Old Logging Road

It all comes down to old logging roads in the Wilderness Lakes Tract of the southern Five Ponds Wilderness within the northwestern Adirondack Park. After a nine-day bushwhacking trip exploring water bodies east of the Red Horse Trail, the end has come down to some old roads slowly being recaptured by nature.

With the most interesting parts behind me, I stand at the intersection with a small side trail to an unnamed pond, trying to make a crucial decision. Do I run back to the trailhead like I can smell the barn, or take a little detour over toward Ginger Pond and enjoy the beautiful day a little longer in the backcountry?

After enduring six out of nine days with rain, is it really much of a decision at all?

At the intersection, I finally decide to head east, despite west being the way out and back toward my (hopefully) waiting car. Instead of rushing out on such a nice day, it is off to a short detour first to see an old campsite near Ginger Pond. As a bonus, there are plenty of opportunities to see the surrounding ponds and waterways that make up the more comprehensive wetland complex as well.

A sparrow flushes off the trail near the intersection, but unfortunately, it evades my feeble attempt to identify it. I do not linger long, but instead move on, thinking I might get a second attempt at it on the way back. From the intersection, it takes only a short hike over to the old campsite where I once found all the stored gear the first time I explored the area many years ago.

Section Stats:
Date: July 3, 2015
Length: 5.0 miles (5.9 total daily miles; 44.6 total trip miles)
Difficulty: Easy

Although the old road retains much of its original nature from the intersection, it quickly narrows becoming more trail-like as I near the old campsite. After a short distance, the trail rounds a corner and arrives in a clearing, where it once again looks like what it is, an old logging road.

The clearing is mostly devoid of woody vegetation, though hedgerows of woody shrubs frame it on both sides. The wide clearing continues to the northeast, disappearing over a small hill. The ground is mostly old gravel, raised above the wetlands on both sides, now slowly being taken over by moss and low-lying herbaceous vegetation, such as grasses, sedges and their allies. The area appears as if it could support a nice campsite, as I stayed here once in the past, but the hard ground, hot sun overhead and heavy dew in the mornings made it less than completely hospitable.

Beyond the hedgerow to the north, the ground drops off giving way to a large open meadow, dominated by high sedges or grasses. The breeze whips over the grass, making it appear as if a green wave is sweeping through it. Within the grass, a dark stream weaves its way, disappearing into Ginger Pond to the north, unseen through a narrow strip of trees.

On the south side, a smaller clearing looks over another smaller sea of grass where a stream empties into a dark pond. Exposed rock is common here, with some areas covered in a layer of low vegetation. This area is not drained as well, so tip-toeing through some muck is sometimes necessary.

Back at the main clearing, the road stretches out to the northeast, with pine trees slowly filling it in over the years. Beyond the hill, the road crosses the stream connecting the two murky wetlands on an old bridge, slightly eschew from one too many spring melts.

Unfortunately, I do not have time to explore beyond the hill, as I still have many miles to go before exiting the Wilderness Lakes Tract, as this area of relatively recent logging is called. Instead of dawdling, I turn around and head back to the intersection with the skulking sparrow. As the small bird is not present this time, I continue straight ahead, passing the side trail from which I emerged a short time ago, eager to see Slim Pond on my way back to Raven Lake Road.

The trail is wide and open here, maintaining its road-like character. The trees grow on both sides forming an arching canopy that clearly betrays its original purpose. Within twenty minutes from leaving the old campsite south of Ginger Pond, Slim Pond appears to the north, just a short distance down a slight forested slope.

Slim Pond remains my guide for some time now, occasionally disappearing temporarily as the road moves farther into the forest to the south, only to reappear soon after as the road meanders near its shore once again. It is such a beautiful pond, but unfortunately, I need to wait until I cross the outlet to get a clear view of it.

