Sunday, 17 August
The Northville-Placid Trail (NPT) is a 138-mile hiking trail in New York’s Adirondack Park. It runs from the village of Northville to the village of Lake Placid, and is known for its diverse terrain and connection to the wilderness character of the Adirondacks. This remote trail, limited or no cell service, runs along lakes and streams.
Bob and I hiked a portion of this trail years ago, but the details have faded from our memories. A return to the NPT has been on our hiking list for some time. We initially considered tackling all 138 miles, but the time commitment led us to explore other options. The abundant fishing opportunities ultimately inspired our late summer plan: shorter mileage days, allowing us ample time to relax and try our luck at catching some Adirondack brook trout. Perhaps we’ll even catch enough to supplement our freeze-dried dinners.
On Sunday, Bob and I will drive to the Inn at Piseco Lake. A shuttle will pick us up on Monday morning and take us to the Moose River Recreation Area, where we’ll begin a 35-mile hike back to the Inn. We anticipate hiking five or six miles a day, with ample time for naps and fishing. I’ll be trying out an inexpensive Tenkara setup for fly fishing, while Bob will bring his ultralight spinning gear. Our plan is to arrive back at the Inn on the following Sunday.
Cell service on the trail is nonexistent, so this blog will likely be updated all at once upon our return to Piseco Lake, where Wi-Fi should be available.
Yesterday, Bob and I participated in the Conyngham Trot ‘N Brew, and today, our trip officially began. We started with breakfast at Denny’s in Hazleton before dropping off his car at his sister’s house in Mountaintop. Four hours later, after a stop for lunch at Woodvale Diner (Don’t add this to your must visit list.), we were nearing Piseco. Our first stop was Charlie Johns in Speculator, a supermarket that offers much more. There, we picked up two massive Italian hoagies (the small size!)—I estimate they added an extra pound to my pack, as they’ll be tomorrow’s lunch and dinner.
Next, we headed to the Inn on Piseco Lake, where we’ll be staying tonight. It’s a beautiful old building, full of character, with many old books and photos that offer a glimpse into its history. Bob and I packed our backpacks for tomorrow and explored the beach and cabins. We plan to return in a few nights to stay in one of the cabins and take advantage of the kayaks and canoes for some lake fishing.
As evening approached, we decided to head back to Speculator, a ten-mile drive, for dinner at Logan’s Bar and Grill. The food was mediocre, the cleanliness was subpar, and the service was disappointing. While it might have seemed better after six days of freeze-dried meals, we won’t be returning when we get back to Piseco.
Our last hot shower for the week will be tonight. Breakfast at the inn begins at 8:30 AM. Our shuttle is scheduled to arrive at 10:00 AM, and after an hour’s drive, we’ll be dropped off to begin our southward journey on the Northville Placid Trail, heading back to the inn.
Just a quick heads-up: this blog probably won’t be updated again until next Sunday. While backpacking we likely won’t have cell service. Fingers crossed for some native brook trout to add to our freeze-dried meals!