The Upper Saranac Lake Association Mailboat May 2014 Favorite Hikes and Paddles – from USLA members Karin Gale: Upper Saranac to Saginaw Bay to Weller Pond to Middle Saranac to Upper Saranac -Loop Karin Gale Bartlett Carry put in on Upper Saranac I am a devoted paddler and hiker, and manage to paddle this storms, so one needs to be very careful. Weller Pond is pretty, calm, loop at least two or three times every late spring/summer, some- and often the only inhabitants sighted have been a pair of Loons times with family/friends, sometimes solo. (before high summer season). I love to stop at Toc Island to swim One of my favorite places to paddle without getting into the around it, picnic, read, and relax, and then continue on to the inlet, car is from my dock on Doctor’s Island, up the Narrows, east into sometimes taking a left and meandering to Little Weller- another Saginaw Bay, a 1.5 mile carry (about 1/2 hour hike) to Weller Pond. pretty diversion, or most often paddling directly ahead to Hungry The carry leads up a rise for 2/3 of the trek. When I pass a huge Bay of Middle Saranac Lake. boulder on my left, I get excited because that marks where the trail The inlet has a slight, smooth current, and it is an absolute starts to descend. Toads of copper, silver, and brown can often be pleasure to drift along among the pickerel weeds, lily pads, and spotted along the trail. There are a few wooden foot bridges placed wild Iris, while listening to the babbling and songs of the frogs along the mucky wet areas, sometimes submerged depending on in the surrounding thicket. As the inlet opens into Hungry Bay, the amount of rainfall delivered by those exciting Adirondack Continued on page 3 Visit www.uppersaranac.com The USLA Mailboat May 2014 UPPER SARANAC LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC. President’s Message P.O. Box 872 Saranac Lake, NY 12983 Jon Landsberg www.uppersaranac.com The USLA Mailboat Happy Spring! Lynne Perry, Editor Spring is that time of renewal, when we dust off the cobwebs of winter and step outside Harry Wirtz, Layout/Design into the sun. Most people in the Northeast have been enjoying spring for some time now, but in the Adirondacks it’s not until mid May that we’re sure winter is gone. This year BOARD OF DIRECTORS particularly, after a long and especially cold winter season, do we cautiously embrace spring’s arrival. OFFICERS For me, a sure sign of the change of season is the barrage of emails and phone calls President, Jon Landsberg (891-6885) regarding issues that need to be dealt with for the upcoming summer season on the lake. Vice President, Susan Hearn (359-8136) Many are regarding the preparations for opening camp, like the chimney guy who wants Secretary, Jeff Dickson (534-2731) to know if I’m finally going to make those repairs I’ve been putting off. Others involve Treasurer, Jay Kapolka (359-7298) USLA matters, many of which are written about elsewhere in this issue of the Mailboat. I think after you have read this issue you’ll appreciate the amount of work that has COMMITTEE CHAIRS been done by the members of your board to help ensure a safe and enjoyable summer Communications: Sara Sheldon (637-4304) season. I want to personally thank them for their time and talents to that end. Cultural: Susan Hearn (359-8136) I also want to invite everyone to come to one of our membership meetings this sum- Environmental: Barbara Franklin (891-6649) mer to meet your neighbors and to add your voice to the conversation about Upper Government Affairs: Cindy Rosenwald (891-0818) Saranac Lake. Nominating: Charles Svenson (891-9256) Until then, I hope you have an easy time opening camp and have a wonderful Membership: Dean Butts (891-8433) summer season. Safety: Michelle Brown Garcia (891-3905) Jon Landsberg ZONE CHAIRS Zone 1 Bob Tate (891-1269) USLA Receives Grant Zone 2 Michael Specht (891-4307) Zone 3 Bo Dixon (891-0688) for Lake Steward Program Zone 4 Cindy Rosenwald (891-0818) Zone 5 Dick Gunthert (891-4138) The Lake Champlain Basin Program has awarded the Upper Saranac Lake Association a Zone 6 Jeff Dickson (524-2731) $15,000 grant to be used in a Watershed Stewardship Program on Upper Saranac Lake this Zone 7 Mary Jane Staufenberg (891-1428) summer to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Zone 8 Jane Oravec (891-5992) The grant will allow a lake steward to be posted at the boat launch 4 days per week with an additional day to be used in a research project to be determined. The lake steward will Zone 9 Nancy Howard (359-9177) be posted under the direction of the Paul Smith’s College Watershed Stewardship