Long Pond in St. Regis w/Paul

Friday July 18th

A long drive for both of us to St. Regis. Longer for Paul. I would get there early to go claim a site and then return to the launch and pick him up in the canoe. Brought the tandem Bell Morningstar. Short carry to the water, so I doubled it instead of trying to do everything at once. Lot was almost full, not sure how many were on their way in, or just out for the day. Not many signed in at the register. Out on the water I was the only boat visible. Paddling into the wind from the north east was odd. I did my best trimming out the boat with gear, but the bow was still catching a lot of wind. Stayed close to the S. shore for protection and to scout the campsites in case they were needed. Never saw the site closest to the other portage trail and inlet. I think this was the one Dan and I heard all night a few years ago. Sound really travels across the water. I turned the canoe to head to the north shore to campsite #3, which was my first choice. Found it unoccupied. Set up my tent and the GoLite shelter and made lunch. The breeze cut right through the site keeping it mostly bug free. Gathered a bit of wood and relaxed at camp. every so often another canoe would paddle by. I could hear the paddlers comment as they passed, "nice site" and "it has a picnic table" were often heard. Tried to take a nap in the chair. If I did fall asleep it was brief.

Plan was to pick up Paul and the launch around 6pm. I figured about a half hour paddle. In case he was early I would depart at 5pm. With the canoe empty, I tried to kneel in the middle. By now the wind had shifted and I was again paddling into it. With no pad for my knees, it was not comfortable. I found it was ok if I knelt on one, and lay the other leg flat and switched legs every so often. Reminded me of the position that the olympic canoe racers use. Not sure how correct my form was. I was just trying to not be in pain. At the cars, I set up a chair to await Paul's arrival. There was a very weak cell signal which allowed me to get a text from Paul giving me an updated ETA of 6:30 due to major traffic backup in New Paltz apparently.

Paul arrived a little before he expected. Gave him a paddle and pfd. We carried his gear down to the canoe along with a cooler. Another cooler would wait in the car. The lake had since layed down so the paddling was much nicer. Paul paddled aggressively in short bursts, while I maintained a steady relaxed cadence, only switching sides when Paul did.

At camp, I started up the fire as Paul set up his tent. He brought clams from the island for us to grill. With the grill, my large pot, and skillet we cooked up the clams "3 ways". There was definitely a difference in taste between the ones on the grill vs the ones in a pot. We would eat as the clams opened. Stayed up rather late, probably around 10 or 11 by the time we retired.

Saturday July 19th

Clear skies allowed the temperature to drop. The moon was bright. Slept great as expected. While I did wake up at my usual time, I was able to coax myself back to sleep. When I heard Paul moving around, I got up. Started the fire and made coffee for myself (Paul did not want any). Plans for the day:

Breakfast (Bacon, eggs, sourdough toast)

Beer run

Paddle to site #9/portage trail

Climb Long Pond Mountain

Lunch/Beer at summit

Hike/Paddle back to camp

Relax

add more pine needle cushioning for Paul under his tent.

Dinner

Beer

After breakfast and cleanup we prepped for our beer run. The lake was calm so we took the long way around the island. Noted the hornbeck canoes at site #2. Loons were all around the entire paddle. They did not seem to be bothered by us. At the car we loaded up the soft cooler with beer and pork chops and returned to camp. Took a short break at camp while we prepared for our day's main adventure. About a 2 mile paddle, then a 2 mile climb up the mountain with elevation change of around 300+. As we paddled around the bend and through the narrows we noted these sites were more occupied. Except for those passing by, our site was relatively secluded.

At the portage trail, we switched to our hiking boots and donned day packs with lunch and summit beers. There were two other canoes here as well. Note: super deep muck at the take-out. The portage trail to Mountain Pond was very nice. Paul really enjoyed the flora, he would comment often and take photos. After the pond the trail began its climb. Signpost said 1.6 miles to summit. Not long after we started up the well maintained trail the occupants of the other canoes made there way down. They commented it was a nice view from up there. As we climbed I noted how out of shape I was, it was tiring and steeper than expected. Pausing at the false summit I figured we must be getting close considering the elevation we have already gained. Then it hit me, 300 meters not feet. Sheesh, felt stupid and relieved at the same time. Stupid error, but relieved I was not getting tired on a short 300 foot scamper. Still a ways to go. Tough little climb, but I needed it.

Finally at the top, we took some photos. It was bright and sunny. We could see rather far to the South and East. Needed to look at the map to figure out which water bodies we were seeing. An eagle soared overhead and then ducked down behind the trees. Cracked open the beers and lunch. Soon another hiker joined us at the summit. He was a local guy just doing a day paddle &  hike. This is a favorite of his. Cell coverage here, so we checked weather report. As expected tomorrow would be on/off rain with heavier rain at night. The report validated our choice to do this adventure today. 

