Saturday, 23 August

Start Fall Stream Campsite – MM 47.2
End Inn at Piseco Lake – MM 42.3

Daily Miles: 4.9
Trip Miles: 31.9

Bob’s Guest Blog follows my regular update.

The overnight rain in the forecast showed up at about three. On and off, very light. Bob and I decided to stay in dry tents until seven. It is about five miles to Piseco and we did not expect the cabin to be ready before noon. We still ended up starting about 8:30. Easy, flat trail for the run into Piseco. The last quarter mile was on a paved road, the only paved road we had seen in a week.

As Bob and I arrived at the inn just before noon, we were told that the cabin was ready. Great news. We were able to take our first shower in a week before heading to the Oxbow Inn for lunch. Rueben for me, avacodo BLT for Bob. We noticed enormous, delicious looking pizzas being served. That cemented a return to there for dinner.

Back at the cabin, we dried our damp tents and sorted gear switching from backpacking to cabin mode. Over to the Oxbow for some cold beverages, and the wings and pizza special. We were only able to put away half of the pizza and most of the wings. We had the leftovers boxed for dinner tomorrow.

Being in the cabin, we were up a little later enjoying heat, electricity and real beds again.

Northville-Placid Trail – Bob’s Guest Blog

The Northville Placid Trail (NPT) has been a terrific backpacking adventure. A short hike for Al and me. Only 7 days and 6 nights and only 32 miles or about 5 miles per day. A pleasure not doing 10 to 15 mile days. My clinical summary:

Solitude: Very remote trail. Not one crossing of a road, underground pipeline easement, or overhead power line. Just creek and river crossings; some on timber bridges. Few backpackers although we did meet a few thru hikers who were attempting the entire 140 mile trail.

Walking Path. In general, very easy on the feet and legs which is very unusual in our experience. Much of the trail traversed thick Hemlock forests with thick organic soils hence the sponginess of the walking path. The walking path was park-like.

Trail Maintenance: very poor in many areas. Very old and worn out ground-level log bridges over wet areas. Many blowdowns across the trail. Some areas were thick with overgrowth so we were “bushwhacking” more than hiking. Perhaps the trail’s remoteness and the absence of an organized local trail club were to blame?

Topography: the trail traversed many wet lowlands so we frequently had to navigate around or through them, sometimes getting our shoes soaked. There were hills but they were gentle, which was a relief from the soul crushing climbs and punishing descents of the Appalachian Trail. Few and far between rocks and boulders.

Forest: the forest seemed healthy. Many areas were thick with hemlocks and very large birch trees. No areas with diseased trees and no areas of invasive plants like Barberry and Kudzu. Typically, we hear and see many woodpeckers feasting on insects in decayed trees. Not on the NPT. Our last day, day 7, was the first and only time we heard a woodpecker calling.

Lakes and streams: plentiful. Beautiful. Mostly inaccessible due to thick grass and brush along the edges which made fishing almost impossible. We always had a great supply of drinking water.

Wildlife: The forest was strangely quiet. Not many birds or chipmunks or grey squirrels. A few red squirrels and whitetail
deer. The usual toads, frogs and lizards. Never encountered a snake. Never saw a moose but did observe moose evidence. Finally Loons. There were plenty. So interesting to watch them float along then dive for food. We frequentlyheard their eery calls throughout our days. Loons are a special feature of the Adirondacks.

Lean To’s: Most were very old but adequate. Sadly, no picnic tables though.

Privy’s: Old. Crude. I’ll just say that we were lucky that some had walls.

My final grade: B+