Forked Lake Posted Signs

[Jwojcik1990]

Maybe some can clear this up for me because I am a bit confused. I was recently on Forked Lake while paddling the NFCT and was a bit confused by the location of some posted signs on the lake. Looking at the DEC map it shows almost all of the land on the southern end of the lake between the canoe carry and the campground as DEC lands, but when I was there it was entirely covered with posted signs and thinking back I do not think any of them had a name on them. I am aware that sections of the western and northern end of the lake are posted and it accurately depicts this on the map but was a bit confused when seeing them all along the southern shore as well.

[snapper]

I'm sure others with more knowledge will chime in but I believe the Whitney family was able to post portions of the lake to keep people from paddling into their enclave. I may have that wrong but I'm pretty sure that's the story.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

[TCD]

The DEC map looks accurate.

I've never been there, but the DEC map appears to agree with Hamilton County GIS:

http://www.hamcomaps.net/

So that's not much help on the question. But the Whitney property is along the North shore of the lake, as you say. Not sure what they would gain from posting the South shore, as the South shore does not offer any access into Whitney property.

[montcalm]

According to the data TCD posted a gentleman named William S Gross owns a few acres on the south shore of Forked Lake. There are two separate plots, one is a long sliver of lake frontage that is boat access only and the other is a small square parcel, with road frontage and improvements (I'd assume a camp or house).

I'd guess that's your guy.

[montcalm]

He also seems to have 230+ acres on both Plumley Pond and the north shore of FL.

[DSettahr]

Yeah, Montcalm is right. If you look closely, there are two private inholdings surrounded by state land on the south side of Forked Lake. They are small enough that on a larger scale map, they'd be real difficult to spot. If you look real close, you can see one of them on the DEC map but the other is hidden by the icons for the boat launch and nearby tent sites at the north end of the carry from Raquette. Both inholdings are visible on the Nat Geo map but you have to look real close to spot them.

[montcalm]

Hmm, on the DEC map the 230 acres to the north is an easement called Camp Togus. According to the tax record, the person that owns that, owns the other two inholdings on the south shore.

And according to what I could find, camp Togus belonged to the Whitney's.

[Jwojcik1990]

I do see those areas, I guess I was just way off in judging the distance in my head. It seemed like the posted signs extended much further than that and deeper into connecting river there on the south.

[TCD]

And according to what I could find, camp Togus belonged to the Whitney's.

Yes, the Whitneys sold that land to Gross circa 1997. 24 years ago.

So it's not "Whitney Land" anymore.