The Kunjamuk Cave, found off Pine Lakes Road in Speculator Tree Farm, is a natural rock shelter that was dug out of a hillside. The cave is a popular destination for hikers and mountain bikers exploring the dirt roads of this conservation easement.
To reach the cave, hikers typically start at the Elm Lake Road entrance to the Speculator Tree Farm in village of Speculator or off Old Route 8B past the upper bridge at gated Pine Lakes Road/Kunjamunk Cave Trail. The trek is approximately 2.5 to 4 miles one way, depending on the specific starting point. The trail follows an old logging road that winds through dense hardwood forests and parallels the Kunjamuk River.
The history of the Kunjamuk Cave is inextricably linked to the legend of “French Louie” (Louis Seymour), a famous Adirondack hermit who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While Louie had more permanent camps in the West Canada Lakes region, local lore suggests he used this cave as a temporary shelter during his travels or trapping expeditions. Before the era of legendary hermits, the area served as a hunting ground for the Mohawk and Abenaki people, who likely used the rock formation for protection against the elements long before European settlers arrived.
“View of the cave through the cutting in the roof, allowing the occupant to build a fire inside to stay warm during cold weather.“
Did I mention that Moose Club Way was awful muddy? Fun though. I wish I had remember to top off the windshield washer fluid first though. The kayak road perfectly fine on the roof, tied down with bungees and ropes, despite the rough truck trail.
Lately, my mind has been a bit of a battleground regarding the state of the economy. On one hand, I’m well-versed in the mixed signals being broadcast by the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. I see the reports of record-breaking growth in April—the S&P 500 climbing over 10%—and the steady 5.5% growth we’ve seen so far this year. My own net worth is higher now than it was in January, even after purchasing a massive consumption item: my 2026 F-350 SuperDuty.
Yet, I still feel the “vibe-cession” in my bones. Inflation isn’t just a headline; it’s a sting every time I look at prices compared to 2020. I know for a fact my SuperDuty and its camper shell cost significantly more than they would have just a few years ago. A quality A.R.E. MX series cap, like the one I’ve been eyeing, now starts at over $4,000. Even food feels like a hurdle, though I’ve adapted by shifting to a more basic, healthier diet—a change that has helped me weather the sticker shock.
My commute offers a unique perspective on this disconnect. I ride my mountain bike to work, which means I don’t pass by the glaring, advertised gas prices that usually sour a consumer’s mood. My bike doesn’t need a drop of $4.50-a-gallon fuel, but even here, the economy catches up with me. Routine wear parts, particularly tires, have become shockingly expensive. Standard MTB tires now are over $8 each, and recent tariffs have pushed prices up another 10-25%.
The real test comes this summer. Right now, the F-350 is mostly sitting in the driveway, waiting for that camper shell to be installed. I can do the math: filling a 34-gallon tank at current prices is a $150 endeavor. While some SuperDuty owners with the 6.8L engine report highway mileage as high as 15-17 mpg in eco mode, many find themselves closer to 12 mpg when loaded down. I’m curious to see if the camper shell will provide any aerodynamic benefit; some tests suggest a marginal boost to around 18 mpg, though the heavy-duty nature of my rig might tell a different story.
I’m in a strange spot professionally, too. As middle management overseeing the Data Services unit, I’ve finally hit that six-figure income that once seemed like an impossible dream. But with life so expensive, it doesn’t feel like “wealth” in the traditional sense; it feels like a tighter, more calculated path toward my eventual goal: retiring to build an off-grid cabin and homestead.
he macro-politics don’t help the unease. While the current administration might claim a record-breaking economy, the unpredictability of slashing norms makes it hard for any business leader to invest with true confidence. For now, I’ll keep investing what I can each week and watching the days tick closer to that homestead, trying to reconcile the growing numbers on my balance sheet with the shrinking value of a dollar at the pump.
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