recreation Area at Wakely Dam on the Cedar River Flow (SW of Indian Lake Village.) Sign at the gate said Warning: Road Washed Out but most 2WD vehicles will make it ok (I left the Ferrari back home.) 13 mi. of dirt road to the "T" then dirt road goes south another 9 mi. to "the middle of nowhere". Stayed at a campsite near the trailhead for Squaw Lake. Well over 100 drive-in campsites w/outhouses scattered over 30 mi. of dirt road, free too! 7:30am, carry the Merrimack Baboosic (40lb. 14' solo canoe, Kevlar w/cherry ribs) 0.45 mi. down to Squaw Lake over rough trail. Nice campsite to right. Spent 80 min. exploring the shoreline & islands of this less than 1 mi. long lake - real pretty, tho! 4 loons, 1 beaver - no people. Carried back up & drove to southern end of road. Walked short 0.1 mi. path to shore of Indian Lake (not to be confused with

  Sep. 1-3 - 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. Sep. 2