Cedar Lakes Trail WCW?

[VermontDacker]

The West Canadas have been on my list for a couple of years now, but I have yet to make it out there. It's at least a 5 hour drive for me, so not something to be done as a casual weekend trip. The seasonal road closures also limit the times of year I could get to the trailheads.

I'll get there eventually, wet feet and all. 😉

[Bagadeez04]

New forum member here. So glad to find this timely tidbit, as I'm about to embark on a 5-day trip on this loop with one of my kids on Sunday, our first tour in the Adirondacks. Thanks, Justin. And Ramblin'J for the amazing photos. I need a larger pack... trying to keep my kid's pack weight down and cramming the bulk into a 44L pack, now with appendages. Hah hah.

Ramblin'J, did you by chance noodle around Puddle Hole at all? I was planning to explore up to Pillsbury Bay and around to Whitney Lake, but it looks a lot marshier on the USGS 2019 Topo map than is marked in the ADK NG map.

Here's hoping to catch some trout for dinner (and thereby lament carrying as much food), maybe spot a moose, and hear those loons. I've been looking forward to finding out what brought Noisy Ridge and Noisy Bay their names.

Abe

How did you make out on your trip? 5 day...that's pretty impressive and inspiring as I have maxed out with 3 day trips with kids!

[DuctTape]

Funhouse bridge over Grassy brook is now complete. Handrails and other punch list items finished Wed Oct 5th.

[DSettahr]

The bridge is essentially complete as of last week, from a usability standpoint. There's still a little bit of work to be done (including installation of a hand rail on the longest/highest span) but it is now quite easy to get across the Grassy Brook crossing with dry feet.

The rest of the West Canadas is a completely different story. Muddy stretches of trail abound as usual, and you can certainly expect wet feet.

In particular, there is a nasty stretch of beaver flooding on the NPT just north/east of West Lake, where that trail crosses the West Lake outlet. The DEC is aware and my understanding is that there are tentative plans for DEC personnel to take an in-person look at this stretch sometime this Autumn to begin considering options for mitigating the issue (it will not be an easy/simple fix).

[VermontDacker]

Has the funhouse bridge been replaced as scheduled? Summer is over. :-)

[excitedVulcan]

Great pics! They take me back to when my father would take us hunting on Pillsbury mountain, as his father took him... Your images lift my heart... Thank you!

[Ramblin'J]

New forum member here. So glad to find this timely tidbit, as I'm about to embark on a 5-day trip on this loop with one of my kids on Sunday, our first tour in the Adirondacks. Thanks, Justin. And Ramblin'J for the amazing photos. I need a larger pack... trying to keep my kid's pack weight down and cramming the bulk into a 44L pack, now with appendages. Hah hah.

Ramblin'J, did you by chance noodle around Puddle Hole at all? I was planning to explore up to Pillsbury Bay and around to Whitney Lake, but it looks a lot marshier on the USGS 2019 Topo map than is marked in the ADK NG map.

Here's hoping to catch some trout for dinner (and thereby lament carrying as much food), maybe spot a moose, and hear those loons. I've been looking forward to finding out what brought Noisy Ridge and Noisy Bay their names.

Abe

Abe, sorry about the delay. I didn't make it to puddle hole, just went over to Sampson and back. I would say plan for extra travel time as much of the trail was swampy making for slow going. Didn't search out the cave either.

Good luck on the brookies and the moose I was looking for both but didn't see either on this trip though it looks to be great habitat for both.

Hope you have a great trip!

Joe

[ahendin]

Hoping to find French Louie's cave, too.

[ahendin]

New forum member here. So glad to find this timely tidbit, as I'm about to embark on a 5-day trip on this loop with one of my kids on Sunday, our first tour in the Adirondacks. Thanks, Justin. And Ramblin'J for the amazing photos. I need a larger pack... trying to keep my kid's pack weight down and cramming the bulk into a 44L pack, now with appendages. Hah hah.

Ramblin'J, did you by chance noodle around Puddle Hole at all? I was planning to explore up to Pillsbury Bay and around to Whitney Lake, but it looks a lot marshier on the USGS 2019 Topo map than is marked in the ADK NG map.

Here's hoping to catch some trout for dinner (and thereby lament carrying as much food), maybe spot a moose, and hear those loons. I've been looking forward to finding out what brought Noisy Ridge and Noisy Bay their names.

Abe

[Justin]

Very nice!

[Ramblin'J]

Thanks guys!

St.Regis, I wish I could say that I took these with an I phone, but my dumb ass likes to carry as much weight as possible, I've never weighed everything but I'm guessing the camera bag alone weighs 20lb-30lb.

[St.Regis]

X2 on the great photos...If those pics are from your phone, it just reinforces why I need to get a new one

[ILikeRocks]

Those photos are absolutely fantastic, nice job!

[Ramblin'J]

A few photos from the weekend...

[Ramblin'J]

So how did you make out?

Hey Justin, I was hoping to put up a trip report and post some photos but I can't seem to login in to the forum on my phone so no photos for now.

After arriving on Saturday morning of 4th of July weekend and checking the trail register / talking with other hikers in the parking lot we decided to call an audible. It looked and sounded like Cedar Lakes was going to be a popular destination for the weekend so we took an educated gamble that Pillsbury Lake lean-to would be open and we were correct. We had a group of 4 and 2 were on their first backpacking trip so the shorter hike was likely a better option anyway.

We had the lean-to and lake to ourselves for three days and did some side hikes during the day. A pair of loons provided the music for the weekend which was awesome and we had great weather. The only downside of Pillsbury is the shallow muck lined shore that kept us from swimming but a hike over to Sampson took care of that issue; that lake had a beautiful site and a great setup for swimming.

All in all things worked out well and I think all four of us plan on going back to explore more of the loop. Thanks again for the info

Cheers!
Joe