Jessup River Wild Forest

The Jessup River Wild Forest (JRWF) area consists of 47,350 acres of State Forest Preserve lands in the towns of Arietta, Indian Lake, Lake Pleasant, and Wells in Hamilton County. The unit is bounded by Route 28 to the north and Route 30 in the southeast, as well as three wilderness areas: West Canada Lakes Wilderness to the west; Siamese Ponds Wilderness to the east, and Silver Lake Wilderness to the south. The state lands in this unit border, or are in close proximity to, the communities of Indian Lake, Piseco, Speculator and Wells. Route 30 bisects the unit and serves as the main access corridor. Many people enjoy hiking to the fire towers on Pillsbury and Snowy mountains, snowmobiling between Piseco Lake and Indian Lake, canoeing on Fall Stream, or camping on Mason Lake. Hunting, fishing, and trapping are also popular activities throughout the unit but particularly in and around Perkins Clearing, the Jessup River and the Miami River.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/22599.html

May 24, 2020 Night

Good evening! Mostly clear and 65 degrees at the Mason Lake. There is a south breeze at 5 mph. πŸƒ. The dew point is 44 degrees. Definitely a pleasant evening now that the black fly are done for the night. πŸŒƒ

It was a pleasant day hiking along Old Military Road and Jessup River Road. 🚢 While I could have certainly driven it I sometimes enjoy walking and carefully observing nature. 🐸 That said I was disappointed about the number of interesting birds 🐦 along the road but there were some scenic views. I’ll post pictures later in the week.

In the afternoon I went down to Speculator and got ice and Apple Juice 🍏 and then paddled a mile or two down the Sacandaga River.🚣 Then I went to Speculator Beach and went for a swim 🏊

Tonight will be partly cloudy 🌀, with a low of 50 degrees at 3am. Typical for tonight. South wind around 6 mph. In 2019, we had cloudy skies in the evening, which became mostly clear by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 46 degrees. The record low of 30 occurred back in 1956.

Laying back in the hammock now 😴 but I’ll head to bed in my truck bed shortly as I’m a bit tired from all the time in the sun β˜€ and because I’m planning on getting an early start tomorrow. Just pop tart and coffee β˜• tomorrow and taking down camp. I’m going to move to the other campsite where I have better reception for my phone and work laptop – and that resets the 3 nights clock πŸ•’ for camping without a permit.

Tonight will have a Waxing Crescent πŸŒ’ Moon with 5% illuminated. At 9 PM, the moon was in the west-northwest (290Β°) at an altitude of 14Β° from the horizon, some 240,824 miles away from where you are looking up from the earth. πŸš€ Pretty little sliver tonight. At the state speed limit of 55 mph, you’ll make it there by November 23rd. Buckle up for safety! πŸ’Ί The moon will set in the northwest (304Β°) at 10:30 pm. The Strawberry πŸ“ Moon is on Friday, June 5. The darkest hour is at 12:55 am, followed by dawn at 4:51 am, and sun starting to rise at 5:25 am in the east-northeast (60Β°) and last for 3 minutes and 24 seconds. Sunrise is 46 seconds earlier than yesterday. πŸŒ„ The golden hour ends at 6:07 am with sun in the east-northeast (67Β°). Tonight will have 8 hours and 57 minutes of darkness, a decrease of one minute and 43 seconds over last night.

Memorial Day will have a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy 🌦, with a high of 71 degrees at 4pm. One degree below normal, which is similar to a typical day around May 22nd. Maximum dew point of 55 at 5pm. South wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies in the morning, remaining cloudy in the afternoon. The high last year was 73 degrees. The record high of 94 was set in 1981.

At times tomorrow I think it will be quite sunny β˜€ to help recharge batteries πŸ”‹ and keep the laptop running. I’ll probably stay at least through Tuesday evening at the new campsite but it depends on how hot it is and how much sun. It might nicer working up here then at home in the heat πŸ”₯ but I don’t know that screen tent πŸŽͺ gets hot in the heat. Plus I only have do much clean clothes and food left. 🍲 Remember, my plan originally was to head home on Monday evening.

I’ve started to read a pretty interesting book about welding. πŸ“™ I actually got it out of the library weeks ago but with due dates extended, I put the book aside and forgot about it. But now that I’m up in the woods for a few more days I’ve had time to read it a bit more.

In four weeks on June 21 the sun will be setting in the northwest (304Β°) at 8:42 pm,πŸŒ„ which is 17 minutes and 16 seconds later then tonight. In 2019 on that day, we had rain showers, partly cloudy and temperatures between 78 and 59 degrees. Typically, you have temperatures between 79 and 58 degrees. The record high of 97 degrees was set back in 1938.

Looking ahead, Strawberry Moon πŸ“ is in 2 weeks, Fathers Day πŸ‘¨ is in 3 weeks and Latest Sunset πŸŒ† is a month away.