Down the mounatin was significantly easier on the cardio, but the other leg stabilizer muscles now got a work out. Back at the canoe we switched footwear. Glad the bugs were not bad here as they often are at the portage landings. We used the edge of the landing to enter the canoe to avoid the muck. The other hiker had since caught up with us again and watched to see how we avoided the muck. Success and with an audience! Easy paddle back to camp. Good work out for the day.

Went to gather some more wood. Paul had seen a big dead birch tree so I went and harvested some decent logs from it. We relaxed around the fire with some cold ones from the cooler. Paul did his James Dean impression leaning against the giant pine by the water's edge. We pan fried the pork chops for dinner. They were thn cut, so they cooked quickly. Paul would continually add them to the skillet and we would eat them as they finished. Hoped the sky would stay clear after sunset so we could paddle out and look at the stars. Sadly it did not.

Sunday July 20th

Slept in again. Sky was overcast and threatening. Started the fire and made some coffee. Small showers would come and go all day. Made cheese quesadillas in the skillet, Paul ate leftover pork chops. Many paddlers passed by the site on their way to the launch. Paddling in the rain is not the most enjoyable but neither is sitting around camp in the rain. The GoLite shelter did provide some dry areas for us to sit when the rains picked up. A small leak in the shelter will need to be patched up. Later in the afternoon the clouds lost their battle with the sun and blue skies appeared. We used the opportunity to bring some gear and trash back to the cars and restock on beer. Also grabbed the last of the fresh food from the other cooler. 

Just before sunset, the sky opened up and rain it did. I headed to my tent and did Paul. Loons sereneded us all night. A nice complement to the rain.

Monday July 21st

Up early so we could pack up and dry out tarps etc as much as possible. We both had long drives ahead. Was a smart move yesterday to bring a load to the car already. All our remaining gear now would fit below the gunwales helping to keep the boat stable and balanced. Was a relaxing paddle back to the launch. Very few cars remained in the lot. Paul helped me lift the canoe onto the car. As I finished tying down the canoe and signing out I thought next year Dan Denn and I should come here in earlier June before the water warms and the trout go deep.

Return to Lila w/DanD

 Sunday June 29

After a breakfast at Chef Darrel's I arrived at the Lila parking area at 11:20. Dan was already here, the only other car in the lot. I had noted on the drive in the road was in a slightly better condition this year; though still bumpy at some spots. Dan carried some of my load so I only needed to make a single trip to the launch. And we were off...

As the only other canoes here, our choice site #20 awaited. Some wind and waves, but not as strong as last year. The site seemed farther away than I remembered, must have been due to the wind slowing us down ever so slightly. We unloaded the canoes at the beach, had a camp soda (step 2), then set up the rest of camp. A brief exploration of the area for some firewood then relax at camp for a bit. While sitting in camp a small flock of cedar waxwings were in a nearby bush feeding on some red berries. When they left we checked it out. possibly rose-hips? Later in the day we saw and heard a pileated woodpecker high in the tree above us. A short while later we would head out to do some fishing. A tandem canoe paddled by asking if it was us at #20. They camped at one of the other nearby beach sites. Caught a few small bass on a mepps#2. Dan was at camp when I returned. Cooked up some bratwurst for a late dinner. In the hammock soon after sunset.

Monday June 30th

Slept great, awake around 5am. Tried to stay horizontal for a short while longer, Started a warming fire, not that we really needed it as it was not that cold. Made coffee, eggs, bacon, and hash browns with cheese. Am liking cooking in the steel skillet. Today is supposed to be the hot day. Our plan is to fish the deep spots on the way to the island campsite to check it out. Then to the lean-to site and follow the shore fishing the drop-off as we make our way to the outlet. Paddle downstream of the Beaver River for a bit, then back out and fisnih the loop to camp.

No hits trolling the deep areas. A tent was setup on the beach of the island, so we did not get close. I wondered if the guide had set up the tent to claim the spot for his next group. :( I missed the lean-to site as I was trolling the drop-off. Finally a hit on the lure, or perhaps the bottom. I relled in the line and had a tiny rock bass. Stopped for a leg stretch at the beach. Map from the 1950s showed a boat launch nearby connecting to the road. It was a little overgrown, but still very obvious. The road was only about 15 yards up the old bushy driveway. I walked a short ways down the road. It seemed to be in even better condition here. We scouted the beach for animal tracks. Heard a truck coming down the road and then realized it was train . It appeared to stop at the old station.

