Seneca Lake

Seneca Lake stands as the largest among the glacial Finger Lakes within the state of New York. Renowned for its substantial size and depth, it remains entirely contained within the state’s borders. The lake has earned distinction as the preeminent locale for lake trout angling, exemplified by its role as the host of the esteemed National Lake Trout Derby. Positioned at the northern terminus of Seneca Lake, the city of Geneva, New York, commands attention, serving as the domicile for Hobart and William Smith Colleges, along with housing the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, a constituent entity of Cornell University. Conversely, the village of Watkins Glen, situated at the southern extremity of the lake, boasts a notable reputation due to its association with motorsport, primarily due to the presence of Watkins Glen International racetrack, as well as its picturesque cascades.

Seneca Lake possesses an uncommon macroclimate that has bestowed it with the distinction of nurturing over 50 wineries, predominantly characterized as farm wineries. Its geographical attributes have led to the designation of the Seneca Lake American Viticultural Area (AVA), solidifying its reputation within oenophilic circles.

In terms of dimensions, Seneca Lake stretches across a length of approximately 38 miles, securing its position as the second longest Finger Lake. Remarkably voluminous, it is estimated to contain an impressive 3.81 cubic miles (15.9 kmΒ³) of water, accounting for nearly half of the cumulative water volume across all the Finger Lakes. The lake’s profundity is notable, averaging 291 feet, while plunging to a maximum depth of 618 feet. The expansive water body covers a surface area of approximately 66.9 square miles (173 kmΒ²).

August 14, 2020 8 PM Update

Good evening! Mostly clear and 76 degrees at the Finger Lakes National Forest. 🌌There is a north breeze at 6 mph. πŸƒ. The dew point is 60 degrees.

It was a nice day hiking the Catherine Valley Rail Trail πŸš‚. Not the most exciting trail ever but a nice walk through some well managed and scenic woods. A lot of it was timber country that is leased to a local hunting club. πŸ¦ŒπŸ¦ƒπŸ¦† Some road noise from NY 14 but it ran pretty high above the valley on dirt viaducts cut into the mountainside.

In the afternoon I went for a swim at Watkins Glen State Park. πŸŠπŸ»β€β™‚οΈ I thought the pool was too crowded for social distancing at four o’clock so I hopped out and by five it had thinned out so then I hopped in the pool. One thing nice about the Finger Lakes is the swimming areas are all open until 7 pm. ☺

I thought about swimming at Enfield Gorge or at the Cayuga Lake beach πŸ– at Taughannock State Park but I feel like those bathrooms 🚿 are more cramped and less clean, and the natural water is not chlorinated so I’m hesitant. Plus the beach areas are smaller and cramped making social distancing more difficult.

I got ice cream one more time at Glen Dairy Bar 🍧this time an apple sundae. 🍏I think this will be the last one for this trip, I’m kind of tired 😴 of eating so much ice cream. It’s been fun while it lasted during this trip. I told myself ice cream 🍦nearly there would be my special little treat.

Watched the sunset πŸŒ‡ from off Ball Diamond Road in the National Forest pasture again tonight. Another nice sunset, always pretty watching the sun set over the hills of the Finger Lakes and Seneca Lake.

Walked down to Foster Pond and watched the stars ✨ for a while. Saw four shooting stars 🌠including one that was really bright and lit up the sky. Ended up falling asleep and was awoken by a bunch of drunk kids rafting in plastic blow up rafts on Foster Pond. πŸ›₯️ One of them offered me a partially drink can of white claw, during the pandemic. 🍻 I declined and walked back to camp.

Running low on drinking water πŸ’¦ and wanting something sweet I packed apple 🍏 juice for hiking today. That was fine until I cross threaded the canteen and it leaked over my backpack. Fortunately I decided to leave the binoculars and camera πŸ“Έ in the truck. A bee was attracted to the backpack got stung in the arm. 🐝 That hurt. The backpack was washed in the shower 🚿 and is drying now. Drank too much apple juice today and now I have the runs a bit. πŸ’© Hello bucket shitter! Getting full, going to emptied and buried ⚰ tomorrow when I break camp.

Tonight will be mostly clear πŸŒƒ, with a low of 63 degrees at 5am. Three degrees above normal. Maximum dew point of 62 at 9pm. North wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight. In 2019, we had mostly clear skies. It got down to 62 degrees. The record low of 48 occurred back in 1964.

Tonight will have a Waining Crescent 🌘 Moon with 19% illuminated. The darkest hour is at 1:13 am, followed by dawn at 5:44 am, and sun starting to rise at 6:14 am in the east-northeast (70Β°) and last for 3 minutes and 4 seconds. Sunrise is one minute and 4 seconds later than yesterday. πŸŒ„ The golden hour ends at 6:53 am with sun in the east-northeast (76Β°). Tonight will have 10 hours and 5 minutes of darkness, an increase of 2 minutes and 31 seconds over last night.

Tomorrow will be partly sunny 🌞, with a high of 81 degrees at 2pm. Typical for Tomorrow. Maximum dew point of 63 at 7am. South wind 3 to 7 mph. A year ago, we had partly cloudy skies. The high last year was 83 degrees. The record high of 96 was set in 1959. One thing to watch is clouds may push in fairly early tomorrow afternoon. ☁️

I am going to take a wait and see approach tomorrow. β›… I am afraid it might be quite choppy on Seneca Lake by afternoon to paddle. πŸ›Ά If it’s kind of gray and dark out I might stay at camp. Although there are some additional marsh trails in Watkins Glen that I was reading πŸ“– about I’m thinking πŸ’­ about exploring.

In four weeks on September 11 the sun will be setting in the west (276Β°) at 7:23 pm,πŸŒ„ which is 46 minutes and 6 seconds earlier then tonight. In 2019 on that day, we had hot and humid weather that was partly sunny and temperatures between 87 and 66 degrees. Typically, you have temperatures between 74 and 54 degrees. The record high of 98 degrees was set back in 1931.

Looking ahead, Labor Day Weekend Begins πŸ‘¨β€πŸ­ in 3 weeks, September 11th πŸ‡Έ is in 4 weeks, 7 PM Sunset πŸŒ† is in 5 weeks, Average High is 65 πŸ‚ is in 7 weeks, Average Night Below Freezing 🌌 is in 13 weeks, Buy Nothing Day πŸ›οΈ is in 15 weeks, Average High is 40 🌨 is in 16 weeks, Bake Cookies Day πŸͺ is in 18 weeks, Christmas πŸŽ… is in 19 weeks, New Years Day 2020 πŸŽ‰ is in 20 weeks, Bubble Bath Day 🧼 is in 21 weeks, Coldest Week of the Year 🌬 is in 5 months, my 38th Birthday πŸŽ‰ is in 24 weeks and Valentines Day ❀️ is in 6 months.

Clouds Hanging Low

Choppy waters

Based on the recommendation of another kayaker I didn't make it up to Hector Point but I did splash πŸ’¦ around the south end of Seneca Lake in the kayak πŸ›Ά. 

Taken on Thursday August 13, 2020 at Seneca Lake.