13th Lake

A Sunday evening paddle on 13 lake.  It was a hot day in July and we needed a cool down. Once we made it to the parking lot we noticed the temperature had dropped 10 degrees from the elevation change. Once we walked the short 200 yard carry we reach the cool breeze of the lake. With the lake running West to East there always seems to be a nice breeze. It was 5 o'clock when our paddles hit the water, the sun still had a few hours before it fell beyond Peaked Mt. As we headed towards Elizabeth Point we passed two kayakers and noticed a group of loons on the northern side of the lake. We passed a busy but not too loud beach and paddled onward.  Once we reached the point we climbed out and had a drink with our beer nuts.

Garnet Lake Day Paddle

Ready for take off

Lake Abanakee Spring Paddle

This was one of those times of the year where you can paddle with your shirt off but still find ice floating in the water. On this Saturday evening Colleen and myself spent about 2 hours on upper Abanakee in Indian Lake, NY. We put in at the boat launch which is just past the Indian Lake Town Beach, late in the afternoon but the air was very warm for the first week of April. Since this was our first trip of the year we didn't work to hard, from start to finish we traveled about 2.6 miles. The evening was wonderful, I paddled without a shirt, just my vest. Even Colleen had short pants on. We found some ice to play in over by the bridge on Route 28. The ice was soft and as you paddled over it; it would break off in large sections. So I created a few icebergs with just a few passes. Not much in the line of wildlife, just the usual Turkey Vultures flying from the Indian Lake Transfer station. No turtles or fish to be seen. We did notice a couple of Cranes feeding near a small but powerful waterfall almost directly across from the Indian Lake Beach. Once we got back to the boat launch we had noticed a couple of inexperienced young men trying to take their motor boat out of the lake but destroyed the unpaved and very primitive dirt launch instead. They never did get the boat out with their sedan. A very nice guy in a fancy new pick up truck stopped and pulled the boat out for these two boys. This was a quick but fun first trip of the 20-10 season. A very warm, sunny April day to feel the energy of the water as your paddle pulls through it.

Trip Report: Brant Lake

On Tuesday July 29th we took on Brant Lake. This lake is a rather long lake about 5 miles and at it's widest point is almost a mile. After a delicious sandwich from a wonderful deli in Chestertown Colleen and I hit the lake at 6pm. There are quite a few motor boats on Brant lake so paddlers must be aware of their surroundings. Most of the boaters we came across were very considerate of us but there is always one out there who either does not understand that they must share the lake or just doesn't care, and of course we found that boater right at the end of our trip. The shores are filled with beautiful homes which are a mixture of vacation residents and year rounders. The Northeastern point has a boy scout camp, few private homes and Mount Park, Number 8, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Mountains surrounding the lake.

As we paddled along the eastern shore we found some spectacular homes and cabins some literally on top of the lake.

This is one of those lakes where you are not there to see wildlife. Instead you find private homes that you go home dreaming about. The mountains that surround this lake create the perfect shadows at dawn and dusk. If you plan to paddle Brant Lake, bring extra water and get a bite to eat first but be aware, there are very few spots for a run into the woods for a potty break.

To reach Brant Lake take Route 8 east from Exit 25 off the Adirondack Northway. You will find a Boat launch along Route 8 just past Palisades Road turn left into the parking area for the only Public Boat Launch that I know of on Brant Lake.

Trip Report: Garnet Lake

This was a busted trip from the beginning that became the best solo trip of the year (so far). The trip began with an email from a friend Friday morning, an invite to paddle Garnet Lake with him and a group of his co-workers. I was up for it, besides I had planned on boating that night anyway. The plan was to meet up at the lake around 5pm. All day long I was thinking of my escape to the water, so much so I left a half hour early. I had packed my car during my break so all I had to do was head to the lake. While driving on Garnet Lake Road I missed the right hand turn and drove 20 minutes out of the way. Ok, no big deal, it was a beautiful drive, as long as I was not thinking about the expensive wasted gasoline. I arrived at the boat launch about 25 minutes after 5 and no signs of my paddle team. No worries, I unloaded my boat, changed, and waited for the crew while paddling around the put-in. After drifting around for awhile I decided this was going to be a solo trip after all and went off to find some wildlife. There was a loon calling from a small cove which drew my attention so I drifted that way. I found some blue flowers floating near the shore and took some photos.

Soon I traveled south along the west shore and found a log breaching the water. I took many photos of this dead tree and on my way past it I noticed a birds nest inside the vertical log.

Tree Skeleton

As I continued south I heard a few fishermen casting from a rowboat. They fished on the East side along a cove of white/gray tree stumps in what I call a tree grave yard. I decided to keep to the west shore and noticed something rather large standing in the water. I said out loud, "What is THAT?" It was the color of a brown bear but seemed rather tall. I floated a bit closer still over 200 yards away. I pulled out my camera and lifted the eye piece... I finally saw what I have been searching for for so many years. Ever since I was in the Boy Scouts I wanted to see a Moose in the wild and here he is. A bull with a solid rack his eyes right on me. His body reminds me of a large horse with a stubby tail. WOW. I drift every so closer slowly pushing my paddle with one hand and my camera in the other. I get within 75 yards of him and watch as he feeds and slowly walks through the water vegetation. He would look at me often then off to the fisherman in the boat which were hard to see but you could hear them clearly. After a good 25-30 minutes he had enough and walked off in the woods.

So this trip which started off lost, late, and alone turned into a wonderful solo trek that was meant to be. The timing had to find itself in line for this moment to happen and happen it did.

About Garnet Lake. Garnet is located in Johnsburg, south of Route 8. It is roughly 1 and a half miles long. The northern part is mostly seasonal homes and camps but the real fun lies south and since the southern end is state land you will find some very nice camping sites.

To reach Garnet Lake take route 8 East from Route 28 and at the light in Wevertown. 1 and half miles east of the light take a left on Garnet Lake Road and take it all the way to the end (remember the turn I missed on the right). Once you reach the barrier you will notice a parking lot on the left and the put-in is on the right.

Trip Report: Ceder River Flow

This Saturday my partner in crime was Colleen. We decided to try a bit of ceder River Flow which is just north of the Hamlet of Indian Lake off Route 28. We boarded and left North Creek around 3pm and arrived at the launch about 4 which seemed to take us much longer than we remembered. As the road roped through the forest preserve and beautiful country homes we could see the sky turn to a nasty shade of gray. Once we unloaded our gear at the boat launch the sky unzipped and pored. After 2 or three attempts to launch our boats the rain finally ended 40 minutes later. As I pushed off shore the mist wrapped Wakley Mountain and the air was cool. We paddled away from the dam and right off we noticed a Blue Heron feeding in the tall grass. As we meandered through the marsh we could hear the rumbles of thunder off in the distance, we saw four more Herons and a handful of beavers. The flow was much larger than we expected, the main section is over 2 miles long and in one spot over a half mile wide. The mountains and hills surrounding the Flow are so empty and void of civilization it felt much further away from home. There are many coves to explore, you can paddle up the Flow for quite a distance, and with a plethora of camping sites along the east shore this makes for a wonderful weekend location.
To reach Cedar River Flow take Route 28 which you can pick up in Warrensburg off exit 23 of the Adirondack Northway. Travel North past Indian Lake and within a few miles you will notice a Golf course and cemetery on your left, this is your turn. Follow the Ceder River Flow Road south as it becomes a gravel then dirt road. You will pass a parking area that is only needed in the winter as the access road is not plowed during the snow season, continue down this dirt road till you reach the parking area at the Flow. The boat launch is to the right of the bridge and Wakley dam.