Osegotchie--Griffin Rapids Trails Question

[gmagnes]

We paddled up the Oswegotchie from Inlet this past week end and stayed at the Griffin Rapids Leanto. Behind the leanto are two trails that lead to a small brook. There's a third trail (and probably others too) that leads past the privy that had some markers on it and looked reasonably well used at first. We followed the trail a little ways further in to a stream bed (maybe the same brook as noted above a little further up). On the other side of the stream bed it seemed to head up hill, but mostly seemed to kind of peter out. We didn't have the inclination (the women folk were getting restless and hesitant to explore trailess areas) to really search it out, but I wondered if anyone else out there is familiar with the trails in that area and knows how far it really goes and where it leads to.
thanks,
Gerry Magnes

[yellowcanoe]

Have you considered animal use? They tend to gather and use the same trail toward water..then it peters out in the forest going the other way as they disperse.

Lots of times there will be a circular trail around a lake..its a moose trail.

The other is the famous "firewood gathering trail" if you see no firewood near the start and more where it peters out.

[gmagnes]

Trail Mystery

Definitely not an animal trail. Much too well worn and as I mentioned, one of the trails even had some trail markers at the beginning. Could have been made by leanto tenants looking for firewood, but just seemed too much like a "real" trail. Based on the lack of response, guess I'll just have to get back there and explore a little further.
Gerry

[Bill I.]

The yellow trail markers you saw behind the lean-to were an attempt several years ago to guide campers to the intermittent streams back there, which would be a better drinking water source than the river when they are running. The marked trail did not continue any further.

Griffin Rapids is usually occupied by hunters when I pass through in November. They range out in the woods behind the shelter, perhaps scrutinizing some of those game trails...