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Raquette Lake Leanto at Hasbroucks

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  • Raquette Lake Leanto at Hasbroucks

    Guys,

    Since 1978 I have used the leanto at the point referred to on the topos as Hasbrouk's across from Beecher Island at the north end of Raquette Lake.

    It was a magnificent spot with the view of sunrise and sunset, a breeze to at least help keep the flies away, and a rock landing for a skiff or canoe 20 feet
    from the leanto making lugging gear no issue.

    I have been there with college buddies from NYC who knew nothing of the Adirondacks, my kids as they grew, and two years ago with an old pal from Syracuse who had never seen the Adirondacks. Everyone was amazed that it was there and free to use.

    Just before Labor Day I went there solo and found my leanto had been moved 100 feet back into the woods where the outhouses had always been. The lake view and breeze were gone. No more the sunset from the leanto. No more the sunrise through the mist on the lake.

    I understand the reason for the 100 foot rule for camping from water. It is to
    protect bodies of water from human impact. But when Raquette Lake is almost completely lined with private "camps" going for $250K or better, why is a regular guy who pays NY taxes being denied a free lakefront accommodation that had been there thanks to the people of the State of New York, by the grace of God free and independent, for at least the last 40 years to my own knowledge.

    Just wondering.

    Skid

  • #2
    $250k seems on the low side!

    Comment


    • #3
      Just wondering.

      Skid

      That's typical of the mentality of some new anal manager trying to justify their salary. I wonder what would happen if it mysteriously got moved back to where it was for forty years.
      Never Argue With An Idiot. They Will Drag You Down To Their Level And Beat You With Experience.

      Comment


      • #4
        Not sure if that location is private or is managed by NY State.

        The State has been setting the example for these "move the leanto very far from water sources" projects for some years. It's an incredibly destructive program, that has made many formerly nice leantos either less useful or altogether useless. (The leantos were originally situated near water for the obvious reason that campers need a water source.)

        Unfortunately, this is being pursued dogmatically by the State, in direct contradiction of the evidence. There is NO data that shows that having the leanto close to the water deteriorates the water quality or causes other actual environmental damage. Sure, we can all cite anecdotal observations of this or that, but there is no solid data. I have asked for the data in the past, and no one has been able to produce it. But there is data that shows that the cutting of hundreds of trees and the making of muddy new paths to the leantos new location causes environmental damage.

        So this program does far more harm than good, in addition to negatively impacting recreation. It's sad that the State pushes ahead with this.

        Comment


        • #5
          I feel your pain, Skid.
          Boucher Point (Hasbroucks) was for years an annual ice fishing/winter camping destination for some friends & I. It was nice to be able to watch our tip-ups while hanging out in one of the three lean-tos by a warm campfire. Since they moved the lean-tos back we decided to go elsewhere.

          Comment


          • #6
            As usual the DEC is all over the place on this. Yes, some LTs have been moved back, but some have been repaired where they are; Ouluska, Queer Lake are two examples.

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by dundee View Post
              As usual the DEC is all over the place on this. Yes, some LTs have been moved back, but some have been repaired where they are; Ouluska, Queer Lake are two examples.
              It has something to do with whether they are on a primary of secondary water body. I've been confused when the lean2rescue crew makes repairs and leaves one in its original site, one that cleary is near a feeder stream into a larger water body. Most repairs done recently require moving back 100 feet from their original near shore location. It is the regional DEC forester planner who determines where a leanto is to be placed, and if it must be moved when major repairs are made by L2R. L2R has no choice in the matter.
              "Now I see the secret of making the best person, it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth." -Walt Whitman

              Comment


              • #8
                For whatever reason The DEC division of Lands and Forests has 100%, wholeheartedly, adopted the APA "state land master plan", RECOMMENDATION, that campsites/leanto's be at least 100ft back from high water mark.
                “Great things are done when men and mountains meet"
                -William Blake

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by NEranger21 View Post
                  For whatever reason The DEC division of Lands and Forests has 100%, wholeheartedly, adopted the APA "state land master plan", RECOMMENDATION, that campsites/leanto's be at least 100ft back from high water mark.
                  Is there any reason for the APA making that recommendation in the first place?

                  It seems like the State Land Master Plan essentially becomes gospel, and yet there isn't always clear onus on the APA to prove whether or not those recommendations are useful or even viable.

