Annual Trail Maintainence on the NPT

 While I have historically gone to the Cold River for Memorial Day weekend, I needed to get to my section of the NPT and do some maintainence. Stopped at Chef Darrel's Diner in Blue Mountain Lake on the way. Always good food, and Chef is fantastic guy. This was also the first long drive in the new car. Nothing like taking a brand new car 30 minutes down a dirt road. Guess it is a good way to break it in. Hopefully just a figure of speech.

The day was already starting to warm up as I readied my gear. I was the only car at the trailhead; unsurprisingly. Also no one had signed in at the trail register except for the DEC Trail crew earlier in the week. The first few miles were all clear due to their work. Evidence of the cutting and clearing was quite noticeable. I stopped at the spring box to fill my water bottle like usual. At the previously flooded section, the materials for the new bridge had been delivered. This was also the furthest extent of the trail crew's work. The next mile and a half looked like a hurricane had passed through. At the 5 mile mark is the junction to the Sucker Brook trail where my stewardship repsonsibility begins. I headed towards the Colvin Brook lean-to a mile away and cleared the trail to the river. From there I crossed the river and inspected the lean-to. The water damage has increased in the corner. 

With the little use this spot gets, it is not at the top of the list for repair. The few who do use the lean-to take very good care of the spot. I took photos of the journal entries since my last visit and will upload them to the Colvin Brook Lean-to online journal colvinbrook.blogspot.com. This is my 21st century version of the transcribed journals at the Ouluska lean-to.

Back a the NPT I headed towards Cedar Lake. Not as much blowdownm to clear as I expected. Whatever system came through the N-S portion of the NPT between Wakely and here somehow spared this area for the most part. The next 4 miles was clearing some blowdown and digging out drainages. So tiring taking the pack on and off. By the time I get to the woodstove campsite I am almost out of gas and still have 2 miles more to go. While I do the best I can, it never seems to be enough. The hand tools cannot take care of the largest of blowdowns so reroutes are the only other option. The trail is beginning to increase in mileage with all the big S turns. winding aorund the obstacles. As my energy drops, I skip over some downed trees which can be easily stepped over thinking I will cut them the next time through. The one spring hole I dug out a few years ago was still holding good water in the catch so I filled up my water bottle again. When i would stop, the black flies would swarm around me staying just inches away from the permethrin applied force field.

A couple was at Cedar #1 lean-to, so I pushed on to Beaver Pond. I suppose one more mile I could do; I had already done 11. Surpisingly the Beaver Pond lean-to was empty except for the pile of trash left in the firepit. Reading the shelter log, I might be the first person here in 2024. The fallen branches all around the lean-to and trail also hint an no visitors since last fall. A light rain began as I set up camp. I lit a smoldering fire to keep bugs at bay and settled in for the rest of the evening. The rain subsided, but the clouds remained so not much of a sunset. I barely made it to hiker midnight before I turned in.

Did not sleep that great until the second half of the night. After breakfast I planned out my day. I would search around Beaver Pond a bit and parts of Cedar Lake which I had not explored in the past. Did a bit of fishing too later in the afternoon. The black flies by the water did not make it enjoyable. At least the day was more relaxing than the previous. Had a nice little campfire to cap off my second night. 

The winds picked up and some rain came in the early morning. It stopped by the time I awoke. Slpet much better so was up early. Knwoing that rain was in order for the day, I was hoping to get some miles in before it came. I was only a mile or so down the trail before it started. Not a heavy rain, just an long annoying one. With much of the trail in need of side-cutting the little rain would soak me as I pushed through the wet undergrowth. Even when the rain subsided, the trail was still wet enough to keep me from drying off. At least it was cool, and no bugs. The first 5 miles takes longer than the seocnd 5 on the way back to the car due to the trail being an old road from woodstove to Wakely. Was back to the car by 10 am. I stopped again at Chef Darrells diner on the way out. I highly recommend his chicken fried steak. 

Post Wedding -Hour Pond

My good buddy was getting married Friday evening and I would not miss it for the world. After work, I drove to Latham and checked into my hotel right down the street from the venue. I had looked to see if there was a place nearby to camp. There was, but it being a place I was not familiar with, I opted for the hotel instead of hiking in the dark to an unknown location.

The wedding was fantastic. The officiant entertained us as well as performed his duties in a delightful way. 

Congrats Keri & Justin.

On Saturday I drove to the trailhead only to find the IP road was gated. Had to switch to a plan B location. No big deal as I have plenty of options. Looking back I should have planned a different spot from the get-go. I pulled into the parking area near 13th lake. A few cars already here. Not surprising as the lake is a good fishing/camping spot and the nearby mountains are easily accessible from this trailhead.

I loaded up my pack and ventured down the gravel trail. Right after the trail register was a brand new ADA compliant outhouse. Soon the trail switched to rocks, roots and mud. Was not that bad, just no longer wheelchair accessible. I passed by some campsites; in use and vacant. A hiker came up from behind and I let him pass. Some boats and canoes on the lake fishing.

The trail meandered along the shoreline only heading up to avoid major wet or steep sections. Soon the junction to Peaked Mtn and the continuation of my trail around 13th lake. A couple swollen streams cascading from the hillside to cross. About midway down the lake, the trail turned up a draw towards my destination. A long steep climb marred by considerable blowdown. The trail was well marked and in some places the tread was obvious. Still, it did not seem like the trail got much use. The creek through the draw was very nice. Some neat cascades and pools. Open hardwoods and giant boulders on the hillside.Reminded me of the NPT in the Silver Lake Wilderness. Evetually I made it to the saddle and headed down to the next junction. From here a major tree had come down obscuring the trail I was on, the junction signs were broken and scattered. I placed the signs against neaby stumps. A short break and then North to Hour Pond.

The trail here seemed to be an old roadway. It approached a beaver pond whose dam has significantly increased the natural size. The trail used the 100m dam to skirt the depths. I picked up a stick to aid in balance. The temp was in the high 40s and the sun was shining, but I had no interest in taking a swim.

At the far side, I leaned my balancing stick against a tree for the return trip. The trail swung around and soon Hour Pond was visible, just barely. A sign for the lean-to guided me away from the water and slightly up hill. There was plenty of downed wood in the area so a fire would be easy.

I set up camp and gathered a bit of wood. Sun was still shining, but I expectrd this to change. Had some lunch and poked around the pond a bit. The shelter log shows the atea gets little use. Also a crew regularly comes in clearing the trail. They have some work to do after this past winter. Much appreciated. A few mentions of fishing.

The wind was picking up which made being down by the water unpleasant as it was strong enough to be throwing water sideways. When it would calm, I would head down to throw a line in the water but the winds would immediatly pick back up. Instead I checked out the other campsite down by he southern end. A large area suitable for many tents. The site is hidden from the main trail and protected in the trees.

After dinner and an unremarkable sunset, the stars emerged. A saw a momentary bright flash, possibly a fireball meteor from the Lyrids but cannot be certain. I was soon in bed watching the nying fire. 

I awoke a few times overnight. The mostly full moon illuminated the area such that a headlamp was not necessary. Also a huge wind storm came through. Certainly this toppled some trees in the area. I tried to sleep in, at least it was light when I got up. 

Made some coffee and packed up. The trail out was quick. Mostly downhill. The wind had finally calmed down.