Program. Zone 10 Fran Ward (359-7940) The USLA board at it’s last board meeting approved a 1-year pilot program to test the Zone 11 Bill Mansfield (359-2217) effectiveness of posting a steward at the NYS boat launch. After that decision was reached Zone 12 Airlie Lennon (359-7417) our lake manager Guy Middleton advised us that a grant opportunity was available. A MEMBER AT LARGE grant application was submitted and the grant was approved with the agreement signed Tom Swayne (359-7679) on March 15th. The objectives of the program includes the inspection of boats entering and leaving Mike Bonheim (891-8074) Upper Saranac Lake, educating the boating public about invasive species and compiling HONORARY DIRECTORS data for use in measuring and tracking aquatic invasive species. Charlie Ritchie, Jr. (891-4288) It is anticipated that the steward will spend some of the time at the Fish Creek Pond Campsite boat launch, as this is another point of entry onto Upper Saranac Lake. The pro- USL SCHOLARSHIP FUND, INC. gram will run for a period of 15 weeks from May through August. President: Bruce Holran (891-8447) Jon Landsberg Secretary/Treasurer: Sally B. Ritchie (891-1713) DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR Membership Report WEBSITE ADMINISTRATOR Sara Sheldon (637-4304) Membership Dues Statements were mailed on April 8th. Renewal dues are coming in [email protected] quickly. If you have not already done so, please return the Form and your check for $45 promptly to save USLA the expense of sending reminders. If you have misplaced the self Photo of the mailboat, “Saranac”, courtesy of the addressed envelope provided, the USLA mailing address is: Box 892, Saranac Lake, NY Adirondack Collection, Saranac Lake Free Library 12983. THANK YOU to all who have already renewed for 2014. © 2013 USLA If you prefer, you may visit our website: www.uppersaranac.com and renew your mem- bership online. Many members use PayPal as a convenient way to submit their $45 annual dues. Your support is appreciated. Like us on Facebook Dean Butts, Membership Chair www.facebook.com/UpperSaranac 22 Visit www.uppersaranac.com The USLA Mailboat May 2014 Karin Gale: Upper Saranac to Saginaw Bay to Weller Pond to Middle Saranac to Upper Saranac -Loop Continued from page 1 directly ahead is one of many lovely campsites. This particular gear for the day, and collapsing. What better fun, good exercise and one has a special plaque dedicated to Martha Reben, the author relaxation can one experience on a beautiful Adirondack day? This of The Healing Woods, a must read for those of us who love the trip can take an afternoon, or the day, depending on how much Adirondacks. Her campsite is along the northwest shore of Weller time is spent stopping and exploring/relaxing on shore. behind Toc Island. Middle can often be quite windy, choppy, and a good strong stroke is needed, but is doable. A wonderful beach/ Dean Butts — campsite on the northwest shore is another great stopping point, before entering the most open part of the lake. There are several Some of my favorite hikes: campsites and islands on Middle Saranac that one can stop at and Jay Mountain rest. Many have picnic tables and outhouses. There is a new trail leading 2.7 miles to the first lookout Continuing on towards the southeastern shore of Middle, some which provides a spectacular 360 view. This new trail has large rocks poking out of the water and channel markers come into easy grades with a short scramble at the end. From this look- view on the right. Head directly towards them to enter the inlet out, ambitious hikers can proceed 1.5 miles along an open to Bartlett Carry (1/2 mile or so) to ridge to the real summit of Jay Mtn. Upper Saranac. Paddling the inlet, I Owls Head Lookout have seen eagles and ospreys, as well A 2 mile easy hike to open summit with good views. A as many ducks. The carry ascends to short 1/10 mile climb at end, otherwise a beautiful walk the dirt road where one bears right through hardwood forest. and follows, still rising, curving, before descending to the lake on the Rooster Comb left. The woods are thick with trees About 2.7 miles to summit with great views. A bit of a and mosquitoes in this last section, scramble at the end. so make sure to bring insect repellent. These hikes are described in greater detail in most guide- Thankfully, this last carry is short, and books. The best thing about these hikes is they are LESS the water and mountain views as one Karin Gale TRAVELLED even on beautiful days. enters Upper Saranac from a tiny sliv- Eagle on Bartlett Carry er of sandy beach are spectacular.