Archive for August, 2011

Oven Lake Trip: Bushwhacking to Upper Robinson River

Aug 22nd, 2011 / 4 Comments

Robinson River south of Toad Pond

The following is a chronicle of an eight-day bushwhacking adventure into some of the most remote areas within the Five Ponds Wilderness Area in the northwestern Adirondacks. The trip includes traversing some areas of intense blow down along the oddly-shaped Oven Lake, exploring a cluster of wilderness ponds and following along the wild Robinson River. The first part of the third day is a long bushwhack over undulating hills, avoiding blow downs and cliffs, and crossing several streams just to reach the upper Robinson River.
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Reports, Trips

Oven Lake Trip: Covered in Sheets of Rain at Streeter Fishpond

Aug 17th, 2011 / 0 Comments

Streeter Fishpond on a Nicer Day

The following is a chronicle of an eight-day bushwhacking adventure into some of the most remote areas within the Five Ponds Wilderness Area in the northwestern Adirondacks. The trip included traversing some areas of intense blow down along the oddly-shaped Oven Lake, exploring a cluster of wilderness ponds and following along the wild Robinson River. The second day of the trip was wet and short involving a hike along the trail from Sand Lake lean-to to the southern end of Wolf Pond followed by a bushwhack to Streeter Fishpond.
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Reports, Trips

Oven Lake Trip: From Bear Pond Road to Sand Lake Lean-to

Aug 15th, 2011 / 0 Comments

Sand Lake beach

The following is a chronicle of an eight-day bushwhacking adventure into some of the most remote areas within the Five Ponds Wilderness Area in the northwestern Adirondacks. The trip included traversing some areas of intense blow down along the oddly-shaped Oven Lake, exploring a cluster of wilderness ponds and following along the wild Robinson River. The first day of the trip involved driving along the 10+ mile Bear Pond Road, fording the Middle Branch of the Oswegatchie River, and hiking along a series of mostly unmarked and minimally-maintained trails to Sand Lake.
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Reports, Trips

Birdathon 2011: Final Report for the Pepperbox Wilderness

Aug 13th, 2011 / 0 Comments

Morning at Sunshine Pond

On May, 21 2011, I participated in the Audubon Society, Onondaga Chapter’s Birdathon, a competition to observe as many bird species as possible within a single 24-hour period. For the second year in a row, I bushwhacked through the Pepperbox Wilderness even though last year was less than a complete success.

Unlike last year, the weather was a major improvement until afternoon thundershowers past through the area. Unfortunately, just like last year I had to abandon my planned route due to time and inclement weather. Luckily, this year did not result in the significant failure of any of my equipment during the race to beat the setting sun.
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birding

Birdathon 2011: Bushwhacking out from Cropsey Pond

Aug 8th, 2011 / 0 Comments

Campsite at Cropsey Pond

On May 21, 2011, I birded some of the ponds and streams in the northeastern Pepperbox Wilderness for the Audubon Society’s Birdathon. The Birdathon is a challenge to locate as many bird species as possible in a single 24-hour period. This would be my second attempt to perform the Birdathon in the Pepperbox Wilderness. On the morning after the Birdathon, I bushwhacked from Cropsey Pond to Raven Lake Road so as to report my results before noon.

Date: May 22, 2011
Length: 2.2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
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birding, Reports, Trips