Heavy rain is not the ideal weather for the beginning of a bushwhacking trip. Logs and fallen leaves become slippery, streams overflow their banks and mud becomes ubiquitous, especially during mid-spring in the Adirondacks. This is especially true during the Birdathon in the Pepperbox Wilderness. Unfortunately, the predicted wet weather gave me little choice this
Carpet Spruce Swamp: Frittering Away the Afternoon at Sitz Pond
It is a rare treat to get an entire afternoon off on a bushwhacking trip. Usually the days are long and the going too arduous to allow for a lazy day of relaxation and reflection. My trip through the remote western Five Ponds Wilderness is no exception, especially after a rain delay at Lower South
Carpet Spruce Swamp: Arriving at Sitz Pond
The area just north of the Middle Branch of the Oswegatchie River in the Five Ponds Wilderness of the Adirondack Park gets very little loving. It is remote, with limited access (it has but a single trail to Upper South Pond), and few outstanding draws; small unnamed ponds are as common as trees. Yet, these
Taking the New York State Guides License Exam
For many years, off and on (unfortunately more times on than not), software engineering has been my primary occupation, my employers including a small start-up company, a couple Fortune 500 companies and a federal government agency. While enduring these years, I continued to plan and plot some way to escape the drudgery of staring at
Isle Royale Trip: Bushwhacking to Unnamed Lake from Minong Ridge
Typically, I spend most of my time in the backcountry off-trail. Trails are usually reserved for accessing an area to position me to bushwhack to some remote lake, wetland or other natural landmark. So, the whole time I am on Isle Royale, I am jonesing to leave the trail behind and get acquainted with the
Oven Lake Trip: Bushwhacking Along the Robinson River
The following is a description of an eight-day bushwhacking adventure into some of the most remote areas within the Five Ponds Wilderness in the northwestern Adirondacks. The trip includes traversing areas of intense blowdown along the oddly-shaped Oven Lake, exploring a cluster of wilderness ponds and following the wild Robinson River. The second part of
Oven Lake Trip: Backcountry Laundry at Cracker Pond
The following is a description of an eight-day bushwhacking adventure into some of the most remote areas within the Five Ponds Wilderness in the northwestern Adirondacks. The trip includes traversing areas of intense blowdown along the oddly-shaped Oven Lake, exploring a cluster of wilderness ponds and following the wild Robinson River. The second part of
Birdathon 2011: Final Report for the Pepperbox Wilderness
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
Birdathon 2011: Bushwhacking Straight to Cropsey Pond After Failing to Get Around Moshier Ponds
On May 21, 2011 I birded some of the ponds and streams in the northeastern Pepperbox Wilderness in the Adirondack State Park 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
Oven Lake and Beyond Trip Plan
View Trip Plan in a larger map Last summer on my Stillwater Reservoir to Cranberry Lake adventure (for a teaser click here) I originally contemplated going as far east as the Oven Lake area. Unfortunately a late start on the second day due to rain and my rather slow pace throughout the trip prevented me
