LOCALadk Magazine

rock or boulder field. Looking out for each other, taking breaks for hydration, adjusting gear and footwear, taking a look at the map and direction of travel, and what may lay ahead in our planned route were all part of the equation of back-country navigation and travel, especially the looking out for each other part. e physicality and strain of the trip, overcoming obstacles and difficulties, the unknown of what may lie ahead, and the spirit of adventure, all added up to a feeling of mutual respect and camaraderie in the group as we bushwhacked through the high country. Eventually, we arrived at our Day 1 camp, an area by a beautiful pond that afforded the chance to make camp, relax, and explore the pond by canoe. John and I had brought fishing equipment and proceeded to fish for brook trout. However, probably owing to the high prove fruitless on this trip. It should be noted that overland travel through trail-less wilderness does require a certain mindset: For one thing, the speed of travel is a fraction of what it would be on a marked trail. Secondly, bushwhacking through such remote country puts a heavy responsibility on the traveler to avoid situations that might result in injury. erefore, slow, methodical travel was the rule, and as we penetrated deeper into the wilderness, this sense of personal responsibility only grew. On the second day, we broke camp and started out by crossing the pond to its north shore, where another bushwhack awaited. Mercifully, this day's route was on fairly level ground, and it wasn't too long before we reached the lake that was our objective for that day. Because it was still morning when we arrived, we had the chance to paddle for hours on the lake and relax on a beautiful rock outcropping at our campsite. is rock proved to be a good place for cooking, using the lightweight portable stoves each of us had brought. Anne and I had fun comparing her new high-tech stove to my old Optimus 99 stove. Her stove was easy to light and provided instant heat output. My old Optimus required a "primer" fire in a little well to heat the gas in the fuel tank to pressurize it. I have always found it a good idea to use this stove right next to water just in case things get out of hand. We also had the opportunity to search for—and ultimately find—the remnants of an old hunting camp that existed up until the early 1970s in this remote part of the Adirondacks. We had learned of its rough location by retired Forest Ranger Terry Perkins, but knowing its general location and finding it are two different things. However, aer some searching, we found the remains in a small clearing. 20 LOCALadk

• Cover