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Does the US Senate or US House Represent Rural Folks More?

That’s an interesting thought. The United States Senate has two senators for each state, while the US House is propotionally represented. While an urban state like New York State recieves 29 representives, we only get two senators, a rural state like Vermont recieves only 1 representive and 2 senators.

Another View of Timbered Lands

In theory, that would mean a rural state like Vermont, Wyoming, North Dakota, or even Iowa would have have a disproptionate impact on the legislation through the US Senate. While it’s true that such states have more of a voice in the US Senate, it’s not clear rural residents get more representation in the US Senate.

Why not? For one thing, US Senate districts are larger. Much larger, typically covering whole states. The problem is that by representing complete states, every senator represents both urban and rural areas, and in most states, urban populations outnumber rural portions of states.

South End Housing Projects and 787

If any thing, urban consituencies have more power in the US Senate then the US House. There are representives in US House Districts that are predominately rural, in contrast to even rural states, where population is dominated by urban centers — such as Burlington, Vermont.

Floodwood Loop in St Regis Canoe Area

On a nice weekend, expect many people to be joining you on the ever popular Floodwood Loop in the Saranac Lake Wild Forest. While technically not part of the Saint Regis Canoe Area, this area is considered part of series of ponds that makes up this area, and this loop is the most popular of all the canoe routes in this area.

Big Alderbed

Alternatively, take a look at this Google Map of the loop. Balloons are designed campsites, there are no charge to use these sites. Red lines are portages and other trails.

At around 10 AM I headed out. Bright sunny day, a lot of glare. None of the ponds are paticularly large.

Heading Out on Floodwood Pond Loop

The Fish Creek between the ponds is quite narrow, and don’t be surprised if you hit some traffic. In parts the current can be fairly swift, although one can still paddle up or down stream with relative ease, just avoid the other boats.

Fish Creek

Heading Into Little Square Pond

Little Square Pond

Bright Day on the Lake

Spatterdock on Fish Creek

Coppreas Pond

Heading Across Coppreas Pond

Traffic on Coppreas Pond

Canoe Carry to Whey Pond

There is a 1/4 mile portage between Copreas Pond and Whey Pond. Despite being mostly sandy soil, with some roots, do NOT drag your kayak, if you want to avoid putting holes in it, as I learned the hard way.

Poliwogs on Whey Pond

Trees Along Whey Pond

Out on Whey Pond

Paddling Across Whey Pond

There also is another short portage over a road, and through the Rollins Pond Campground, after you leave Whey Pond.

Passing Rollins Pond Campground

Heading Across Rollins Ponds

Traffic on Rollins Pond

Past Swimming Beach at Rollins Pond

Narrow Passage Between Rollins Pond and Poliwog Pond

Back Out on Floodwood Pond

Towards St Regis Mountain

St Regis Mountain

Parked a Campsite on Floodwood Pond

Designated Campsite on Floodwood Pond

Private Kayak

Small Island

Heading Back Into Shore

Overview of the Saint Regis Canoe Area, including other ponds and all of campsites.

At the Shore

And if you prefer roadside camping with a trailer or pickup truck cap, take a look at these sites.

… I hope you enjoyed these pictures and maps from the Floodwood Loop.

Kayaking Woodhull Lake

To get to Woodhull Lake, you have to take McKeever Road from NY 28 in McKeever (1/2 mile before it crosses the Moose River, then drive back about 6 miles on a dirt truck trail known as Wolf Lake Landing Road. You put in at Wolf Lakes Landing, which is named after one of the lakes that Woodhull Lake covered when it was dammed up to form a larger lake to provide water supply to the Erie Canal.

 Woodhull Lake

While the road is fairly well maintained one-lane gravel truck trail, one creek crossing is a bit eroded from the rains of 2011. There are roughly 6 designated roadside campsites along the road, with minimal to no facilities that you can camp at. You can drive all but an 1/8th of a mile up to Woodhull Lake, where the road is gated off, from there you have to carry your kayak or canoe to the lake on the gravel road. Consider using wheels on your kayak to assist on this portage.

Here is a map of Woodhull Lake. Consider clicking on it, for a high-resolution map that you can print up, put in a plastic bag and use on the trip like I did. It works really well like this, and I think this map prints out to be nice and high resolution, especially if you have a color printer.

Heading Out to Woodhull Lake

Beautiful Morning Out

Camp

Boulder Sticking Up in Lake

Past Remsen Point

Trees on Remsen Point

Big Island

Boulders in the Lake

Another nice evening in America's most ethical capital

Big Island

Reflections

Passing Under a Low Tree

Motor Boat

North Side of Lake

Parked at Woodhull Lean To

Inside Woodhull Lean-To

Large Lean-To

Lean-To from Lake

Remsen Falls Trail

Intersection of Woodhull Mountain Trail and Remsen Falls Trail

Wilcox Lake

Campsite 1 at Remsen Falls

East on Middle branch of Moose River

Above Remsen Falls

Campsite 2 at Remsen Falls

Remsen Falls

The Falls

Falls

Along Moose River

Whitewater at Falls

Water

Decent Picnic Table at Campsite 2

Remsen Falls Signs

Later in Evening On Lake

Island on the Lake

Behind the Island

Trees on Island

Exploring Back of Island

Clouds in Evening

Clouds in Evening

Doe and Fawn on Lake

Keeping an Eye on Me

Another Island

Reflections

Grout Pond

Original Dunn Bridge

From the east, probably the best way to get to Grout Pond is via Kelley Stand Road, a twisty one lane dirt road that heads east out of East Arlington in Vermont. Pay careful attention to this map, it’s easy to get lost in East Arlington or East Kansas. I know I ended up at Covered Bridge in Chiselville the first time I got there.

June 24, 2015 at 9 PM. Enjoy long evenings while they last

Grout pond isn’t the biggest in the world. If you want lots of open water, check out the Somerset Reservoir. This area, however offers either backpack-in camping along the east shore, or 25 drive-in campsites, in a primitive campground nearby. There is no charge to use this National Recreation Area. Other roadside campsites along Kelly Strand Road, FR 71, and FR 70. Forest Road 70’s campsites are particularly nice, and it’s a 1/4 mile portage down to Branch Pond (bring wheels).

New York State and New England Media Markets

Paddling Across Grout Pond

Stratton Mountain

Marshy End of Grout Pond

The lake is very shallow and marshy in one. Supposedly good fishing if you have a Vermont State Fishing License.

Tree Along Pond

A Cold Winter’s Day Five Rivers

On a very cold Saturday afternoon, I decided to drive out to Five Rivers and take some pictures. I wanted to get pictures of the setting sun, but it did not happen due to the snow squal that came blowing in. Here’s what I got.

CCC Sheds

Pavilion Along the Pond

After Dark

Helderberg Mountains

Blowing Snow…

It certainly was cold enough there when I was walking. If it had been nicer, I probably would have headed out of town.

McMansion Hidden By the Snow

Snow Drifts Across the Field

Blowing Snow

Chopped

Deer Pics…

The deer really aren’t all afraid of humans at Five Rivers. You can almost walk up and touch them, as they know that hunting is prohibited in this area.

Why Are You Photographing Me?

White Tail Walking Away

Deer in Apple Orchard

CCC Sheds