Northeast Wild

  Aug 23, 2023 - RICH LAKE & FISHING BROOK paddling. Most of the shoreline is owned by ESF - obey any "No Trespassing" signs. You can drive down the access road (dirt), drop off your stuff, & drive back to the parking area off Rich Lake Lane. Easy 200' carry to the beach. Paddled W across the lake, saw a loon, & entered the pickerelweed-lined S channel. Took a R thru a narrow channel, slid over a beaver dam, & into the main channel of Fishing Brook. Paddled upstream & was shocked to see that the bridge had been replaced by a dam with several culverts (not sure if this was done before or as a result of the July 10/11 high water event - Phil Brown mentions a bridge in his 2019 edition of the guidebook) - heavy machinery was working in the area, so we turned back. Over 2 small beaver dams & then along the N shore of RL. Lots of cedars line the shore with some white pines, cardinal flower was ubiquitous, and bottle gentian at our lunch stop. The 2 trai...

  Aug 2, 2023 (Wed) - BUCK MOUNTAIN hike from Pilot Knob. 15 cars in the parking area at 9:30 am, 20 when I finished (I have been here when there were 100 cars - a reason to do this hike midweek). Temp rising through the 50s & 60s, low humidity. The route starts wide & flat but gets steeper the further you go. The first couple of miles look like old woods roads, sometimes smooth, sometimes rough & rocky. At ~3 miles there is an open area with blueberries and good views of Crossett Pond (private; I had become curious about that area when camped at Inman Pond some time ago) & the southern end of Lake George. Good views W & N from the summit area (I could easily pick out Marcy, Haystack, Basin, Saddleback, & Gothics in the distance), a bit more civilization (like Bolton Landing) in view than I would like - had to bushwhack a little to get a view E to the Greens. More blueberry picking - they were mostly very small. A few families with kids on the trail. 6.8 mil...

  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. ...

  In New York State, anyone in a boat under 21' (includes canoe, kayak, SUP, rowboat) must wear a life jacket from Nov 1 thru May 1 - in warmer months it must be readily available. Children under 12 years of age must wear one at all times. So... On April 23, 2019 at Thirteenth Lake in the Adirondacks, with some ice still on the surface, I see these... 5 people not wearing life jackets, including kids! 2019 - THIRTEENTH LAKE hiking & camping - warm days with a fair amount of sun, no snow. April 21, Easter Sunday - walked down the W side of the lake (elevation 1,675'), which still had ice over 90% of its surface, passing 2 bc campsites, then turned NW on trail toward Peaked Mtn Pond -several wet spots on marked trails, but not too muddy. Peaked Mtn Brook had many nice waterfalls thanks to high water. A brook crossing would mean wet feet. From brook crossing, bushwhacked E up LITTLE THIRTEENTH LAKE MOUNTAIN - mostly open hardwoods & dry underfoot. Got a peek at Pea...