Balsam Swamp is a sprawling state forest that stretches almost 5.5 miles east-west across 4 towns. The area is very rural, and the landscape surrounding the State Forest is predominantly forested. Balsam Swamp State Forest is comprised of a mix of native hardwood forests, hemlock swamps, and conifer plantations. There are no designated recreational trails on the forest, but there is ample opportunity for self-guided day hikes to explore the diversity of habitats represented on this State Forest. Additionally, the western section of Balsam Swamp State Forest is adjacent to Five Streams State Forest to the south.
The main attraction of this forest is Balsam Pond. The impoundment is approximately 152 acres and is a popular destination for fishing and paddle boat sports. Balsam Pond is a warm water fishery that contains a mix of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, brown bullhead and sunfish. Tiger muskellunge have been stocked in the past with the last stocking occurring in 1995. However, there have been very few reports of anglers catching any of the adult tiger muskies. A shallow gravel boat launch is suitable for launching small fishing boats.
A small rustic camp ground is also located at Balsam Pond. Camping spaces are available at no cost on a first-come, first-serve basis and there is no running water or electricity. A fire ring, outhouse, and picnic table are provided for each camping space. A sign on Balsam-Tyler Road in Pharsalia designates the entrance to the boat launch and camping facility. This is a carry-in carry-out facility. Please do not litter.
As the temperature pushes one ninty plus degrees in my bedroom, I’m still content with my decision not to have air conditioning. I know that these days you can buy a window air conditioner for under $200 and it’s unlikely to increase my utility bill more than $20 a month – it’s not a technology I believe in.
Sure my truck has air conditioning and that works modestly well, but I don’t think I would necessarily use it if not for the noise reduction and fuel savings it provides. I do like the nice cold of the city buses and my office but I also ride them in the day time in the city where the air is stagnant.
I live without air conditioning by avoiding being home during the daytime. That means Monday through Friday being at work, while spending the weekends in the wilderness, traveling, camping and visiting state park pools and swimming holes in the back country. I don’t get home from work until around six, when the worse of the heat usually has broken. I usually have a quick sandwich or a light fare then walk down to the park, or if it’s really hot, the air conditioned library. Then I will sit out back with a cold drink until around around eleven and usually by then most of the heat has broken.
I think it’s better to spend money on traveling to the wilderness, camping and swimming in ice cold mountain streams, having a nice evening out back and in the park fishing or reading then paying for the artificial cool! I have a fairly big box fan I use on stuffy nights like this in my bedroom and I’ll have some ice cream or juice before bed, but I figure it’s just better to get used to the heat and enjoy summer.
Eventually I’m thinking of moving to a warmer climate to avoid the snow, ice and road salt. That means even hotter summers. I need to learn to adapt to the heat as I don’t believe in air conditioning and it can be expensive and difficult to do in an office grid cabin – although with ample insulation and sufficient storage it’s definitely possible. The more practice I get in embracing the heat today, the less trouble I’ll have tomorrow.
I often think it’s silly how worked up people get about politics. The fact is, as an individual, you don’t have a lot of control over the political system. You are as much of a victim of politics as everyone else is in the public. However, you real power in your own life choices, be it the community you choose to live in, the lifestyle you choose and the people you choose to associate with day to day.
That’s an awful bigoted slogan in my book. While one should pay attention to anything that follows the rule of three – be it the fire gong in an office building or three leaved plants, not all three leaved plants are harmful. Box alder and virignia creeper is common along river banks and partial sun exposure ecosystems in Upstate NY but it is harmless – it’s not Urishol bearing poison ivy.
I am terribly allergic to Urishol. This sap gives me blisters that can easily explode on my skin, pop and be an itchy, goo filled mess. One my face I’ve had my eyes swell shut and it’s hard to breathe. Often poison ivy hangs out close to immature box alder and Virginia Creeper as they like similar ecosystems and in some forms can look alike. But I don’t fear or stay away from Virginia Creeper and all three leaved plants, I just look carefully to ensure no poison ivy and be on my way.
