How about a little about yourself
This looks like a fun thread. Maybe find some old buddies. I started out at Sabattis Scout Reservation in 1969 and ended up as a counselor for summers of '71 and '72. Caddied at Lake Placid Club in '73. Ended up out west after H.S., but come back every few years to see the mountains and the Five Ponds area.
One quick story: In 1998, I flew into Lows Lake with Tom Helms Service (alone) with a backpack and one-man canoe. I had given my exact plans to family and Helms. I started exploring Lows, then portaged and canoed the 3.5mile stretch to the upper Oswegatchie. The first part at the west end of Low's was a canyon cut through blowdown (thank you DEC?). I had to take TWO hikes - one with backpack and one with canoe. Found that mailbox and signed in (hilarious). Rested on those nice benches at the top of the esker. Arrived at 'Beaverdam' wasted and tired and found that fantastic cold spring. Set up camp and saw a full moon rising at dusk, so I set out in my little canoe and my new camera and I am guessing I must have dragged over at least 12 beaverdams thinking I could get to Partlow Milldam (fool, I was). The moon was so bright I could see very clearly. I stopped to take in 'the moment' in the middle of the upper reaches of that Oswegatchie hinter-land when I was suddenly IN THE WATER! That damn tipsy canoe caught me off guard. Now, I have swam with sharks, pet and handled them in the Carribean, so nothing frightens me except - leeches - leeches near beaverdams. I treaded water faster than my legs could with that canoe rolling over and over and over, until I finally realized...yup, I had to stand up in the leech filled muck.
*shivers violently*
My boots went a foot into the mud with my chin just above water. I held the canoe up to empty it and gingerly climbed back in, knowing I was covered with blood-sucking worms. My new camera was ruined. You never saw anyone paddle so fast or carefully as I did that evening back to the campsite where I stripped off all my clothing to peel off those nasty leeches. Well, thankfully, no leeches were found. Instead, I had a ruined camera and wasted pictures of the trip, but a good story. I must have looked ridiculous naked on that riverbank.
The next day I was winding around the upper river around the ruins that is 'Pine Ridge" (was amazing in it's day - huge pines in close clusters), when my canoe caught a log sideways and the current tipped everything into the river. Tent, sleeping bag, food, everything wet. Cleared everything out and realized the trip was over. I ended up canoing to Inlet in a little over five hours downstream. For all the problems, it was four days in the wilderness I'll never forget. And I still hate leeches!
Originally posted by mtgoat
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One quick story: In 1998, I flew into Lows Lake with Tom Helms Service (alone) with a backpack and one-man canoe. I had given my exact plans to family and Helms. I started exploring Lows, then portaged and canoed the 3.5mile stretch to the upper Oswegatchie. The first part at the west end of Low's was a canyon cut through blowdown (thank you DEC?). I had to take TWO hikes - one with backpack and one with canoe. Found that mailbox and signed in (hilarious). Rested on those nice benches at the top of the esker. Arrived at 'Beaverdam' wasted and tired and found that fantastic cold spring. Set up camp and saw a full moon rising at dusk, so I set out in my little canoe and my new camera and I am guessing I must have dragged over at least 12 beaverdams thinking I could get to Partlow Milldam (fool, I was). The moon was so bright I could see very clearly. I stopped to take in 'the moment' in the middle of the upper reaches of that Oswegatchie hinter-land when I was suddenly IN THE WATER! That damn tipsy canoe caught me off guard. Now, I have swam with sharks, pet and handled them in the Carribean, so nothing frightens me except - leeches - leeches near beaverdams. I treaded water faster than my legs could with that canoe rolling over and over and over, until I finally realized...yup, I had to stand up in the leech filled muck.
*shivers violently*
My boots went a foot into the mud with my chin just above water. I held the canoe up to empty it and gingerly climbed back in, knowing I was covered with blood-sucking worms. My new camera was ruined. You never saw anyone paddle so fast or carefully as I did that evening back to the campsite where I stripped off all my clothing to peel off those nasty leeches. Well, thankfully, no leeches were found. Instead, I had a ruined camera and wasted pictures of the trip, but a good story. I must have looked ridiculous naked on that riverbank.
The next day I was winding around the upper river around the ruins that is 'Pine Ridge" (was amazing in it's day - huge pines in close clusters), when my canoe caught a log sideways and the current tipped everything into the river. Tent, sleeping bag, food, everything wet. Cleared everything out and realized the trip was over. I ended up canoing to Inlet in a little over five hours downstream. For all the problems, it was four days in the wilderness I'll never forget. And I still hate leeches!
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