Wed April 15 - Fri April 17, 2026
Received message from Berns he secured the Upper St. Regis lean-to. I drove the 5 hours through the very northern towns of NY then to Paul Smith's College where the lean-to and trails were located on easement land.
Lean-to #180
April 8-10th.
Ian was interested in another trip but with a lean-to. Chase Lake was nearby and not a long hike in. No brookies in the water. Lake still had ice on at least 50%. Temperatures dropped enough at night to make more. Daytime sun was high enough to melt any new ice. Heard first loon of the year. Woodpeckers active, spotted a pileated nearby. Able to capture a grainy video of him way up in the tree. Saw but did not scout a faint path to Mud Lake near where the trail followed its outlet before veering away. Some remnant snow in the woods especially in protected areas. Streams running hard. Located a spring about 50 yards away from the lean-to. The trail crosses its drainage.