                  Case and point: moving the lean-to back 100 feet from the water's edge on a lake that is full of motor-boat traffic and has plenty of lake-side residences seems very trivial, one could even say pointless....taxpayer money would be better spent elsewhere.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Bounder45 View Post
                    Case and point: moving the lean-to back 100 feet from the water's edge on a lake that is full of motor-boat traffic and has plenty of lake-side residences seems very trivial, one could even say pointless....taxpayer money would be better spent elsewhere.
                    Note for the record: the Lean2Rescue crew performs its work using totally volunteer effort, they receive no tax payer funds for travel or labor. The DEC (hence tax payers) as well corporate donations pay for the materials. Labor and expertise/experience in new construction, repair, movement of leantos, use of personal and or L2R crew tools comes for free. Most often roof boards and shingles need to be replaced. But when logs (usually just the bottom layer) are rotted and degraded beyond repair, the DEC will determine if movement is necessary as the leanto is deconstructed and reconstructed for replacement of new logs and floor on a new designated site.

                    So the question comes down to spending any taxpayer money for a leanto in need of repair at all, as it costs nothing extra to move one to comply with APA guidelines.
                    Last edited by Wldrns; 10-24-2018, 12:14 PM.
                    "Now I see the secret of making the best person, it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth." -Walt Whitman

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Wldrns View Post
                      Note for the record: the Lean2Rescue crew performs its work using totally volunteer effort, they receive no tax payer funds for travel or labor. The DEC (hence tax payers) as well corporate donations pay for the materials. Labor and expertise/experience in new construction, repair, movement of leantos, use of personal and or L2R crew tools comes for free. Most often roof boards and shingles need to be replaced. But when logs (usually just the bottom layer) are rotted and degraded beyond repair, the DEC will determine if movement is necessary as the leanto is deconstructed and reconstructed for replacement of new logs and floor on a new designated site.

                      So the question comes down to spending any taxpayer money for a leanto in need of repair at all, as it costs nothing extra to move one to comply with APA guidelines.
                      Even if it was mostly volunteer labor that moved the lean-to in question, my point is that effort would be better directed towards other projects.

                      Moving a lean-to back 100 feet from the water's edge on a lake as busy as Raquette just doesn't seem like its accomplishing much, if anything, environmentally-speaking. Did the APA even consider that or do they just want those guidelines enforced because it looks good on paper?

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Bounder45 View Post
                        Even if it was mostly volunteer labor that moved the lean-to in question, my point is that effort would be better directed towards other projects.
                        Not mostly, it is ALL volunteer labor working on leantos. They also work several major wilderness bridge maintenance projects. Many of the same people also work on trail clearing projects in coordination with the DEC and are members of various volunteer SAR teams. What other projects do you have in mind that the volunteers could be directed to do instead? Do you volunteer your effort in an organized manner?
                        "Now I see the secret of making the best person, it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth." -Walt Whitman

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Wldrns View Post
                          Not mostly, it is ALL volunteer labor working on leantos. They also work several major wilderness bridge maintenance projects. What other projects do you have in mind that the volunteers could be directed to do instead? Many of the same people also work on trail clearing projects in coordination with the DEC and are members of various volunteer SAR teams. Do you volunteer your effort in an organized manner?
                          Well considering the trail to Wakely Mountain was closed for a portion of this summer season due to fire tower renovations, and considering that there are numerous trails dealing with significant erosion issues, yes, I'd say there are other conservation efforts more deserving of the DEC's and public's attention.

                          I don't need to hear about peoples' affiliations or how they spend their spare time. I wasn't criticizing the people who physically relocated the lean-to, I was criticizing the policy behind the move.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Bounder45 View Post

                            Moving a lean-to back 100 feet from the water's edge on a lake as busy as Raquette just doesn't seem like its accomplishing much, if anything, environmentally-speaking. Did the APA even consider that or do they just want those guidelines enforced because it looks good on paper?
                            Same goes for DEC’s new practice of clear-cutting the forest within a designated “Wilderness Area” in order to air-drop pressure treated lumber for needless 4 foot wide “footbridges”, which NYS taxpayers are paying for.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Same goes for DEC’s new practice of clear-cutting the forest within a designated “Wilderness Area” in order to air-drop pressure treated lumber for needless 4 foot wide “footbridges”, which NYS taxpayers are paying for.
                              Justin is offline Report Post

                              The four ft wide bridges are for Ranger ATV's.
                              Never Argue With An Idiot. They Will Drag You Down To Their Level And Beat You With Experience.

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