We fished on towards the outlet and mosquito island. Had some action with smallies and rock bass. Nothing big. Lake was really shallow near the island. We stopped at sites #8 & #9 which were bushy and buggy. #10 was on the grassy ledge where the 1950s map showed a structure. As we headed down Beaver River, it opened up wide with a deep channel right down the middle. Very pretty. We would fish the pools and rocks as we headed down the winding stream. Site #12, river left, did not look inviting. We did find some nice fishing holes. Very aggressive bass, not big. One swallowed the lure. Took a minute to get it out with the forceps. Next cast, another aggressive hit. He threw the hook so I thought. When I reeled in the whole lure was gone. I must have unclasped the swivel trying to get the hook out of the last one. Dan also landed one which had swallowed the hook. This was a decent sized fish. Made a bloody mess getting that hook out. After a few more twists and turns I spotted a perch in the water. Then another, and another. Did not catch any of them. Further ahead there were some logs in the water right where the riffles started. We chose to turn around here.

It was fast heading back upstream as we did not fish as much. As we approached the lake, a couple of deer were at the river head. Cruised back to camp for lunch. I nodded off in my chair. The nap was quite enjoyable. I wanted to sleep some more, but instead brough my chair to the beach. Waded into the lake a bit and set the chair down in the water. Tried my best to keep my thighs underwater to avoid a sunburn. When my beer was gone, I headed back to camp and put on dry clothes. Was a nice afternoon sitting in the lake with some camp sodas. It was getting close to dinner time, but I was not feeling very hungry. Made dinner anyways and ate it all.

No sunset to speak of, so straight to bed. Just before midnight I could hear a storm off in the distance. Soon it was upon us. Fierce winds, torrents of rain, lightning flashes and thundering booms. Noted s amll leak in the tarp. This happened before with a super strong rain. I suppose I will have to retire the tarp. My body heat will dry out the small amount of wet on my hammock and quilt from the drips. After the storm show, I fell back asleep. Awoke a couple more times to either small rains or just trees dripping. 

Tuesday July 1st.

Slept in to 7am. I took the opportunity while it was not raining to swap out my tarp. Glad I brought the other one. As I switched it out I remembered the last time I had the same issue.  It was about 7 years ago on the NPT with Andy at Spruce Lake. Dan was up and about while I was was switching the tarps. With the new tarp deployed, the rain started up again. Not as fierce as the storm, but a steady rain drumming on the taut nylon. At some point I will want some coffee. Glad I do not need to put on wet clothes and start hiking to make miles. We will have one more night at this site and then will need to move camp for night 4. Possibly the lean-to since I have yet to spend the night in it.

[no more entry for the day]

Wednesday July 2nd

Up early and packed ready for the move. Enjoyed the views from camp until Dan awoke. Since I was already packed, I departed a little before him. I trolled as I paddled towards the island (site #6). As I approached the tent from the other day was gone and it appeared unoccupied. By this time Dan had caught up to me. We figured we would check out the site since it was so popular. The beach and rocks were quite nice. Definitely good for lake viewing and swimming. The site itself was more inland, very large. It would be buggy, but the beach would supply a respite. We chose to stay here. Made a smudge fire as we set up camp. Then some coffee and granola. With the rains from yesterday the area was damp. Smudge kept the bugs at bay for the most part. Without it, the area would have been unbearable. Gathered some wood then relaxed by the smoky fire. Later on the sky cleared and the lake became glass so we paddled out to do some fishing and exploring. I fished around the island while Dan headed towards the beach site he named "Cancun". I landed a very pretty pumpkinseed sunfish. Love the colors. Met Dan over near the mouth of Harrington Brook. 

I fished around the other side of the island landed quite a few small bass. Along the rocky ledge on the far side, I caught a few larger ones. I returned to camp for lunch. Dan was taking a swim. I landed the boat, changed and also went for a swim. Then had a later lunch which would end up also being dinner. After a nap and some campfire comraderie, the end of my beer supply was realized. Dan had two remaing plus his scotch, so he offered me one of the cans. By now the site had dried out considerably, but the bugs were relentless. Had to sit or stand right in the smoke column to avoid them. By 7:30, I had had enough and escaped to the  security of the bugnet on my hammock. I think Dan did as well.

Thurs July 3rd

Awake before sunrise. My view from the hammock faced east so I could the sky beginning to dawn. Some pink above the trees on the other side of the lake. Fell back asleep until after sunrise. Heard a rumble of thunder off in the distance. As the morning grew so did the pitter patter of rain. A small shower ensued followed by lightening and rolling thunder. After it passed, I was preparing to head over to the firepit to put on some water for coffee. I put on my raingear expecting my chair to be wet. Then a small shower arrived with some wind. I paused and sat down in my hammock. Rumbles of the train now instead of thunder to accompany the rain. Hopefully this will pass soon.

[End of Entry]