2024 Paddling Summary

Axton to Crusher - twice

Cedar River

Fish Creek

Lake Clear

Little Tupper

Long Pond

Meacham Lake and Lower Osgood

North Branch Saranac River

Piercefield Flow

Rainbow Lake

Rollins Pond

South Creek to Weller

Upper Saranac Lake

Pedaling the Rail Trail

Today we put in at the Floodwood end and rode 3 miles to the other side of Hoel Pond, almost to the spot we stopped at coming from the other end the last time we were on the trail.  Then we turned around for a total of 6 miles, which is enough until we buy some nice, padded biking shorts.  Sure wish we had remembered that they existed.  We will buy some and be ready for next year's rides.

Paddling Upper Saranac Lake

Today was our last paddle of the season.  It was another beautiful calm day so when friends invited us to paddle around the southern end of Upper Saranac Lake, we said yes, even though it is a Sunday.  That didn't turn out to be a problem at all - there were few boats on the lake and none close to us.  We put in at the Indian Carry launch and paddled 6.25 miles, stopping briefly at the Bartlett Carry to stretch our legs. 

The dam is apparently under repair.

This is a weather station associated with Paul Smiths that is moored out in the middle of the lake.

Paddling Fish Creek

We had another great paddle today.  We put into the southern end of Fish Creek, in the Fish Creek Campground, and paddled upstream.  We went into Copperas Pond where we hadn't been in years and paddled across to the carry to Whey Pond.  We were curious to see whether the carry was wheel-able so we walked the length of it - 0.3 miles in each direction.  We decided it is doable though there are quite a few roots to get over.  This is the view of Copperas from the carry

and this is Whey.

There were lots of neat mushrooms along the trail.

Then we paddled back to the creek and went all the way into Floodwood, stopping for lunch at our favorite spot along the way.  Then back the way we came for a total of 6 miles of paddling plus the 0.6 miles of walking.  It was a gorgeous day.

Biking the Rail Trail

We had a wonderful ride on the rail trail today.  We parked at the end of Station Rd by the fish hatchery.  There were no other cars there when we arrived.  We rode 3.25 miles toward Floodwood Rd, turning around a bit past the home of some friends on Hoel Pond, for a total of 6.5 miles.  This is a view of Rat Pond as you ride by.

When we got back to the parking lot, which had quite a few cars in it by then, we noticed this wonderful mushroom.  Another biker said it was called a Shaggy Mane.

Paddling Rollins Pond

It was another gorgeous day with little wind.  And Rollins Pond was the perfect place to paddle on a Sunday since the campground closed right after Labor Day.  We paddled around the lake for a total of 5 miles.

We climbed up to the rail trail to check the progress and discovered that nothing has been done on this section yet.

Paddling Little Tupper Lake

We had a wonderful 8 mile paddle on Little Tupper Lake today.  When we started out there was no wind.  The water was like glass.

The reflections were so great it was like paddling through the clouds.

We paddled up the stream that flows in from the north until we were stopped by a big beaver dam.  We might have found a way over it, but the lake was so inviting we decided to retreat.

We stopped for lunch on one of the beaches where there were moose tracks, which was very neat.  

While we were stopped it rained a bit but not enough to spoil the fun.

Paddling Rainbow Lake

We put in at the usual spot on Clark Wardner Rd and did the 7 mile paddle to the other end at Kushaqua-Mud Pond Rd where cars were waiting.  It was a beautiful day.

We paddled up the northwestern end until we were stopped by a beaver dam and knew we couldn't go much further even if we climbed over it.

We stopped at a nice spot for lunch with this great view.

Biking the Rail Trail

Today we finally made it to the rail trail.  We combined the trip with picking up veggies, so we just started where Rt 86 crosses the trail outside of Saranac Lake, and headed toward Ray Brook.  We only went a bit under 6 miles round trip, but that was fine for the first time on bikes for quite a while.  There was a section that went slightly uphill, so it was good to be starting out that direction.

Paddling Lake Clear

We paddled on Lake Clear today.  We put in on Lake Clear Outlet off Forest Home Road.  We paddled around the west and north shores and ended at the beach for lunch.  The total distance was 4.75 miles.  There was little wind and it was cloudy and hazy most of the time.  This is a view in the outlet.

 

Quilt 77

I have finished the queen-size quilt for W's bed.  It is another one using panels.

Paddling the Cedar River

Eight of us put in to Cedar River Flow and paddled up the river a bit.  Some of the group had been there recently so, unlike other years, we did not spend a lot of time looking for the correct route.  At first we weren't even sure we were going to paddle.  It rained off and on for most of the 1 1/2 drive to get there.  It wasn't raining when we all had the boats ready to go but then it started sprinkling.  High winds were also forecast, but we decided to paddle for a bit anyway since we were there.  It did not rain most of the time, but we got sprinkled on a bit, and much more as we were coming back.  The wind was behind us going upstream and wasn't as bad as we expected when we paddled back to the cars.  The photo shows what the weather looked like.  And it was cold as well.

