GOOD LUCK, SPECTACLE & DEXTER LAKES canoe camping

 

May 5/6, 2002 - W. Br. Sacandaga River, Good Luck, Spectacle & Dexter Lakes canoeing. Put-in on the W. Branch at westernmost (of 2) Rt.10 bridge between Canada Lake & Piseco. Paddled 300yds. upstream against noticeable current & then R into Good Luck Lake Outlet, often there is a beaverdam to go over but not today. Good Luck Lake is a popular camping spot due to its ease of access - did not notice any loons. Start carry at the SW end next to the marsh; a path leads SW gently uphill to a trail junction. Go straight on snowmobile trail which occasionally has some nasty muddy spots. Doubled the carry (i.e. carry the pack over then come back for the canoe) for a total of 1.5 mi. (4.5 mi. of actual hiking) from Good Luck to Spectacle Lake - 2 hrs. including lunch stop. Spectacle is about 1.5 mile long but has many bays, peninsulas, islands & bogs to explore. Headwind, so I place my Sealline ProPack in the bow & have an easy time of paddling into the wind. See 2 loons. Set up camp on an island. Small plaque on a rock commemorates a 14 yr old boy who died & states that this was his "favorite place on earth." Explored W end of lake (another loon pair en route) where there is a heron rookery - last time I was here there was also an osprey nest (found out next day that they have moved to the other end of the lake). On N shore take snowmobile trail 0.5 mi. to Dexter Lake - paddled the shoreline of this small heart-shaped lake - not sure if it is worth the carry but it is worth the short hike. Pink sunset reflected thru the trees of a neighboring island. Spring peepers grew louder as the evening wore on. At night, loon calls & beavers slapping their tails around my island. After my first cowboy coffee, go out for short morning paddle - 5 loons swam & dove together. Break camp to loony tunes & songbirds. Explore the falls as Dry Lake Outlet enters Spectacle - bushwhack to more cascades upstream. Tailwind on return - see the ospreys & nest. Thought about climbing to Good Luck Cliffs but the carry wiped me out (& the Black & Tans in the Nehasanemobile were calling for me). See 2 loons on Good Luck & northern harrier in the marsh. Buds barely opened on trees & not much in way of wildflowers yet. No bad bugs but be ready for blackflies in the S Adks in the next week especially if it stays warm. Bell Canoe Works Merlin II, a 15' solo Kevlar canoe, perfect for Adirondack-style wilderness travel - small & medium lakes, streams, beaverdams, carries, etc. Used the Turtle Paddle Works cherry ottertail which I like more & more each time out - inwater recoveries are smooooth.

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