Mason Lake πŸ“

Mason Lake, nestled in Speculator, offers a serene escape for outdoor enthusiasts. This picturesque lake presents ample kayaking opportunities, inviting you to paddle through its tranquil waters and savor the surrounding beauty. Beyond the lake, adventure awaits with easy access to the nearby bike trails in Perkins Clearing, providing a chance to explore the lush landscapes on two wheels.

For those seeking a camping retreat, Mason Lake delivers free roadside camping options both near the lake and along Mason Lake Road and Perkins Clearing Road. These convenient camping sites enable you to immerse in nature without compromising comfort. Whether you’re drawn to the water’s edge or prefer a more secluded spot along the roadsides, Mason Lake provides a unique and enriching outdoor experience for those seeking relaxation, exploration, and the joys of both kayaking and biking in the heart of nature.

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Good Morning – September 5, 2021

Good morning! Happy Sunday from up here at camp. ☺

Just another day during Labor Day Weekend, not a real sunny day, as it was yesterday. Hear occasional shots of a 22 long rifle down in the valley as somebody harvests tree rats a true sign of the autumn to come. πŸ‚

Mostly cloudy and 59 degrees at Perkins Clearing. πŸŒ₯ There are a few breaks of sun and blue sky here and there. There is a south breeze at 5 mph. πŸƒ. The dew point is 55 degrees. The skies will clear around 10 pm.

Yesterday was probably the nicest day of the holiday weekend and I wasted it β˜€ not feeling really ambitious and choosing to walk some of the skid roads in the conservation easement 🚢 rather than go somewhere crowded πŸ‘ͺ like the Pillsbury Firetower trail. Rather than great views, I often prefer quiet, rarely used trails that I can walk to without driving.

I ended up hiking along the Jessup River Road 🚢 out to NY 30 and then to Hatch Brook Falls, the Brisker Brook Road (permanently closed due to wash out) and through the conservation easement. Brister Brook Snowmobile Trail between Jessup River and Spectulator is very quiet, a bit overgrown though 🌿. Lots of monarch butterflies πŸ¦‹, very lightly traveled this time of year, watch for high grass and culverts that are falling apart. Didn’t see anyone back there at all.

Drove out to Sled Harbor last evening hoping to see the Pillsbury Firetower or possibly the Snowy Firetower lit up but it wasn’t dark enough and then it was too dark and I couldn’t spot the mountain or clearings to see the mountain from the road. πŸ—Ό Well, I tried. Maybe they didn’t light up Pillsbury this year – I spotted it earlier on but not lit then. Maybe I should have hiked Pillsbury last night but it’s a long hike back down in the dark and the trail is steep. If it’s nice on Monday, maybe I’ll hike it then.

Then I came back and had a nice camp fire. πŸ”₯ It is nice whoever camped here before left a big pile of try split firewood although after last week’s rain β˜” it was still a bit damp and needed to be split. This morning I split the some more wood and got a tarp over it as rain is expected in the afternoon. Stayed up until midnight ✨, by then the stars were clouding out the skies.

Kind of buggy this morning 🐜 but if it gets too bad the screen tent is set up. πŸŽͺ I think the noseeums don’t like bright sunny days. Usually on the hammock the bugs aren’t bad either 😴 as they find it hard to bite a moving target.

Good Morning – September 4, 2021

Good morning! Saturday on this Memorial Day Weekend. 😊

You can be sad that summer is coming to a conclusion or celebrate the beautiful morning today.

Partly sunny and 53 degrees at the Perkins Clearing. β˜€ Calm wind. The dew point is 51 degrees.

It’s a pretty nice morning, cool but sunny 🌞. Especially in the shade when the breeze picks up. Kind of a lot like yesterday. I had a nice breakfast of eggs and sausage 🍳 and now I’m laying back in the hammock with a book πŸ“™. No rush today.

I an thinking of heading later down to Spectulator to do some floating down the Sacandaga River with the tube πŸ”˜ and the kayak paddle. I wish there was though more hiking on the village area besides the nature trail 🐦 I regularly do.

I’ve also been thinking about hiking Pillsbury Mountain β›° or maybe back to Spruce Lake. Then again I’m also interested in that Brisket Brook Trailhead I’ve driven past a million times before but not explored. 🚲 I saw a mountain bike parked there the other day which has peaked my interest and I could walk there from camp.

September 2, 2018 9:47 pm Update

“They say that all good things must end some day
Autumn leaves must fall
But don’t you know that it hurts me so
To say goodbye to you
Wish you didn’t have to go
No, no, no, no.”

– A Summer Song, Chad and Jeremy

Map: Pine Lake From Chain Lakes Road
Terrain Map: The GAL And Rapp Road Hillshade