chapter 550
2/24/2020
Saranac Lake
the heart of the northcountry
My main goal was to capture the sunset from Baker Mt (All Trails). We had to hustle up the slope a bit to hit the right timing but succeeded. Although it was a mild 30 degrees the moderate wind at the top was freezing my fingers to the point of frostbite as I shot numerous pans. A mile behind our hotel this 2 hour 2 mile round trip is the least difficult of the Saranac Lake 6er group of mountain climbs. Not our goal to become checklist hikers but this is a nice climb.
Ampersand Mountain is a large mountain about in the center of the picture, another future goal (between Kiawasa Lake on right and Oseetah Lake left). Mid right side is nearby Dewey Mountain and the Dewey Mountain Recreation Center where cross country ski, snowshoe and mountain bike races are held. Saranac Lake village on right just obscured by pine branches past the small Moody Pond trail head.
It was gorgeous and we spent nearly an hour up there. The sun goes down over the distant mountains past frozen Lower Saranac Lake. Our Village in near foreground.
Young preteen Colton Clement did a great job narrating this hike.
Coming down with head lamps was sort of magical with the sunset and mild temps. Colleen has upgraded microspikes to the trail crampons which give four times the traction of her previous pair. As we left the parking lot we encountered about 6 deer passing over the Moody Pond and road in front of us. Got some semi blurry pictures. The deer seem to be all over the place everywhere we noticed on this weekend.
We had come into town just as the sun was getting low on the horizon. It illuminated the renowned ice castle to my liking for a quicky pic. I'd thought it was just a tourist gimmick but the tradition dates back to 1897 cutting ice from adjacent Lake Flower. Impressive.
The next day we did 4 miles on the St. Regis Mountain trail up past Paul Smiths College (environmental). We were mocking Brian and Brittany's_hiking all day adventures calling ourselves Terry & Colleen hike all day and all night. But just in fun, their videos are very entertaining and informative.
We had stayed in the historic Hotel Saranac The Grand Ball Room here was a nice place to lounge (no microspikes allowed). Built in 1927 but recently renovated it has class but in a simple way. Mark Twain and Albert Einstein used to sit on this couch contemplating their next excursions just like me.
Lake Flower in the morning. It comes right into town and was named after Governor Flower who got the stumps removed after the town was founded by a lumberman in 1827 who clearcut the whole area and had a lumber mill right on these left banks. This becomes the Saranac River as it passes over a little power dam to the right.
The area has a definite down home country feel to it. Would love to have a little cabin up there. Just past Lake Flower is the upstream water body Oseetah Lake. There's a little cabin there beautifully described in a video that would be nice.
A successful town wide psychic cleansing was performed to put the spirits at ease after all the deaths that resulted in its tuberculosis curative times.
On the way home decided to journey via Long Lake. This becomes the Raquette River. A visit to Hoss's General Store is always required as they have everything.
We considered hiking the Chimney Mountain Trail but I wanted to snowshoe out on this adjacent Kings Flow pond which is part of the Siamese Ponds Wilderness instead. There was a little communication lapse here and the snowshoeing became just an abbreviated exercise but enough to get this picture looking at Humphrey Mountain.
.