When the daylight hours begin to overtake those of darkness and spring enters its middle-age, it is once again time for my annual birding/bushwhacking ritual, the Birdathon. This contest requires searching for as many bird species as possible within a 24-hour period on the third Saturday in May. This year, as it has for the
Ponds East of Red Horse Trail 2015: All Logging Roads Lead to the Trailhead
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
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: 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
Birdathon Recon 2014: Now the Birds Show Up?!?
I wake with first light around five in the morning, after a frigid night. The birds appear unaffected by the temperatures though, as they are loud and virulent. Given the purpose for this trip being a reconnaissance for a possible change in venue for the Birdathon, I am gleeful that this morning makes up for
Birdathon Recon 2014: Hiking Through Time on Old Logging Roads to Evergreen Lake
Rescuing a tent stake in the middle of the backcountry is truly like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. Originally, I thought I might have to bushwhack over to Sunshine Pond for another search if Cropsey Pond did not yield my lost stake, but thankfully, this was not to be. By the time I
Stake Rescue 2014: Departing Cropsey Pond With All Stakes Secured Safely
Exploring the Adirondack backcountry is never about comfort. If coziness and comfort is your thing, being sweaty, surrounded by vicious biting flies and exposed to the elements most of the time in the middle of nowhere is probably not your cup tea. Nothing, not even successfully rescuing a lost piece of gear is going to
Birdathon 2014: Departing the Pepperbox Wilderness via the Bowtie Beaver Meadow
The day after the Birdathon is often a letdown. All the excitement of the chase for new bird species is over, leaving just the responsibility of reporting the results, and the necessary frantic exit from the backcountry that goes along with it. The only redeeming part is the dream of doing better next year. This
