Madawaska Pond - Part 3

The dogs and I were hiking along Madawaska Pond in the Adirondacks (see also Parts 1 and 2, posted previously), and came to a sort of peninsula where people had been camping:

The dogs immediately ran to a big rock next to the water. It was very steep and the water there was deep, so I was a little worried:

And just as I'd feared, both Fergus and Seamus fell in. Fergus was strong enough to climb up the rock and get out, but Seamus was not. I tried to encourage him, but as he tired out, I realized this had crisis potential. I couldn't go in wearing my leg braces and might not be able to get back out myself if I tried. So I hooked two six foot leashes together and looped one end. I lassoed his head with it and hauled him up the steep rock and out of the water:

Seamus had to rest for awhile after his rescue, and the other dogs got to explore the campsite on the peninsula while he recuperated:

But pretty soon, he was back on his feet and I called Clover to come with us:

Daphne, I learned, had also gone into the water but had found a safe place to do it. She too stopped her play and came with us as we returned to the main trail:

Before turning back toward our car, we went to look at the old dam, which blocks Quebec Brook to form Madawaska Pond. It was so decrepit that I began to wonder if it was the reason for the low water level. The Adirondacks has strict rules about leaving most places natural, so it may be that they will not repair the dam. That would be a shame:

The dogs were overjoyed again to be on the trail, though their previous excess of energy had by that time been much reduced:

Seamus was tired, wet and subdued. Jack was still a bit shaken and stinky, and the other dogs had run off some of their exuberance, meaning that I got to walk peacefully with my dogs as we returned on the trail to our parked car:

I knew this wildflower immediately from previous hikes. It was Whorled Aster, a sure sign of coming autumn:


Madawaska Pond was on our right, the forest on our left and soft, aromatic pine needles underfoot:

Almost back to the trail head, I felt grateful for a wonderful hike in a beautiful forest:

Whitehill Wild Forest - Part 2

My sister and I were hiking with the dogs in the White Hill Wild Forest and had left behind the lovely shores of Clear Pond (see yesterday's post), following the trail into the Adirondack forest. We kept seeing this interesting flower. I looked it up when I got home and learned that it is the Whorled Wood Aster, Aster acuminatus:

The day was so hot and muggy that it would have been unbearable if it wasn't for the shade the trees gave us:

We crossed numerous small streams, where I struggled because of my braces and the dogs got cool and wet:

Another small, common, woodland flower (with a mushroom). I looked it up when I got home and learned that it is Dewdrops, Dalibarda repens, in the rose family:

We passed several beaver swamps, lovely and wild, alive with all manner of aquatic wildlife:

And the dogs scrambled across the rocks to investigate:

My sister and I stayed near the trail and just appreciated the view:

Daphne and Jack went exploring:

Clover and Daphne climbed rocks and Jack took a drink. Seamus, bulky and with a thick, black coat, was getting uncomfortable. We got him back into the shade as quickly as possible:

Another interesting plant, this one with opposite leaves and red colored flower buds. I thought I knew what it was but confirmed it when I got home. It was the Marsh St. Johnswort, Hypericum virginicum, the only St. Johnswort which doesn't have yellow flowers:

The forest floor had lots of interesting fungi, but few as colorful as this golden mushroom:

And then we arrived at Little Rock Pond:

Daphne and Clover climbed down a very steep rock to get near the water, making me nervous. We still wanted to get all the way to Long Pond, so we kept hiking. I'll post Part 3 tomorrow: