2023 july 30 Sunday
arrived at Wakely Dam, found a site across the dam. #9 I think.
video montage, click here
It was only around 1p.m. and I had lunch at the Stewart’s Shop in Indian Lake. So, I deployed the new Joolca mounted shower stall, changed into my kayak gear and went for a paddle.
I got further back this time. One way really narrowed into a deep stream that was only wide enough for my paddle strokes. It had a strong current. I didn’t get very far before there was a tiny rock wall, but luckily there was a turn around when i couldn’t go any further. Doubled back went the other way and got as far as a beaver dam. It looked like if you got over the dam, you could go quite a ways, but I’m not going to try that in my surfski.
Paddled back, a little wind, nothing major. Was a 6 mile paddle when I got back to the Dam. then it was time to cook dinner and set up camp. I used the instant pot to make rice, came out great. combined it with some sauted Oscar’s sausage (primo bacon/sausage place in Warrensburg). Sauted some peppers and onions too.
I didn’t make a fire, wasn’t planning on staying at this site, and I didn’t feel like gathering wood. I keep debating getting a hitch mount tray to carry wood on, but it’s already congested back there with the swing arms and my bike.
Anyway, I set up my Eureka no bug zone shelter and hung out in that until about 8p.m. then went up to bed, watched some stuff on the tablet and went to sleep around 9:30.
Oh and during the day, one older couple swung by. They said I had their favorite site, so I told them I planned on leaving around 9a.m. tomorrow and they were welcome to come take it then. Not sure if they did. They were 60 something, you could tell the old guy was a character, and he grumbled that they were stuck in an RV park with friends and he didn’t think he could talk them into relocating.
2023 july 31, monday
woke up at 6a.m. but managed to fall back asleep until 7 something. Before going outside, I pulled a floor panel I sleep on in the GFC, and retrieved a Homer donut from Rocco’s and a small 12oz bottle of coke. Rocco’s donuts are amazing, but huge and not healthy, but I knew I’d need the calories later. Didn’t even finish the coke, just need a little boost to get motivated.
After getting outside, I used the cheap, Walmart mymini electric skillet I bought in Arizona to saute some peppers and onions and then I poured some egg beaters in and had an omelet so I’d have some protein along with the donut. Then it was time to pack up, and I also put together my gear for a mt climb.
Mt Wakely hike
I hiked up Wakely mt to the fire tower. 3 miles up, 3 miles back. First mile is easy, but mostly just thick forest on each side, up an old Jeep trail. There was an old, rusted out truck along the way. The first mile ends when you have to cross a river brook walking on two fallen logs. there were thinner, outer logs, but they were too skinny for my weight. I planted my trekking poles in the outer skinny logs for balance, and then shimmied/scooted up to the poles. Carefully set my poles further out, one at a time, repeat. I probably could've just walked it quickly, but when you're alone, you should be extra careful.
The second mile is a steady upslope, but gentle. On your left, there’s a brook, so you have nice running water sounds until you reach the steep part. Even a few spots to get water if you needed, assuming you bring a filter. So far, it was a hike I might take Jacqu along for, assuming she wanted some exercise.
Then you come to the last mile. There’s a trail marker saying it’s 1 mile up to the Fire Tower. The sign should have said, all who pass abandon hope…or Trudge you fools, Trudge! And that’s what I did. It took me an hour to do the first 2 miles, and then another hour to do the last 1 mile ascent. Climbed about 1500ft in that last mile. Switchbacks? Heck no! just go straight up you wuss!.
Many sections of slick granite with tree root paths on the sides just barely wide enough to use. I shortened the trekking poles all the way and did my best billy goat impersonation. Which isn’t that good being 6’2 and 285lbs.
At the top there’s a large wooden platform out in a clearing. Like 30x30ft Googled later, it’s for a helipad, probably for rescues. I had lunch there and got about 5-10 minutes of sun before running off for the shaded trail. The platform did have some views, but it’s starting to get blocked by sapling trees. Back on the trail, I went a bit further to the Fire tower, not even a tenth of a mile to get to it. There was a young couple up in the tippy top, so I just climbed the steps until I could get some photos, then I headed back down. The views were impressive.
Nothing left to do, I started to head back down the mt. Thank goodness for the trekking poles. I lengthened them to 135cm/53”, (coming up they were 120cm/47”). I palmed the tops of the poles on the way down the steepest sections. No stumbles or falls. One section, I decided to just scoot down 30ft of granite on my butt. Managed to do it slowly and without tearing up my shorts.
