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

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reached the top of a steep hill. Hanging over a small side trail was a towel on which was painted uThe Gateway to the City. As we approached the 'Qcityf' we caught a glimpse of two cabins and two thirty-foot tepees. We called at the cahin marked Town Hallfi but Mr. Rondeau was not home. Down hy the river fthe city was on a hilly we saw a short man in deer skin clothes. Wlien the HlVlayor flVlr. Rondeauj came up, he said that he was ietunnng funn a nearhy nunnnain, where he had Hhushwhackedw kmthe summit. This explained the ten-inch knife at his helt. This sixty-year old veteran of the woods has hunted and trapped in this section for thirty years. Mr. Hondeau welcomed us with great enthusiasm since he visits civili- zation only onee a year. Williilgly he explained about the city which he had huilt. The tepees were made of six-inch logs, thirty feet high. These logs had deep notches cut every two feet. One tepee he used for a kitchen, using utensils that he had hammered out himself. The other was a summer house. He commented that in the winter, when it was forty degrees lxelow, he did , f-v +-P-' ,- xf Page 19 JZ 4,

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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

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not care to chop wood. To remedy this, he invented the tepee idea. When a log from a tepee is knocked down, it breaks up into firewood lengths as it hits the ground. Mr. Rondeau occupies the two permanent buildings in winter. Here he reads and plays his violin. These buildings have a sod wall built around the foundation. Rain gutters on the roof were chopped out with an axe by the builder. His hunting is done with a bow and arrow which he made. Bucksaw teeth filed to a keen edge supply him with arrow heads. With the skins he obtains he makes clothing, pouches, and other necessities. Fresh vegetables are grown in his garden. When asked if he became lonely, he replied, Strangers in any large city are lonelier than I am here. After seeing Rondeau, it seems to me that if you want to live to an old age and still have plenty of pep, the thing to do is to live out of doors. The last leg of the trip took us into Tupper Lake, where we had a great experience. No one in the party realized that wind could be so strong until we entered this lake. A very strong head wind caused us to take a couple of hours to go two miles. At times we had to paddle very hard just to keep from going backwards. The waves were five feet high, but after a hard struggle we reached shore. Early spring trips give additional surprises. Last Easter vacation I was entering a dark curve in the Delaware River when I saw huge blocks of ice on both sides. These blocks, which were eight feet high and a couple of feet thick in places, lasted for about a mile. A store keeper in Narrows- burg, New York, the town below this, explained that this was nothing unusual. Because of the many trees and high banks along this section the sun cannot shine on the blocks for any length of time each day. Almost anyone can take similar trips after a little experience in out- door cooking and camping. On the six day Adirondack trip we covered one hundred miles on foot and by water. The average cost per person, including food, boat rentals, and gasoline for transportation, was only 351.20 a day. CHARLES J. DITTMAR, June '39 Life will Hit by, and with it all my tears Run dry in the stupor of declining years, But hidden deep will be a sacred place Where dwells a ghost who bears your youthful face. Jacqueline Scully, January '39 Page 20