Old Campsite

Meadow at Original Campsite

The old road remains obvious until it emerges into a large clearing, where young trees are slowly taking over. The sun is overhead now, hot and bright, the sky cloudless and bright blue. An old fireplace lies in the middle of the clearing, a half-burned bundle of wood nearby. The condition of the wood makes me rethink the age of the fire ring; it might not be as old as it looks after all.

Searching the clearing to the north yields an extension of the old road network, as would a search to the south if I was so inclined to do so. Although the southern route eventually circumvents Evergreen Lake, a large and beautiful water body, I head north toward the Slim Pond outlet and the way back to Raven Lake Road.

Evergreen Lake Intersection

The old road undulates through conifers, passing a couple of murky ponds before descending to Slim Pond’s beaver dam, with an extensive view of the pond off to the east. The trail heads over the dam, which is a wide grassy mound, apparently built up over years of dam building. The old road has mostly vanished here, visible only on the opposite side, where it climbs an incline.

I work my way across the dam, which starts as hard-packed and grassy but becomes sketchy near the far side. Stopping once, I look out to the east, down the rather narrow and elongated pond. This could be the last time I see this view in a while, so I decide to stop and drink it in. Unfortunately, lingering for long is not an option, as there are still miles to cover, especially after making one detour already today. After crossing the small outlet stream on a makeshift wooden corduroy bridge I quickly find myself on the other side.

After crossing the dam, I climb up the old road, which has now reclaimed much of its road-like nature. As the climbing soon comes to an end, the trail turns westward and heads right for the old Raven Lake Road extension I came in on nine days before. When I arrive at the intersection, marked with a contorted Scots pine, it seems like I passed this way an eternity ago, rather than just a little over a week.

Slim Pond Dam

From the intersection, I take a left, heading southwest down what now appears more like a footpath than the logging road it once used to be. The path forward alternates between a well-worn footpath with young trees encroaching and an obvious old road with moss and other herbaceous vegetation forming a carpet, hiding the likely hard-packed gravel underneath.

The surrounding forest flies by now, with little notice as my sense of urgency increases with every step toward the trailhead. With the majority of my trip well-behind me and the bushwhacking complete, my focus is now getting back to my vehicle. The backcountry is about to become my past, with the frontcountry now my future. In more metaphorical language, the barn door is open and its stench has become unbearable now.

My pace is brisk, barely skipping a beat as I climb off the ridge, pass the old tree-obscured barrier and arrive at the end of Raven Lake Road, my feet hitting the hard-packed gravel and sand for the first time since my hike into the area nine days ago. On such a surface, my pace is bound to pick up even more.

I take full advantage of the road too, hiking at a quick pace. I race down the road, having to slow down only during the steep downhill after passing the Shallow Pond canoe carry. When the next canoe carry to Stillwater Reservoir comes within sight, it is already a little past two in the afternoon. I barely glance at the sign as I fly by.

Old Logging Road

Soon I am passing the beaver vly to the west; the hunter’s path north into the heart of the Pepperbox Wilderness follows immediately afterward. After a few curves, the road crosses a stream and climbs for a long stretch, with a decent soon to follow.

As I descent toward the Beaver River, a dark shape appears in the road, causing me to come to a screeching halt. A wild turkey stands proudly in the road, before noticing me (or hearing my feet hit the hard-packed ground) and bolting into the surrounding forest, never to be seen again. Although I saw some around the Stillwater Reservoir hamlet before, this is the first I have seen this far out; I imagine it will not be long before I see one way in the remote backcountry.

After descending down to the Beaver River, I cross on the bridge that marks the beginning of the Raven Lake Road and the end of Necessary Dam Road. Luckily, my car is still there where I left it nine days before, waiting to drive me back home after another successful trip into the remote Five Ponds Wilderness.

Raven Lake Road

I take one look back up Raven Lake Road, dwelling for a few moments on the wooded hillsides surrounding it. I will be back to explore these hillsides, wetlands, and forests again, perhaps soon, but probably not this year. Regardless, I will most likely find them much as I left them, full of life and adventure.

Let us hope it is always thus.

Slim Pond from dam

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