favorite remote ponds & lakes

[mphilli2]

Now that I have a light solo and won't mind long carries--will even look forward to them--I'd appreciate reading about your favorite remote water. Why did you like the pond or lake? If the pond has no designated camping sites, did you have any trouble finding level and somewhat open ground for your tent? Did you fish?

Thanks for the help.

[Wldrns]

Now that I have a light solo and won't mind long carries--will even look forward to them--I'd appreciate reading about your favorite remote water. Why did you like the pond or lake? If the pond has no designated camping sites, did you have any trouble finding level and somewhat open ground for your tent? Did you fish?

Thanks for the help.

I'm sure they wouldn't remain my favorite remote ponds for long if I were to publish them here.
Just look on a map to find your own... the possibilities are limitless if you can carry a half mile or more, and you are comfortable with a compass and can do terrain navigation. It then becomes difficult to select a "favorite" location because there are so many interesting new remote places to visit. Having said that, I spend a lot of time in the western third of the Adirondacks. There's nothing like being the only person paddling on a wilderness pond, likely the only person to have been there in years. Good places to see a moose or two.

When in such fine places, years ago I gave up the often futile search to settle for even the tiniest of uncomfortable soggy lumpy and brushy tent sites. There's no such thing as "level open ground". With a hammock my search time has shrunk from previously what often was an hour or more to now just a couple of minutes most anywhere I choose to be. Being the western (acid rain soaked) side of the region, far too many ponds are dead and fishless, but then a number of them are not.

[Adk Keith]

I would echo what Wldrns said (except I am in the SE section of the Park). Even the ponds with trails to them become new adventures when you can get on the water, instead of walking around it.

To find new waters, check the topos then go find some aerial photos of the area and start exploring. You may carry the canoe for miles and never wet the bottom and then again you may find waters that no one has ever paddled.

[Bill I.]

Haven't found my favorite pond yet... gotta keep looking... so many candidates!

And once I've paddled them all, I've got to paddle them again to make my decision...

[paddlewheel]

Queer Lake (yep...that's the name) by Inlet is a great paddle and a nice liitle romp....I think it's like 5&1/2 miles in, but worth the carry...great place to have a pac canoe....Bass Lake in North Hudson is another favorite-2 mile trail from Moriah Road.......pac-boats are great .....I have a 10.6 kevlar wee lassie from the old defunc Apple Line Co. out of Scotia....Happy paddlin' & luggin'......pw

[pondhopper]

Buckhorn Pond(s) is/are nice. Lots of water to explore..........


(heh)

[Swamp Booger]

wildriver,
I like the way you think!!!

[Graybeard]

.......I gave up the often futile search to settle for even the tiniest of uncomfortable soggy lumpy and brushy tent sites. There's no such thing as "level open ground". With a hammock my search time has shrunk from previously what often was an hour or more to now just a couple of minutes most anywhere I choose to be........

Amen. The only good thing about tents in wooded areas is that they keep their owners away from the most desirable and private areas, ponds, and sites.

[Grey-Jay]

I found my favorite waters with work-using McMartins Discover series, top maps, driving around. It took many years to find my favorites and not-so favorites. I encourage you and all to do the same-searching for them is half the fun.

[mphilli2]

Yes, work. LOL. Well, that's what I do all week to put food on the table, not including the trout & bass. I enjoy searching, but since I can can only make it to the Adirondacks, a seven hour drive, once or twice each year, I enjoy and appreciate suggestions as well.

I think it was Scarlet who said, "The best thing about the ADK Forum is the kindness of strangers."

[RobertRogers]

I agree- I used to tell people favorite spots I bushwhacked to. A few actually became popular - and trashed

[Rich Lockwood]

Yes but

I understand WLDNRS's sentiment,but some of us travel along way for a fruitless trip and have limited time oportunities to experience the ADKs.We may also not have the expertise to scope out a prime destination yet.The "Grey Beards" need to consider passing on the knowledge they have acumilated.
Turtle

[Wldrns]

I understand WLDNRS's sentiment,but some of us travel along way for a fruitless trip and have limited time oportunities to experience the ADKs.

I don't mean to sound crass, but the unfortunate fact that someone lives hours away from the trailhead is not reason to publicly broadcast favorite places of remote solitude to the world. There are plenty of guide books that do that already. Even though I live close to the western Adirondacks, which means I've made hundreds of trips into the "remote" interior in my lifetime, I can't say I've ever had a fruitless or otherwise bad trip that I regretted taking. Every trip into the woods is a good one, and IMO the less commonly traveled the better. There are so many such places that are easy to find, any one of them can be considered a favorite for several different reasons. So selecting just one or a few is meaningless anyway because I'm always looking for new places I've never been. But they all require study and preparation, even by us grey beards.

As I said earlier, a bit of homework in map study, public knowledge of state land boundaries, and a willingness to leave behind commonly traveled trails will get you into hundreds of wondrous remote places. Scoping out an area begins at home, where ever that may be. One way of finding new places to explore is to study existing guide book descriptions, then just let your gaze wander to nearby places not otherwise mentioned. Expect a little work to get there, which may be the only reason the guide book does not describe it. When you find such an area that looks appealing, call the local DEC Ranger on the phone. If you sound like you are reasonably competent and have studied the area, I know he/she will give you plenty of additional details to complete your plans. The point is you have to do a little work for yourself. All of that can be done from anywhere you reside. Living nearby or far away doesn't make any difference or make it any easier/harder - it's just as much fun for me as for anyone.

[Bill I.]

I understand WLDNRS's sentiment, but some of us travel along way for a fruitless trip and have limited time oportunities to experience the ADKs. We may also not have the expertise to scope out a prime destination yet. The "Grey Beards" need to consider passing on the knowledge they have acumilated.
Turtle

Not to assign labels to people or attempt to put words in other people's mouths...

...but simply to offer one possible point of view...

Someone "local" to the Adirondacks and the surrounding counties would very likely consider a person who lives far away and with limited backwoods expertise a "tourist", by definition, and would naturally be hesitant to give such a person information to any destination off the beaten path. The "lack of expertise" in itself is a major show-stopper. I certainly wouldn't send someone off to the hinterlands if I thought they weren't up to the challenge. That would be irresponsible on my part.

Not that I'm saying that's the case here. Just speaking hypothetically, trying to offer an explanation as to why some people might be guarded in the information they might give out.

I have certainly come under criticism several times myself for the information I have offered--not here, but in other venues.

Happy hiking.

[mphilli2]

Yeah, I can see why it's important to keep outsiders out. It's not like it's public land or anything.
Plus it's for our own good.