For the first time in years, the Red Horse Trail is once again under my feet. And it feels fine. All it took me to get to this secluded trail was about two days of solid bushwhacking through the southern Five Ponds Wilderness. That, and a good deal of moxie. Typically, any sane person would
Ponds East of Red Horse Trail 2015: Let A Stream Be My Guide to Witchhopple Pond
Being awaken by an alarm is never the best way to greet the new day, especially so when out in the remote Adirondack backcountry, but at times it is a necessity. Unfortunately, with a wet forecast for the next few days starting this afternoon and an aggressive schedule for a nine-day journey through the southern
Ponds East of Red Horse Trail 2015: Descent to Higby Twin Ponds
Spending most of the morning and much of the afternoon getting around Dismal Pond within the southern Five Ponds Wilderness Area, it is apparent that reaching the Red Horse Trail is not likely to happen on my second day of a nine day adventure exploring the pond’s east of the trail. This is especially true
Ponds East of Red Horse Trail 2015: Dismal Pond Lives Up To Its Name
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
Ponds East of Red Horse Trail 2015: High Water Along Raven Lake Road
It has been a wet spring/summer since my Birdathon adventure in mid-May. These moist conditions make stringing together more than a couple decent days in a row for a bushwhacking trip a definite challenge. By the time July is within sight and the bird nesting season is already long in the tooth, my patience is
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: 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