Lupine on Overlook Dune

May 24, 2020 Morning

Good morning! Happy Sunday. Two weeks to Strawberry Moon. πŸ“ Farm stand fresh strawberries are so much better than the frozen ones I eat all winter but they don’t last. Partly sunny and 48 degrees at the Mason Lake. β˜€ There is a southeast breeze at 5 mph. πŸƒ. A pretty nice morning and it seems that the black flies are taking a break to an extent but it’s pretty all things said and done.

Today will be mostly sunny 🌞, with a high of 70 degrees at 4pm. Two degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around May 19th. Southeast wind 5 to 8 mph. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies in the morning, remaining cloudy in the afternoon. The high last year was 70 degrees. The record high of 92 was set in 1964.

I am not sure if I will go down to Speculator today to go for a paddle or instead will go for a bird watching hike 🚢 🐦 from Perkins Clearing. I am thinking I could park in the sunny and open area β˜€ to charge the battery πŸ”‹ bank and the laptop. πŸ’»

Solar noon 🌞 is at 12:55 pm with sun having an altitude of 67.4Β° from the due south horizon (-2.6Β° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 2.5 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour πŸ… starts at 7:43 pm with the sun in the west-northwest (293Β°). πŸ“Έ The sunset is in the west-northwest (301Β°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 8:26 pm after setting for 3 minutes and 24 seconds with dusk around 8:59 pm, which is 58 seconds later than yesterday. πŸŒ‡ At dusk you’ll see the Waxing Crescent πŸŒ’ Moon in the west-northwest (290Β°) at an altitude of 14Β° from the horizon, 240,824 miles away. πŸš€ The best time to look at the stars is after 9:43 pm. At sunset, look for mostly clear skies πŸŒ„ and temperatures around 63 degrees. There will be a south-southeast breeze at 9 mph. Today will have 15 hours and one minute of daytime, an increase of one minute and 44 seconds over yesterday.

Tonight will be partly cloudy 🌀, with a low of 47 degrees at 4am. Three degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around May 17th. South wind 7 to 9 mph. In 2019, we had cloudy skies in the evening, which became mostly clear by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 46 degrees. The record low of 30 occurred back in 1956.

I have made no decision on tomorrow β›Ί if I will move to another campsite and work from there or head home after work. I will need to get ice regardless tomorrow in Speculator.

As previously noted, there are 2 weeks until Strawberry Moon πŸ“ when the sun will be setting at 8:36 pm with dusk at 9:11 pm. On that day in 2019, we had mostly sunny and temperatures between 82 and 53 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 76 degrees. We hit a record high of 95 back in 1999.

I should think about getting out to Schoharie County in early June and hit up the farm stands πŸ“ and do camping out there one weekend. It would be nice to swim 🏊 out at the park pool but I don’t know if it’s going to open this summer.

Spring time

May 22, 2020 11 PM Update

Good evening! Mostly clear and 61 degrees at the Mason Lake. There is a west-northwest breeze at 5 mph. πŸƒ. The dew point is 50 degrees. Nice mild spring evening and the black flies are now in bed. That said, day time is a lot more pleasant with the screen house. πŸŽͺ

It will continue to be a pleasant evening. I would stay up late but I got up at Five AM to get one of the last sites in the Adirondacks. β›Ί Beggers can’t be choosers but I really wanted that site on Harmon Hill to work from because the site I’m currently at is kind of small, too close to another site and doesn’t have great cell service for work. At least I got a site and it’s nice under the tent away from the black fly.

Tonight will be partly cloudy 🌀, with a low of 52 degrees at 4am. Three degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical night around May 30th. Maximum dew point of 50 at 10pm. North wind 3 to 5 mph. In 2019, we had mostly clear skies. It got down to 56 degrees. The record low of 36 occurred back in 1967.

Tonight will have a New 🌚 Moon with 0% illuminated. The Lots of stars tonight in the Adirondacks. The darkest hour is at 12:55 am, followed by dawn at 4:53 am, and sun starting to rise at 5:27 am in the east-northeast (60Β°) and last for 3 minutes and 23 seconds. Sunrise is 50 seconds earlier than yesterday. πŸŒ„ The golden hour ends at 6:09 am with sun in the east-northeast (67Β°). Tonight will have 9 hours and one minute of darkness, a decrease of one minute and 48 seconds over last night.

Tomorrow will be partly sunny 🌞, with a high of 76 degrees at 2pm. Four degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical day around June 7th. Maximum dew point of 53 at 5pm. Northeast wind 6 to 8 mph. A year ago, we had partly cloudy skies in the morning, remaining cloudy in the afternoon. The high last year was 72 degrees. The record high of 93 was set in 1964.

In four weeks on June 19 the sun will be setting in the borthwest (304Β°) at 8:42 pm,πŸŒ„ which is 18 minutes and 46 seconds later then tonight. In 2019 on that day, we had mostly cloudy, mist and temperatures between 79 and 66 degrees. Typically, you have temperatures between 79 and 58 degrees. The record high of 94 degrees was set back in 1995.

Looking ahead, 8:30 PM Sunset ️⛱️ is in 2 weeks and Average High is 80 πŸ– is a month away.

Photo.2013.05.05 11.33.52