Headed to Colvin Brook with Justin, Shannon, Bill, and Bella (the wonderdog). We all met at the NPT trailhead on Cedar River Rd. Temp was cooler than expected and were not supposed to have rain but the drive in was almost all rain. Fortunately it subsided before we started hiking. Along the way we got some snow. Just the large slow falling flakes which make the woods pretty to walk through. None stayed on the ground. The trail goes quickly from the road to the Carry lean-to. Like the last time, the lean-to was occupied. This time by hunters. We could hear one snoring inside the shelter and his small field dressed buck was hanging in a tree nearby. We headed back to the trail and continued on towards the spur trail. At halfway bridge the beavers have begun to dam up Lamphere Brook. Some wet areas only at present, but by spring it could be bad. The inital dam is just below the bridge. The busy rodents have already begun using the bridge and surrounding trees to expand their pond.
About another half mile to the Sucker Brook spur and then the crossing of the Cedar River. Justin found a way to rock hop while the rest of us switched to water shoes and braved the frigid water. It was only lunch-time so we had plenty of time to gather wood which wasn't too difficult with the four of us and in an area which gets little use. The log book entries included a lengthy narrative and an entry from a feloow adkforum member whom we just missed as he visited just last weekend. I created a repository for the Colvin Brook Lean-to log book. https://colvinbrook.blogspot.com/ .
After lunch, camp set-up and wood collecting we gathered around the fire and shared stories as we enjoyed some beverages. Darkness is beginning to come soon now, and after this weekend will be an hour earlier. At least we get an extra hour of sleep before sunrise tomorrow. I skipped dinner as my lunch was big. I retired to the hammock and as usual was up before the sun. I started a warming fire as the sun began to light up the river. The early sun combined with the fog made a nice picture.
Not wanting leave any time soon we hung out for a bit. Even after packing up and crossing the river we took some extra time to go down river to the confluence with Colvin Brook to look up at the Blue Ridge Mtn. The night's frost had not yet burned off the northern exposure. We took another break at the campsite on the Cedar River flow about a quarter mile to the cars. I will need to remind myself to let the DEC know about the new beaver dam when we get back.
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Met Dan at the Long Lake boat launch. Quite a few trucks and trailers. Will be some cold paddling for us. We are not going far though, just downstream to a lean-to for a couple nights. We originally planned on Rodney, but with the projected weather for Monday AM, we had no desire to be miserable for an extra few hours on the paddle out so we switched to the Catlin Bay lean-to. We both set-up inside and then I went to start gathering wood. We then took the canoe across the bay to gather more wood and the island was picked rather clean. We loaded up the canoe with wood and returned to base.
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Annual Thanksgiving trip was another success. Eric, Kalie, Chad, Jim and Shannon all joined me at the Waupaunau State Forest. Eric and I arrived Thursday and spent the day collecting firewood and hanging out. The rest arrived Friday. I cooked 3 pounds of turkey breast in the ashes. Came out divine. Everyone else helped by preparing a side. Bellies full, beautiful woods and great friends. Thankful again.
