Saranac Lake, NY
In June of 2019, I spent a weekend canoe camping on Lower Saranac Lake in New York’s Adirondack Park. I went with friends from Hudson Valley Hikers. HVH hikes have a reputation for being long, difficult, and fast. Our canoe camping events tend to be quite the opposite. Most of these trips are slow and relaxing. Canoe camping is also a nice departure from my normal minimalist backpacking style because it is easier to carry cooking equipment and real food.
After a recent backpacking and camping adventure in the Pharaoh Lakes Wilderness Area of New York’s Adirondack Park, a friend of mine who had just been camping with us decided that he’d like to give backpacking a try. He asked me for advice on what equipment he would need, and my first thoughts were, “well, you’re going to need a pack!”
Initially, I wasn’t sure what to suggest. He didn’t have a super compressible down backpacking quilt, and his big dome tent wouldn’t fit in even the most gargantuan of expedition packs. The truth was, he had to start from scratch, and that was good news. Starting from scratch meant avoiding most of the mistakes people make when they get into backpacking. I made those mistakes, and they cost me a lot of money and a bit of discomfort on the trail.
This is Part 3 in a series on my recent adventure in the Pharaoh Lakes Wilderness. In this section, I will discuss planning for the backpacking trip.
Planning for base camp is very easy compared to planning for backpacking. When you are backpacking, you rely much more on your planning and your wits than you do on your gear. It is very important to have a route mapped out and to understand the terrain, climate, and local restrictions. It is also very important to have a good understanding of the capabilities of your group, as I found out the hard way. Continue reading Adirondack Adventure 2014, Part 3: Planning for Backpacking
This year while planning for our trip to the Adirondacks, we had the idea to shoot a bunch of video and make a documentary. We didn’t end up taking as much video as we had planned, but I do have a few interviews to share with you over the next couple of days. This one features myself explaining the wood gas stove and showing off a few of my home-made backpacking meals. For more information on making your own wood gas stove, check out this video from Intense Angler. You can also check out my article on making homemade backpacking meals for some cool ideas on eating healthier on the trial. For a full trip report on my 2014 adventure in the Pharaoh Lakes Wilderness, click here.
Continue reading Homemade Wood Gas Stove and Backpacking Meals
This May, my friends and I embarked on the eighth installment of our annual retreat to upstate New York. This is the fifth year at our favorite campground: Putnam Pond in the Pharaoh Lakes Wilderness Area of New York’s Adirondack Park.
Continue reading Adirondack Adventure 2014, Part 1: Escape to Pharaoh Lake