Paddling Raquette Lake to Blue Mountain Lake

I didn't do this paddle but figured I should keep a record of it.  I have a sinus infection and couldn't imagine taking on such a rigorous paddle.  But W went and it is a good thing he did, since he had to pull folks over the beaver dam in the Marion River.  They had a good time but he was exhausted at the end.

Paddling Indian Lake

We had a beautiful fall paddle today.  The leaves are starting to turn and the temperatures as well, starting at about 40 degrees with lots of neat fog on the drive, and ending with bright sunshine and 73 degrees.  We put in at the boat ramp at the Indian Lake Islands Campground.  This was the first time we had been there.

It was very calm as we started out.

We headed down the southern arm and stopped at campsite 45 for an early lunch.  Then we paddled about a mile farther south then headed back for a total of about 9.5 miles.

Hiking by Fish Creek

Today we parked by the boat dock on Fish Creek and walked up through the camp sites towards Floodwood Pond, walking on the red trail.  Where it crosses the portage from Follensby Clear to Fish Creek, we walked east on the portage to get to the blue trail.  We had hoped to follow it by Horseshoe Pond then up to Polliwog Pond as marked on the paddler's map.  But it petered out not too far after the first glimpse of Horseshoe Pond.  We finally gave up and took a shortcut back to the red trail and walked some more of it towards Floodwood before turning around, walking a total of about 3.5 miles.

Paddling from Second Pond to Lake Flower

We did the 6 mile paddle without a break since the property along the second half of the paddle is all private.  So we had lunch at the take-out in Saranac Lake.  

Hiking More of the Rail Trail

Today's explore started at Floodwood Road and headed south.   The surface was much worse than the other sections we walked, and we won't be going back again until the trail is finished.  It was very rough large gravel most of the way.  We walked on Paradise Lane where we could even though it is a private road, because the trail was so rough.

 

But we made it all the way to Rollins Pond, for a round-trip total of about 4.5 miles.

Attending a Race Party

Today was the last day of the 90-miler race so we went to the home of friends who live on the route in Saranac Lake.  We expected others to join us in paddling part of the route, but none did initially.  Three others eventually paddled a short way.  Many of the boats were taking the shortcut between the shore and the island so we could not go that way and then found it difficult to maneuver through them down the more narrow section.  So the two of us explored a marsh nearby then went back to the party and enjoyed several hours with friends.

Hiking by the West Branch of the Ausable River

We hiked today along the flume in Wilmington.  I'm sure I've taken these photos before but it is always nice to revisit favorite spots.  We had expected there to be more water, given all the rain we have been having.  Then we played miniature golf in Lake Placid.

Walking More of the New Bike Trail

This morning we explored the Tupper Lake end of the soon-to-be bike trail.   I didn't keep track of the distance but we started from the train station and walked to the point where the nice meandering stream crossed under the tracks.  Much of the distance after the rails end could be ridden with a trail bike.  But where we turned around at the culvert was very large gravel that was hard to walk on and would be difficult to ride over.  We were intrigued by the stacks of cans near the station.  And there were many empties nearby.  It was a shock to read the label on the lid and discover they were full of railroad spikes.  What a strange way to transport them.

Paddling Cranberry Lake

We did another paddle on Cranberry Lake today, this time starting from the State Campground beach.  We paddled seven miles round trip, heading south along the campground then east toward Bear Mountain and Brandy Brook Flows.  It was quite windy so we didn't want to go further because the paddle back would be so difficult.  If anything, the winds were worse going out, but we were still plenty tired by the time we got back to the cars. 

Hiking at the VIC

We had a marvelous 4-mile hike in the VIC today.  We walked our usual Boreal Life Trail, then explored the longer Heron Marsh Trail where we had never been before.  Here is a perfect pitcher from boardwalk on the Boreal Life Trail.

And colorful mushrooms.

 

This is a view of the Heron Marsh from the trail. 

Paddling the Raquette River

Twelve of us paddled about 7 miles on the Raquette River from Axton Landing to the Crusher, stopping at a campsite for lunch.