Bushwhacking from Diana Pond to an unnamed slim pond was the easy part of my second day; now the more arduous trek around Dismal Pond begins. If memory serves me correctly, navigating around the southern shoreline definitely lives up to the pond’s name. Unfortunately, there is no alternative, as the northern shore crosses into private
Ponds East of Red Horse Trail 2015: Bushwhacking to Unnamed Slim Pond
Sunny skies greet me on my first morning in the backcountry on my nine-day trip within the southern Five Ponds Wilderness of the northwestern Adirondack Park. After some light rain in the evening yesterday, the sun on the tree tops surrounding Diana Pond are a welcome sign, hopefully a harbinger of things to come for
Ponds East of Red Horse Trail 2015: Nature Retakes Its Own on Old Logging Road
Now with the hike up Raven Lake Road over, the easiest portion of my first day is behind me. Unfortunately, that leaves just the increasingly rugged road extension into the interior of the southern Five Ponds Wilderness to go. Once an old logging road, nature has slowly begun to reclaim its own, leaving the way
Birdathon 2015: Exiting the Backcountry from Cropsey Pond
The morning after the Birdathon is typically filled with regret, disappointment and self-recrimination. This year is no different, especially given missing my target by a single species. A single darn species! Making matters worse, today is historically where fairly common species missed during the day before make an appearance, seemingly mocking my efforts. This year
Birdathon 2015: Picking Up Species on Way to Cropsey Pond
After spending a good portion of the day birding and bushwhacking through the Pepperbox Wilderness, it is inevitable that lunch and replenishing my water supply becomes an imperative at some point. Mid-afternoon is an ideal time to do so, as most birds are taking a siesta by then. In addition, this gives me a chance
Birdathon 2015: Pond-hopping Through The Pepperbox Wilderness
The early morning hours of the Birdathon are the most productive for picking up bird species. My time so far was spent using an illegally marked trail to get from Raven Lake in the Five Ponds Wilderness to Big Bad Leroy Bog within the Pepperbox Wilderness with disappointing results of not even 30 species
Birdathon 2015: Birding Using Illegal Trail System
The Birdathon starts with a whimper. Regardless, I am up around midnight to see it in, hoping that a barred owl sounds off to start my list. Some rain fell earlier in the evening, but it never really amounted to much – just enough to make everything wet for my hike this morning. While waiting
Birdathon 2015: Discovering Illegal Trail System West of Raven Lake
After walking up Raven Lake Road from the trailhead at the end of Necessary Dam Road, the easy part of my trip is over, with the bushwhacking portion set to begin. The Shallow Pond Canoe Carry acts as my starting point, but it will not be long before striking out on my own and entering
Birdathon 2015: Hiking Up Raven Lake Road
It is May once again, and that means many things in the Adirondacks, including black flies, bushwhacking and the Birdathon. The Birdathon is my traditional first bushwhacking adventure of the season, and it mixes two of my favorite things, birding and bushwhacking. What better way to get back into the bushwhacking groove than an all-day
Jay Mountain Wilderness 2014: Exiting by Way of Thick Forest, Blowdown and Rocky Cliffs
My last day within the Jay Mountain Wilderness begins at the serene Merriam Swamp but takes an ugly turn while bushwhacking back to the marked trail. Dense vegetation, ancient blowdowns, panicking ruffed grouse and rock cliffs are just a few of the obstacles overcome. It is not all bad though, as I find the perfect resting rock and briefly step out of the forest for a gorgeous view of the surrounding area. The trail not only provides a swift exit from the area, but provides my first interactions with actual people after six days of solitude. A great ending to a fabulous trip, even if the eventual fate of Lot 8 is never far from my mind.