We kept going until we got to a campsite on the left that folks had stopped at before.  The blue route below shows how far we got, for a total of 7 miles round trip.  The red route is a previous one where we had gone all the way to the lean-to.

Paddling Meacham Lake and the Lower Osgood River

I wasn't able to go on this paddle due to bursitis in my hip which makes sitting for a long time very painful.  But W went on the paddle and I wanted to document it.  Unfortunately, he lost his phone on the trip so I don't have pictures.

The group put in at the usual spot at the dam for the East Branch of the Saint Regis River and paddled to the outlet for the Lower Osgood.  We had been told there were beaver dams obstructing the river, but that was not the case.  The only obstacle was a couple of trees down which some the of group climbed over and some carried around.  The river was great and they only turned around because it was time to go back to the beach on the southern shore of the lake for lunch.  Because it was a slow trip, they didn't get very far.

Paddling Long Pond

We did another paddle today.  It is unusual for us to do two paddles in a row and we are very tired, especially because it was in the 80's both days.

This paddle was 6.5 miles on Long Pond with our usual group. This time we used wheels on both boats to do the carry and that worked well.  On the return trip we carried the boats up the steep and rocky trail at the beginning then used the wheels the rest of the way.

We stopped for lunch at the carry to Slang Pond because there is a nice beach there and some folks wanted to swim.

Paddling from Axton to Crusher Again

We paddled the 7 miles from Axton to the Crusher today because our friends wanted to do that paddle.  We had tried to paddle with them on Taylor Pond yesterday, but it was too windy.  Then we went to the brewery for a late lunch.  It was a nice visit.

Photos Around Camp

I finally got around to taking some photos in our woods.  These are some of my favorites.

Slime mold?

A carpet of moss

Neat small moss and ferns

Epipactis Helleborine orchid

Lycopodium

Lichen and moss

Jack-in-the-pulpit fruit

Wild Basil or Satureja vulgaris in the Mint Family, or Lamiaceae, grows along our driveway.

Loon Census

Today was the annual loon census.  We did the Flow as usual.  None of the neighbors had seen a pair with a chick so we didn't expect to see that.  But we also didn't expect to see a group of 5 loons just hanging out at the eastern end of the main lake.  They eventually flew to different parts of the lake, but we didn't see any leave.  At one point they were making lots of noise and I noticed the bald eagle flying overhead.  It landed in a tree not far from where I was paddling.  Then W was entertained by a family of otters up at the culvert end of the lake.  So it was a good day for wildlife viewing.

Paddling Raquette Flow

Today we joined a group of friends paddling the Flow.  The water is a foot higher than normal thanks to the remnants of Hurricane Beryl, so it was hard to get into our boats from the shore at our place.  But it was still better than portaging around the dam to join our friends at the home of the leader.  Instead, we met them at our side of the dam.  We paddled down to the pump house where we had lunch.  It was quite windy so we just headed back home from there.

Paddling the North Branch of the Saranac River

We led a great paddle today on the north branch of the Saranac River.  We were afraid we would be impeded by beaver dams but they must have left that area.  We "scooched" over several old dams but they weren't an issue.  What stopped us, after about 2.75 miles upstream, was lack of water.  We had hoped to get out at the dock we discovered the last time we were there.  While it is still possible to drive to that point and put in there, it is all overgrown and we didn't see how we would get all of our boats out.  So we paddled back to our starting point on Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road and had lunch there.  After lunch some folks paddled up the Narrows.  It was quite hot so we elected to leave instead.

I have never seen so many yellow water lilies.

Paddling South Creek To Weller Pond

The winds today were very calm so we put in at South Creek and paddled across Middle Saranac Lake to Weller and Little Weller.  We found what must be an abandoned loon nest along the way toward Little Weller.

There were lots of rose pogonia orchids around.

And lots of pitcher plant flowers.

We stopped at campsite 85 at the north end of Weller for lunch.

Paddling Summary - 2023

While looking for paddling ideas for this season I discovered I never did a paddling summary for last year.  So here it is.

Deer River Flow

Follensby Clear

Forked Lake

Lake Placid

Little Tupper

Long Pond - W only

Lower Saranac Lake

Piercefield Flow

Rollins to Square

Round Lake

Second Pond to Lake Flower

South Creek to Weller - W only

 

Paddling Axton Landing to the Crusher

Yesterday 9 of us paddled from Axton Landing to the Crusher.

First Snow