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Five days wandering about the environs of Wolf Pond in the Five Ponds Wilderness https://www.facebook.com/paul.conklin.927/media_set?set=a.10217395103782030&type=3

I recently discovered an inaccuracy on a USGS map that led me to believe Little Fish Pond, half way between Cranberry and Lows Lake, was not part of the Five Ponds Wilderness. The actual boundary is about 400 ft. further east than depicted. This meant more than 50% of Little Fish is state...

I have been told the lake got its name from a strain of brooktrout that had particularly dark bellies. It is how it is labeled on the map and I know of no other name for the body of water, other than an even less accecptable one from older maps. It is located in the Five Ponds Wilderness in the...

I have always been a stool guy, preferring to have my buttocks firmly planted on a stationary seat. Some time ago, there was discussion here, I believe it was Mike, who touted the virtues of a wheeled office chair in the shop. I think he used the word weee to describe ease of mobility about a...

I have for sale a Hennessy sleep system. It is used but in good condition. Includes Hammock, Hugger Straps, Original Rain Fly (too small IMO), Under Cover and Under Pad. It is the Expedition Classic (bottom entry) with Insulation System (#1 Classic). Description and Specifications in the...

I prepared for a return to the West Canada Wilderness with hours of map study and by reading the journals of early 20th century adventurers Bob Gillespie and Harvey Dunham. I wanted to spend time around the big four, West, South, Mud and Brooktrout Lakes. I also had an itch to visit tiny...

May 12-17 2018 Paul Conklin (Curtis Mayfly) This report may seem similar to a trip I made last fall, indeed, I was in the same area but little of my route was traced. One of the joys of bushwhacking is finding new ways to get to the same place. On this trip, I would concentrate on the...

For Sale: Hybrid Canoe Pack from Cooke Custom Sewing, Pioneer model, standard torso, red, located in western New York. Used three times, very clean. I found that 4700 cubic inches is too much for my style of camping. Asking $100.00 https://www.shop.cookecustomsewing.com/product.sc?productId=193

I spent five days in the William C. Whitney Wilderness working on some personal goals while having opportunity to acquaint with some new folks. I came away with 3 new ponds and 10 new friends. Once again, I was amazed at how comfortable it is to meet new people around a campfire. Young and old...

With a favorable weather forecast predicted to last the whole week, an Adirondack trip plan was thrown together at the last minute. I would spend four days on the border between the Five Ponds and Pepperbox Wilderness...

I am late with this because of computer difficulties but things are now running smoothly and I wanted to share a report of an Adirondack adventure into the Pepperbox Wilderness from early this month. I overslept on the day of departure. This delay had the fortunate consequence of placing me...

My favorite time for an Adirondack adventure is as soon after ice-out as possible. It is likely that I'm antsy after a long winter, but in early spring, before the buds unfurl, the lay of the land is visible, there are things to be seen that in any other season could be missed. On page 369 of...

I Returned to the swelling of Alder Creek at Partlow Station to explore the vast beaver pond and two of the near by summits. https://www.facebook.com/paul.conklin.927/media_set?set=a.10208984717807637.1073741834.1607457177&type=3

I took four days to explore more of the Middle Branch Oswegatchie. I have traversed its route from the source at Walker Lake to the end of the Alder Bed Flow. This trip would concentrate on a section further downstream between the Jack-Works and Maple Hill. I was successful in reaching a point...

It was not an original idea but one I stole from William M. Harlow, a professor at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. The ESF alumni newsletter was publishing journal excerpts from his summer stay at the Cranberry Biological Station from the early 1920's. He and a companion...

Paul Conklin (Curtis Mayfly) April 18-22 2016 Only one new body of water was added to my list of significant ponds of the Five Ponds. Most of the areas I went through, I have been to before, but never had I carried a canoe to Willys, Walker or Hawk Ponds. In my opinion, there is no better...

A Walnut tree stood in the path of a village sanitation line and was sacrificed to the project for the good of the community. The tree was in a family member's back yard, so I laid claim and went at it with chainsaw, maul and wedges; splitting its trunk into manageable, straight-grained pieces...

A 1995 Bell Flashfire, Black Gold layup, Weight 35lbs. Ash gunwales have been removed and refurbished in and out with oil, new Conk seat, walnut seat drops and thwarts. Oh yea, I removed the ugly proboscis of vulnerable wood from the ends of the gunwales. I assess the condition of this canoe...

September 15-18, 2015 Paul Conklin (Curtis Mayfly) Should an Adirondack opportunity arise, I make sure to have a trip plan worked out and filed to memory. Therefore, when four days free of commitment and a fantastic weather forecast rolled around last week, I was ready to go. I would spend...

August 13-17, 2015 Paul Conklin (Curtis Mayfly) I made a looping five-day adventure into the Five Ponds Wilderness. Starting at the end of public access on the Bear Pond Road, I paddlewhacked my way through several ponds to reach the Great Opening or what some call, the Confluence. It is...