Tramp & Trail

Write-up: Dianna Morris
Leader: Dianna Morris
Co-Leader:

A baker’s dozen of us gathered to hike the rim trails of the gulf on a gorgeous autumn day. Fall foliage was at its peak on the Tug Hill Plateau and we all enjoyed the scenery on the drive to and from as well as along the gulf. We could not have asked for a more beautiful day for this hike!

We took our time with frequent rest stops to accommodate several newer hikers who were unsure of their abilities. They worried for no reason as every hiker handled this hike extremely well. We paused to stop for lunch along the road up at the end of the North Rim Trail and were quickly chased back into the woods to find a better lunch area – the dust raised by 4-wheelers along the road made it impossible to breathe, let alone eat clean food. This is the first time I have been to the gulf where I have not been able to look down from the rim trails to see or hear water gurgling below – the drought had dried up almost the entire stream that normally flows through the gulf – we only saw a small puddle once and under the bridge between the 2 rim trails there was a small stagnant body of water.

Write-up: Walt Pillar
Kayak Leader: Walt Pillar
Kayak Co-Leader: Bobbie Scarpino

27 Tramps spent a warm, sunny fall weekend at Saranac Lake. The fall foliage was near-peak and even the drive up and back was worth the trip. About half of the group kayaked a portion of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail while the other half hiked.

On Saturday, the kayakers paddled from Second Pond on the Saranac River to Lake Flower.

After being lowered through the Lower Lock to Lake Oseetah, the group decided to take a side trip and explore Lake Kiwassa since the weather was so nice and the views so spectacular. The total paddle was 9.7 miles.

On Sunday, the kayakers put in below the Saranac Lake dam and took out at the McCasland Bridge.

The paddling was easy with the current and wind at our backs. The water level was low exposing a couple of rocky areas that were a challenge to navigate and created a mucky take out at the McCasland Bridge causing one member to get his new $350 river shoes muddy while helping everyone at the take out. We paddled 6 miles.

Hike Write-up: Carolyn Eastman
Hike Leader: Carolyn Eastman
Hike Co-Leader: Karen Oeink

There were a total of 13 people signed up to hike Jenkins Mountain at Paul Smith’s College Saturday.
Some of the group had stayed at campsites instead of the hotels where the rest of us were. Meeting up at the trailhead we regrouped and started our day.

We spent time taking pictures of the beautiful colors from the fall
foliage and with the warm weather there was no need to rush.
The top offered some good views.

St Regis Mountain
Sunday was cooler, steeper, and very windy compared to Saturdays hike up Jenkins Mt.
The views were well worth our efforts, the best of the weekend by far. Some brave souls ventured up the fire tower even with the high winds.

Additional photos may be found here.

Write-up: Carolyn Eastman
Leader: Carolyn Eastman
Co-Leader: Paul Sirtoli

On a cool September morning eleven Tramps set out for our third attempt to find
the elusive Humphrey Mountain. Greg, having his GPS and Paul, with his map and compass in hand, we set off on our journey. The trails were well-marked with blue markers for the Puffer Pond trail then turned to red. We then found orange and yellow markers to the junction to our destination.

We followed the orange and red markers ’til they ran out then had to turn to Greg and Paul
for the bushwhacking skills.  Now Greg claims he had 27 satellites watching his every move
so he saw the way to go and Paul being very experienced with just a  map and compass
did not need all those satellites watching and he knew the way to go, both were correct but who did the rest of us follow?…

Well we made it to the top with BOTH of their skills and with only a few bruises and scrapes and a lot of laughs and oh yeah four extra miles than stated on the write up… good thing we had hardy hikers so they didn’t want to stone me too bad.

Another fantastic day spent on the trails with great company!

Write-up: Nancy & Tom Schenck
Leader: Tom Schenck
Co-Leader: Nancy Schenck

Five of us beat the rain, and had a lovely 34-mile ride to the Piseco outlet and back to Nine Corner Lake. When we got back to the car, Barb Cassel said “perfect ride.”
Then the rain came down ?.
Hope y’all are doing well. Blessings on you, Nancy and Tom

Write-up: Dianna Morris
Leader: Dianna Morris
Co-Leader: Karen Oeink

It was with a tinge of sadness that I headed out on the hike that is usually a hike accompanied by delicious food. Things just didn’t feel the same. Covid has thrown a nasty twist to life. But…we still got to hike and enjoy the company – from socially accepted distances!

In keeping with things being all topsy turvy, we headed out on the hike backwards from our normal hiking and headed back out the driveway and then across the fields in the clockwise direction. When we got most of the way around the upper flat loop trail, we headed done into the ravine and then back up the other side. We continued on the trails to come out in the field behind the Deerfield Municipal building. Then we headed back down a steep trail into another area of the ravine and along the almost totally dried up creek and then climbed back up to come out near our cars.

Some of the hikers stayed to have a pretend corn roast with our own lunches and with our chairs spread out to enjoy the sunshine on this cooler day. Margaret commented that the pulled pork was really good, another member commented on the tasty corn on the cob and I was enjoying the desserts – Tramps have great imaginations! We all spoke about how we will truly enjoy the next real corn roast – whenever that will be!

Write-up: Karen Oeink
Leader: Karen Oeink
Co-Leader: Mike Huss & MacTurks

Fifteen of us enjoyed a mellow Monday morning hike. Having chosen the trail to the left to hike the Bog rather than the Brook Trail no moisture was noted, much less bog, due to our dry summer. Clouds had rolled in and there was a 50% chance of rain but we didn’t see a drop. A nice breeze kicked up at some of the clearings. No wildlife spotted while our eyes stayed steady on the ground as the path is narrow and rickety with many roots. It was nice to see other people out with kids and dogs enjoying the day. We thought we might have a hitch to our hike when we heard loud noise and actually spotted this big tractor tearing down trees, but luckily the trail stayed intact!!!!

A special thanks to sweeps Mike Huss and the MacTurks who happily shared that role when my sister could not. Also a special note that besides 2 children we had 2 first-time hikers (one who was able to track us down at the trailhead) and one return club member who had fallen off the map for a while. Thanks to everyone for your participation.

Write-up: Kathy Countryman
Leader: Kathy Countryman
Co-Leader: Francis Roy

Twenty Tramps enjoyed a pleasant “walk in the woods” on a sunny, quite warm for September, day. No bugs, almost no other hikers, no problems.

After a scenic lake-side lunch, three hikers continued on to Little Long Lake while the rest of us headed out the way we had come in. Those three were fast enough that they got back to the start at about the same time we did!