Backpacking in the Adirondacks, July, 2002
After getting a couple of books on the Adirondacks, Guillaume, Katya, Erica and I decided to make a long weekend into a short backpacking trip. We found a nice area around Pharaoh Mountain, where an 18 mile trail leads in a loop passing about a dozen or so ponds. It seemed a great place to have our introduction to the Adirondacks.
Ready, rearin' to go campers. Let's load up the car and ...
wait for the boot man to come take away our troubles. Damned boot man! We were less than an hour over the 2 hour limit, with no outstanding tickets and we got the boot! Apparently we got a boot because we were in a residential zone without a permit (ticket #1) AND we were over the 2 hour limit (ticket #2). The flaw in this logic is that the two hour limit only applies if you don't have a resident's sticker. In total, $15 for each ticket, $50 and 2 and a half hours to get the boot off, and $5 fee to use a credit card to pay for it (no cash or check accepted) -- $85 and our car sat there 2 and a half hours longer than it would have if we hadn't got the boot. We were thrilled.
And to add insult to injury the emblem on the boot truck says "Let Jersey Prosper". Here's Katya and Erica standing in the way of me leaving a territorial marking in the back of the boot truck with some of my special home brewed prosperity.
After a long day of travelling we were a bit worried when we pulled up to our parking spot with the sun waning and sprinkles of rain hitting our windshield. After a few last minute changes in the hiking plans we were surprised to find the lean-to and wonderful view waiting for us at Oxshoe Pond.
In the morning we headed off to spend our second night at Rock Pond.
Lots of little critters along the way.
We were pleasantly surprised to find this waterfall along the way as well.
Guillaume and Erica took the opportunity to cool off with a shower.
Group picture in front of the waterfall.
The campsite at Rock Pond was great. The best of the trip.
But nothing could beat the swimming at Clear Pond.
On the way back to the car Katya found she had a good size nail in her shoe.
That's a big nail 'was in my shoe.
After four days of pure nuttiness in the woods, we were bug bitten, smelled something terrible and were on our way to be assimilated back into society.
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