The East Shore Of Black Pond, Headed South - Part 5

If you've been following these posts you know that my legs had become weak and I'd cut short our hike to Jenkins Mountain. We were returning to the trail head via the trail on the eastern shore of Black Pond which, I'd discovered to my chagrin, was considerably longer and hillier than that on the western shore. But that doesn't mean that I was not appreciating the gorgeous Adirondack scenery:

We were cresting a hill when off to the right I saw a huge rock jutting out into a hidden bay. The dogs ran down to investigate and I followed, though admittedly slowly:

This hidden bay or cove of Black Pond was absolutely pristine, an experience to make the heart sing even if one's legs are giving out:

The dogs, of course, trotted right down to the water's edge:

But soon we were back on the trail:

I passed by a hillside covered with Trailing Arbutus, a plant I recognized from others' nature blogs but had never seen before in real life:

I was limping painfully and slowly back toward the parking area. I passed a young woman, probably a Paul Smiths student and the only other hiker I'd seen all day. She was heading into the woods to enjoy a sandwich amid the natural beauty. I managed to straighten up and walk almost normally until we'd passed by her, and then limped the rest of the way back to the sign out book:

I loaded the happy dogs back into the car and then got in myself. Sitting down on a padded car seat never felt so good!:

Directly across from the parking are was this sign for the St. Regis Presbyterian Church:

I drove off the road to find the church and saw this magical building, looking like something in a fairy tale. But I couldn't imagine where their membership came from unless, perhaps, from Paul Smiths College. But my legs were far too sore and weak to get out and take a closer look. I photographed it from my car and then began the journey home. Winky and Wally were waiting for us back at the farm apartment:

The East Shore Of Black Pond, Headed South - Part 1

The dogs and I were backtracking, returning to the trail head since my legs became too weak to continue to the top of Jenkins Mountain. We were returning the way we'd come, following the trail trail southward along the western shore of Long Pond and Black Pond. We'd just passed Long Pond and I was relieved to see the trail sign saying Black Pond was just ahead:

There was a fish barrier dam between Long Pond and Black Pond, designed to prevent the spread of invasive species. I didn't have a trail map with me, but remembered that there was an alternate trail on the eastern shore of Black Pond. So I crossed the dam to access it. You can see in this photo that Seamus is halfway across the dam and the other dogs are already on the other side waiting for me:

We followed the small creek downstream, headed for Black Pond:

The mossy creek-side was a marvelous place for Clover to play and explore:

Yikes! Can you believe it? I found a bit of snow still remaining inside a hollow stump. And this was in May!:

The trail on the eastern side of Black Pond, it turned out, was more rugged and less level, taking us up into the forest and away from the water's edge in many places. My weak legs were beginning to get worse and I was slowing down more and more:

There was one canoe out in the pond and Daphne stopped to watch them. I tried to keep quiet to allow them the peace and serenity for which they'd come (in addition to the fishing):

Though my legs were deteriorating rapidly, I was enjoying the scenery. This was beautiful Adirondack country:

Though I stayed on the trail which was uphill from the pond, the dogs went down often to check out the shoreline:

The trail became steeper and rougher, with rocks and roots I found difficult to manage with my rapidly deteriorating legs:

I stopped to take a picture of the man and woman out in their canoe fishing. What a lovely scene!:

Finally, a smooth and level stretch of trail. It was most welcome as we made our way southward toward the trail head. But the east shore trail was proving to be considerably longer than the trail on the western shore. I'll post more tomorrow:

Long Pond, Heading South - Part 1

My legs had become weak and we were returning to the parking area. When the Jenkins Mountain trail intersected with the Long Pond trail, I turned south retracing our steps from earlier in the day:

The trail began through the forest, about halfway up the side of a large esker:

Yet still it was mostly level and easy walking:

In no time at all I saw Long Pond. We'd be arriving at its shoreline very soon:

My happy dogs had no leg weakness problems. They bounced and played their way along the trail:

Daphne has learned to return to me often and check to be sure I'm OK:

And then we arrived at the beautiful lean-to at which the college students had been camping when we passed it going north:

The campers had departed and the dogs ran down to the water's edge with great excitement:

And Seamus discovered the plank pier leading out into Long Pond. He was the first to arrive there and, of course, went right into the water:

The other dogs arrived just as Seamus was hauling himself out of the pond:

We all walked out to end of the pier for a look at the Adirondack loveliness. I'll post more tomorrow:

Jenkins Mountain Trail, Part 4

I'd decided that my weakening legs would not carry me to the top of Jenkins Mountain and had turned back toward the trail head. The views were still lovely and I was noticing things I hadn't seen before such as this vernal pond. This was April 30 and their were still no leaves on the deciduous trees in spite of our mild winter and early spring:

The dogs, of course, didn't care one whit about having to turn back early. It was all a wonderful, happy excursion for them in a beautiful setting:

We continued back past the supplemental dam which the beavers had built:

And Seamus waded in for a bit of cooling refreshment:

We again passed that rocky topped peak which I'd formerly thought was Jenkins Mountain and past the largest of the beaver ponds:

Sadly, my legs were feeling weaker by the moment and I no longer regretted having turned back. In fact, I began to wish I'd done so earlier. Daphne and Fergus kept their eyes on me as I began to slow down:

The trail broadened noticeably as we neared the intersection with the Black Pond/Long Pond trail:

Huh? I could only assume that some jokester had made a funny. Probably a Paul Smith's College student:

We were almost to the trail intersection and I was beginning to worry about my legs seeing me all the way back to the car. But the trail was broad, smooth and level so it was a simple matter to keep putting one foot in front of the other as I followed the dogs:

And it was a pleasant woodland, just beginning its spring burst of growth. I'll post more tomorrow:

Jenkins Mountain Trail, Part 3

The dogs and I had hiked the trail alongside Black Pond and Long Pond, then continued on when we intersected the Jenkins Mountain Trail. My formerly weak legs had been feeling fine until the trail turned steeper and then they began to tire rapidly. I was well past that rocky crag I'd thought was Jenkins Mountain and decided that new mountain just visible through the trees must be our destination:

My legs continued weakening noticeably, and I lay down in the leaves to rest while I enjoyed the views. I immediately noticed that my reclining was presenting me with a new, wonderful look at the local flora like these Trout Lilies:

And my own dogs were thrilled to have me down at their level. Daphne came leaping over a small log, headed directly for my head:

I was resting on a rather steep incline and the dogs kept a watch nearby:

Fergus and Seamus were happy to relax with me:

But Clover and Daphne, AKA "The Silly Sisters," continued their high energy woodland exploration:

I stood up to continue hiking but immediately realized my legs would not go any farther. I reluctantly began returning toward the trail head. The consolation for my disappointment was seeing so many beautiful things I'd missed the first time along the trail. These Spring Beauties, for example:

The dogs stopped at the base of an uprooted tree to sniff:

And that, I presumed, was Jenkins Mountain. I felt sad that I wouldn't get to see the view from its peak, but will surely have other opportunities in years to come:

And we began traversing the trail back the way we'd come, along the tops of the eskers. I'll post more tomorrow: