Richmond Hill High School - Archway / Dome Yearbook (Richmond Hill, NY)

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ON TI-IE TRAIL EVEN with all the modern inventions and conveniences, man has not lost his love for the woods. Many a man who would not think of shoveling the snow off the front walk in winter may work twice as hard in the summer-time shooting a rapid in some remote river or climbing a mountain with a fifty- pound pack on his back. The Appalachian Trail, the most famous hiking trail in the East, ex- tends from Maine to Georgia. Our own state has built many trails and canoe routes through the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains. These are clearly blazed with route markers of different colors so that one will not lose his way. Maps are obtainable for any trip from the Conservation Department at Albany. This sport has interested people of both sexes and all ages. When I was traveling through the Adirondacks two years ago, I met a seventy- year-old couple who had many extra conveniencesg such as, battery electric lights, a large A tent, and a folding mattress plus the regular equipment. This year I passed a couple of woman school teachers portaging their sixty- pound canoe equipment. Many of these trails connect lakes and rivers and so enable travelers to take extended trips. An advantage of this type of travel is that one can stop in a pleasant, quiet place whenever he pleases. All along the state trails are Adirondack lean-tos with large fireplaces in front of them. The general belief that camp cooking is full of dirt and either burned or not cooked enough is false. With the aid of a folding reflector oven, which is placed before the fire, one can bake pies, cakes, biscuits, and bread. Also on the menu may be hot cereals, soups, steak, dessert, and other foods to balance the diet. Food is carried in water-proof bags so as to protect it and save space as the quantity diminishes. As soon as the novice paddles into his first lake or turns the first corner of the trail, he realizes that he is going to see something he never could have seen while motoring. As an example, I shall relate a few experiences I have had on recent trips. Six fellows and I launched our three canoes in Blue Mountain Lake, New York. We followed the steamboat route, which was the only means of transportation in the Adirondacks many years ago. Now one of the old steamboats houses a tea room at Blue Mountain. As we passed into Eagle Lake through a three foot channel, someone noticed that the banks were Page I7

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While all thoughts slept in innocence A cloud, hiding the whole from view, Blew up over the mountains, Turned black the sky-from blue. Upon an unsuspecting, sleeping world, Tempestuous in lilind fury and rage, It reached out its hands, bewildering The youngest, the oldest, and the sage. It uncovered lovely, hidden things And tore them away with pain- Caught them in indecision Between the wind and the rain. Ruth lVlacNeal, January '41

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reinforced with logs to make the channel deep enough for a large boat. At the end of a third lake, which was also connected by a channel, was an old railroad track. This line connected two lakes which were too far apart to connect with a canal. Since the line was long out of use, it was safe to portage over the tracks, which made the only path through the forest. An old engine and cars were scattered along the way. Each canoe was carried by one fellow. The others carried packs on their shoulders by means of a utumpf, which is a leather strap placed over the top of the head, attached by ropes to the pack. Along the river into which we portaged were many species of birds. This river led into Raquette Lake, which is ninety miles around because of its many coves. From this lake we portaged into Forked Lake, which is almost entirely surrounded by trees. Out on the lake, the branches of every tree seemed to start growing at the same height, forming a continuous line around the body of water. We believed that the deer ate the foliage as far up as they could reach leaving every tree bare from the ground to this uni- form height. When paddling on this same lake two years ago a great blue heron flying over us dropped a fish which almost hit our canoe. The most enjoyable part of the trip was up Cold River, which is about twenty miles from the end of Forked Lake. Few people take this trip since the river is navigable for only a few miles. When the water became too low to float the canoes, we beached them and started on foot with food and two blankets apiece. Our destination was the home of a hermit, fourteen miles up the river. The unmarked trail, which led through grass five feet tall in the meadows and swampy woods, was followed only by keeping near the river. At the mid-point of the trip we came to a forest ranger's cabin. Here we forded the stream and continued on a marked trail, which led entirely through Wooded land. Wet places were made passable by placing heavy logs across them. Where large trees fell across the narrow path, the Con- servation Department had sawed out a section just large enough for a person to walk through. One such tree was two feet thick. One bridge across the river consisted of only two logs. It was quite a thrill to cross this with a pack. At another place in the river was a large natural dam, at the bottom of which was an excellent place for a swim. We stopped here for the night in a lean-to. Further on the trail we saw a tree growing on top of a two foot rockg the roots came off the side and went into the ground. On this trail were also several very large trees, one so large that three persons could just about encircle it. We were now at our destination, for a surprise greeted us after we Page 18