Was so happy to see the 1 mile marker, knowing the worst of the descent was over. On the way up, my calves were burning from walking on the balls of my feet so much. Coming down, all glutes and hammies. The back of my thighs ached after descending that first mile down.
The 2nd mile along the brook was a welcome respite, muscles loosened up, and I started to get that hiker’s stride going.
The last mile, the euphoria waned and my body was saying, “are we done yet? “ I did the log/river crossing carefully without falling and stumbled my way back to the truck for some well earned treats. I finished off the coke at the truck and the snacks I’d packed but didn’t eat on the hike. Really would have preferred a beer, but I had driving to do.
I got in the truck and drove into the Moose River Plains along Cedar road from Wakely Dam. The road eventually stops at a T. I went left onto Otter Brook Road, right takes you to the town of Inlet eventually, past LimeKiln Falls campground. I might go home that way so i can paddle blue mt lake. Might also double back and just do a hike I see lots of cars at near Gore Mt.
found a very cool site right by Otter brook, #118. Not enough room if Jeff comes to find me Wednesday (i sent him an inReach message of where I am), but we can always relocate. I just wanted to sleep listening to the moving water. And it’s free to be here! assuming you don't count everything I’ve spent on the truck.
I think if we calculate $200 per night (if I stayed at a hotel/airbnb/cabin in the Adirondacks) I used the GFC 30 days last year. This year 30 days during my my Arizona Utah trip with Jeff, two days in june with Will, and 5 now. 67 days = $13,400 so far. Give it 3-4 years and it'll have paid for itself by then. It was about 40k for the truck and 40k for everything else, so I’m only counting the 40k of the overlanding/camping stuff.
Anyway, I’ll sleep well tonight after that hike up Mt Wakely. burned 2000+ calories doing that. Took lots of photos during the hike and of the new camp .
Oh and at this Otter Brook camp, I got the electric chainsaw out to cut up a 30ft branch I hauled out the woods. I used a bow saw to cut it into 3 manageable sections. manageable to me. There’s a trail by the water, and a lady was walking by, mouth agape when she saw I was walking with the heaviest piece on my shoulder. Good to be a large guy sometimes, lol. it was only 6-8 inches thick and 10ft long, so it wasn’t that heavy. Maybe a 100 lbs.
Anyway, the limb was primo hardwood, I think people just don’t know to cut themselves a shorter piece with a Y first, trim accordingly, then you can prop up the rest of the branch with the Y piece and the bow saw won’t bind. Judging from the saw marks I was seeing from previous attempts, they don’t know that technique. Victory is mine!
And can I just say how stunned I am that my electric corded saw can cut up all that wood and it’s less energy from the batteries than boiling 1 liter of water with the 800 watt electric kettle. That will always blow my mind. I cut the pieces short, so they fit in the solo stove too. So we’re talking 30-40 cuts.
After dinner (rice and sausage again), I took a shower with the Geyser. I love how easy it is to deploy the Joolca mounted shower. I was warm enough, but occasionally felt a cool breeze, it was about 7p.m. I brough my stack of leveling blocks, which give me a 3x3 grid to stand on when showering. I wearing my sandals, so they don’t hurt my feet.
I put on some clean clothes and sat in my chair by the solo stove enjoying a beer
Mosquito’s started to bite more. Dusk hour. time to get closer to the solo stove. I have my zapit tennis racket thing to kill the mosquitos too. I didn’t bring the heat deflector for the solo stove. it’s plenty warm out, I just want the fire/smoke to keep the bugs away.
So i load the wood high, so it smokes some. Anything sticking out above the top of the solo stove will give off some smoke. The main reason I like the stove is it’s just easier to get a fire going. Wad up some paper towel, spritz it with lighter fluid, stack on some kindling, and light a match. The stove design blocks the wind, and it breathes well too. Some smoke can be a good thing, keeps the bugs away.
The only downside I’ve noticed is that after 5-6 hours, the ash builds up too much and it can’t breathe anymore. So you have to push the ash to the side to let the air breathe again. or let it cool, dump out the ash, and start a new fire.
2023 august 1, Tuesday
slept well enough. My legs were yelling at me when I first crawled into bed, so it took 30-45 minutes to fall asleep. Couldn't’ get comfortable at first. I woke up 2-3 times during the night needing to turn/re-position. I was in bed from 9 - 8. So I definitely needed the rest.
For breakfast, I cooked bacon, eggs with peppers, onions, and garlic, and a slice of toast. Oh and a slice of American cheese.
I’d cleaned the bacon pan out using paper towel, so I used it to get a morning fire going. my inReach weather forecast said it was a low of 49F last night. It was mid 50’s in the morning. I'd tried charcoal lighter fluid, but it didn’t work well to get the fire going. Bacon greased paper towels ftw! (for the win)
yesterday I dug a preemptive hole for a #2. this is one of the few sites without an outhouse. I used the small garden shovel head I found at a campsite in Vermont. I’ve put a 4ft shaft of poplar on it, and it works well for #2 holes. Anyway, I went to use the hole this morning. My technique is to just squat down to my heels over the hole, making sure to gather up my shorts/pants out of the way. I’ve always found it easy to squat low. Lets just say with sore legs, it’s not easy. I desperately needed the shovel to pull myself back up. There were some groans of pain, as my legs were like WTF dude! Don’t you remember what we did yesterday? I seriously debated rolling to my side, getting on all fours with my pants at my ankles and getting up that way. Hopefully no one saw. Not how I want my corpse found if I can’t get back up. Just kidding! Going to have to make a collapsible toilet seat frame. I know they make them, but I want something more stable.
Anyway, just enjoying the morning fire I started. typing this up, will read for a bit until it burns out and cools down enough so I can dump the ashes and put it away.
Late this morning or early afternoon, I’m going to go biking on the road. I’ll leave the bug tent out and my chair folded on the ground, but I’m putting everything else away. I took photos of how I lock the surfski to the truck.
I’m looking forward to the ride. I got 29” rims for my fat bike. so instead of rolling super big, fat bike tires, I’m rolling tires that are slightly bigger than mtb tires (mountain bike) . normal size is 29” diameter x 2.4 or 2.6” bead to bead. Mine are 29 x 3” plus size for a big boy. lol. Plus size tires are popular for bikepacking. My fat bike doesn’t have full suspension, so the tires need to help with the small rocks on jeep trails. I went tubeless, so I can safely air down to 20psi and not worry about thorns
afternoon 3:30p.m.
back from my ride. a little less than 2 hours, just shy of 7 miles. Had to walk a few very steep climbs, but managed to pedal up most of them. All in all, a good outing. Burned about 1200 calories.
At one point along the way I swore I heard a puppy crying, but whatever it was, it wouldn’t come out of the brush. I don’t think it was a puppy, I sat for 5 minutes in the road eating a snack and nothing came out. If it was a hungry puppy, there’s no way it wouldn’t at least have kept crying/begging for food
As I left, I saw something shaped more like a groundhog run off. It didn’t move like a puppy. Its head was too small and body too big as well. I stopped on the way back too, but heard nothing.
I biked as far as I could to the trailhead for Squaw lake and Indian Lake. There’s a sign that says no motor vehicles, and that includes bicycles (weird but true rule in the Adirondacks). Anyway, checking the trail register, there are people who hike out that way. It’s more of a weekend spot. I’m guessing backpackers are looking for easier terrain.
Anyway, I cable locked my bike to a tree and walked towards Squaw Lake, which was another 0.75 miles. Halfway there, the trail for Squaw Lake heads down a gulch and I decided to turn back. I was walking in my mtb shoes, and I didnt have my trekking poles. Per my Garmin watch, I should be taking it easy too. So I headed back to the bike.
She was right where I left her, so I saddled up and headed back. Much easier biking going back. if I maintained my momentum I barely had to pedal up the few uphills on the way back. There was only one brief time I walked it. Definitely a ride I’d do again. Like an hour and a half out, half an hour back.. Sort of like paddling into the wind when you head out, so when you get tired and turn around, you get pushed back twice as fast to the launch.
Right now, enjoying sitting inside the bug tarp. Going to read for a bit.
Might cook up the spaghetti tonight. had rice the last two nights.
My watch says I need 37 hours recovery time, so I think tomorrow, I’ll just do the hike from the site along Otter brook. Looks easy on Gaia GPS. mostly flat.
Thursday, I think I may just double back the way I drove into Indian Lake, and try a paddle launch I saw in town. I’ll leave Blue Mt for when I camp at 8th lake later this year.
August 1st, Tuesday 8p.m.
I did have the spaghetti for dinner, and there’s enough leftovers for dinner tomorrow. So that’s cooking sorted…lol
I didn’t really feel like making a fire, and it was warm enough inside the bug shelter. So I hung out in there reading my cheesy Lost Starship sci fi series.
I got tired of that, so about 7:45p.m., I went up to bed to watch some tv, and right around 8p.m. I thought I heard Jeff’s van, and sure enough it was Jeff. The inReach works! He found me no problem. He said he knew from my text's words where I was, but it also sends a link showing the map location and coordinates.
Jeff had stocked up on firewood, so I pulled out the solo stove, and got a fire going. I stayed up until 11p.m. talking with Jeff and enjoying a double IPA he gave me. It was good to catch up, we haven’t hung out like that since Arizona.
2023 Aug 2 Wednesday
got up and cooked some bacon (3 strips that I cut in half and then vacuum sealed in a small bag). For my frying pan it’s the perfect size. If I ever start hosting people, I may need to bring bigger cooking gear. My setup is perfect for me, but I can only cook 1 person’s worth of food at a time. I do have that single burner Camp Chef stove and flat top, so I can just bring that if I’m with Jacqui or Dad. I sometimes get tempted by the idea of a 2 burner campstove, but I like the practice with my backpacking stoves. But if I had to cook for 2 or more people, it wouldn't be as easy.
Anyway, the plan today is a short hike along Otter Brook, and then do some biking. Going to take it easy though. I pushed hard the last two days and my body needs some rest. In the future, I need to start bringing some protein powder. It would help my muscles recuperate. I did have a lot of eggs yesterday morning, and I just had Kodiak pancakes which have a lot of protein, I just notice there’s something in the protein powder that soothes achy muscles faster.
I used the bacon grease to get a fire going, just chilling and waiting for Jeff to come out of his van. He’s not a morning person, but I’m not in a rush.
In retrospect, that could be why I got the sense I was getting on his nerves in Az. I like to go bed early when camping. Like in bed by 8, asleep around 9-9:30 after reading, or watching the tablet. The birds/sunrise wake me up 5:30-6, and I sleep off/on until 7, then it’s time to get up.
I think Jeff is similar, just shifted 2-3 hours later than me, and the sunrise/birds don’t wake him in his van. Van ftw! i guess. But even at home, lately I go to bed around 10, and Jeff is past midnight. I used to always be up until 11-11:30 when working, but I’m started to rise at old people hours. ha!
oh well, time to read and enjoy the morning fire.
Otter Brook hike to Jimmy Creek
Across the bridge over Otter Brook, there’s a trail that goes back to Lost Pond, and even loops back to Cedar Road. Might investigate backpacking in, then hiking to Cedar road, retrieving a stashed bike, and biking back to my truck at Otter Brook. I’d get a camo tarp and use my least favorite bike so it doesn’t get stolen. Probably hide the backpack and bike back to the truck light as possible. Next time
Anyway Jeff and I hiked in about 3 miles, mostly gentle uphill to get to Jimmy Creek. Then we doubled back. My legs were tired from the Mountain climb Monday and biking yesterday
When we got back it was only 1p.m. So I cooked my last sausage link, ate lunch, then we hung out down by the brook. A very nice late 30’s/early 40’s something lady told has about the swimming hole just up the stream, so Jeff and I went to check it out. I got in while Jeff supervised from shore (he’s not a water person). I was very chilly, I got in to my waist but could bring myself to go down to the next, I just cupped water and washed up. I should have tried slowly sitting in the water. Next time.
Back at camp, made dinner, and then we enjoyed chatting by the solo stove until 9:30 or so. I read and feel asleep listening to the water.
Thursday 3 aug 2023
This morning I talked Jeff into trying to do the bike ride I’d done earlier, but we didn’t go far. Just to the very end of Otter Brook road where there are big rocks blocking cars, but a metal bridge just wide enough for snowmobilers. Only about 1.25 miles in instead of 3. Jeff had tweaked his knee getting out of the van when he did a NewHampshire a week ago, so he could only ride with his seat set low, which meant he had no power to bike, and it probably wasn’t good for his knee. I made sure we walked up the steeper climbs.
I used the shower before going home, it’ll be nice to do the 5 hours of driving feeling clean.
Time for me to get back home, so I can take over cat duty while Jacqui attends that family reunion . I did drive out to Inlet, just so I could see the lakes on the drive out, it doesn’t really add that much time. 30 minutes at most.
Uneventful ride home. Kissed Jacqui hello/goodbye, and unloaded the truck.
