Author: Robert

Black Bear Mountain in Inlet NY

Posted on by Robert

Continuing the theme from our last adventure, Farah and I wanted more Adirondacks. This time we were not alone though, planning the weekend with our friends Alex and Katie. What started as a very ambitious plan for some fall camping, soon turned to the more reasonable plan of a nice autumn hike. It had been some time since I was on the top of Black Bear mountain in Inlet, and it was looking like the perfect day to ascend.

Black Bear Mountain trail map
Black Bear Mountain trail map courtesy CNY Hiking

Black Bear is down the road from Bald Mountain along route 28. It’s longer and more difficult than Bald. The trail forms a 4.9 mile lollipop with two choices to the top: the steeper blue trail and the longer but more mellow yellow trail.

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Tagged: Adirondacks, Hiking4 Comments

Fourth Lake Paddle to Alger Island

Posted on by Robert

The air has started to turn crispy in upstate New York and the dog days of summer are now in the rear view. Farah and I weren’t quite ready to let the summer go yet and have been squeezing the last bit of juice out of the warmer days.

Alger Island access point
Alger Island access point

We’ve spent a lot of time in the Finger Lakes over the last few months, neglecting our beloved Adirondacks. As a result Old Forge was square in our sites last Saturday for the last official paddle of the summer.

Old Forge was bustling when we drove down Main Street around 10am. The leaf peepers and fall aficionados were out in full force combined with the crowd of firefighters and their families who attended the weekend drill school.

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Tagged: Adirondacks, Paddling6 Comments

Green Lakes State Park

Posted on by Robert

Upstate New York is filled with state parks. I’ve lived within an hour of the Syracuse region for my entire life, but I had never heard of Green Lakes State Park until about 10 years ago when I first started dating Farah. Since then we have spent plenty of time in the park and it has become one of our favorite spots to visit.

Green Lakes State Park trail
Mulch Trail

The lakes were formed 15,000 years ago at the end of the ice age by waterfalls and are the remains of their plunge pools. The lakes are meromictic, meaning the layers of water don’t mix and the deep bottom of the lakes are devoid of life. Heavily dissolved minerals, specifically calcite, give the lakes their iconic green color.

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Tagged: Central NY7 Comments