The official marker for the start of a new Anthropocene epoch should be a small Canadian lake whose sediments capture chemical traces of the fallout from nuclear bombs and other forms of environmental degradation. That’s a proposal out today from researchers who have spent 14 years debating when and how humanity began altering the planet.
If the proposal is approved, a sediment core from Crawford Lake — which lies in a conservation area near Toronto — would become the ‘golden spike’ marking the beginning of the Anthropocene, the geological epoch in which humanity has profoundly affected Earth. Year after year, particles settle onto the lake and drift to its bottom, forming sediment layers that record environmental conditions much as tree rings do. Among the embedded contaminants are specks of fly ash— remnants from burning fossil fuels — and traces of radioactive plutonium from atmospheric nuclear bomb testing.
Looking for the call of the wild? This list of lakes from the NYS Rare and Endangered Species dataset lists the lakes that have been known to have loons during the summer months that you can sit down and listen to in evening making their calls.
Adirondack Lake, Amber Lake, Ampersand Lake, Arbutus Pond, Ayers Lake, Bay Pond, Bear Pond, Bear Pond Santa Clara, Beaver Lake Morehouse, Beaver Lake Watson, Beaverdam Pond Webb, Big Deer Pond, Big Moose Lake, Big Otter Lake, Black Pond Brighton, Black Pond Santa Clara, Boreas Ponds, Brandreth Lake, Bridge Brook Pond, Bubb Lake, Buckhorn Lake, Bug Lake, Canachagala Lake, Canada Lake, Cascade Lake, Cat Pond, Catlin Lake, Cedar Lakes Arietta, Cedar River Flow, Charley Pond, Chazy Lake, Chub Pond, Clear Pond Duane, Clear Pond North Hudson, Cook Pond, Copper Lake, County Line Flow, Cranberry Lake, Cranberry Pond, Crystal Lake Watson, Debar Pond, Deer Pond Minerva, Deer River Flow, Dexter Lake, Diamond Lake, Dodge Flow, Dry Channel Pond, Duck Lake, Duck Pond Franklin, Eagle Lake Hamilton, East Pond Webb, Elk Lake, Falls Lake, Ferris Lake, Flatfish Pond, Floodwood Pond Santa Clara, Follensby Clear Pond, Forked Lake, Four Brothers Islands, Francis Lake, Fulton Chain Lakes, G Lake, Garnet Lake, Gibbs Lake, Good Luck Lake, Goodnow Pond, Grampus Lake, Gray Lake, Green Pond Santa Clara, Gull Lake, Gull Pond, Handsome Pond, Henderson Lake, Hewitt Pond, Hitchins Pond, Hoel Pond, Honnedaga Lake, Horn Lake, Hornet Ponds, Horseshoe Lake Piercefield, Horseshoe Pond Santa Clara, Hunt Lake, Huntley Pond, Independence Lake, Indian Lake Indian Lake, Indian Lake Morehouse, Jabe Pond, Jenkins Pond, Jocks Pond, Jones Pond Brighton, Jordan Lake, Kennels Pond, Lake Abanakee, Lake Champlain Plattsburgh, Lake Champlain Westport, Lake Clear, Lake Clear Outlet, Lake Colby, Lake Durant, Lake Kora, Lake Kushaqua, Lake Lila, Lake Rondaxe, Limekiln Lake, Little Clear Pond, Little Green Pond, Little Long Pond Santa Clara, Little Moose Lake, Little Moose Lake Webb, Little Pond Thurman, Little Rock Pond, Little Rock Pond Webb, Little Safford Lake, Little Tupper Lake, Long Lake, Long Lake Morehouse, Long Pond Colton, Long Pond Long Lake, Long Pond Piercefield, Long Pond Santa Clara, Loon Lake, Loon Lake Franklin, Lows Lake Bog River Flow, Madawaska Pond, Mason Lake, Massawepie Lake, Mckenzie Pond, Mcrorie Lake, Middle Pond, Middle Saranac Lake, Middle Settlement Lake, Mink Pond, Minnow Pond, Moosehead Pond, Morehouse Lake, Moshier Reservoir, Moss Lake, Mount Arab Lake, Muskrat Pond, Negro Lake, Nehasane Lake, New Pond, Newcomb Lake, Nicks Lake, Nine Corner Lake, North Branch Lake, North Lake, Oliver Pond, Olmstead Pond, Oswegatchie River Reservoir, Oxbow Lake, Panther Lake Webb, Paradox Lake, Peck Lake, Pharaoh Lake, Pickwacket Pond, Piercefield Flow, Pine Lake Caroga, Pine Lake Morehouse, Plumadore Pond, Polliwog Pond Santa Clara, Putnam Pond, Pyramid Lake, Queer Lake, Ragged Lake, Rainbow Falls Reservoir, Raquette Lake, Rice Lake, Rich Lake, Rock Lake, Rock Lake Mullins Flow, Rock Pond Altamont, Round Lake, Round Lake Fine, Round Pond Indian Lake, Round Pond Long Lake, Sand Lake, Sand Lake Webb, Sand Pond North Hudson, Sand Pond Watson, Shallow Lake, Sheriff Lake, Shingle Shanty Pond, Silver Lake Clifton, Simon Pond, South Lake, South Lake Ohio, South Pond Deerland, South Pond Webb, Spectacle Lake, Spectacle Ponds Brighton, Sperry Pond, Spitfire Lake, Sprague Pond, Springhill Ponds, Spy Lake, Square Pond, Squaw Lake, St. Regis Pond, Star Lake Fine, Stark Falls Reservoir, Stephens Pond, Stillwater Reservoir, Stony Creek Ponds, Stony Pond Minerva, Sunshine Pond, Tamarack Lake, Taylor Pond Black Brook, Tenant Lake, Thayer Lake, Third Lake Essex Chain, Thirteenth Lake, Thurman Pond, Trout Pond, Trout Pond Colton, Turtle Pond Santa Clara, Twin Pond Webb, Twitchell Lake, Upper and Lower Sister Lakes, Upper Chateaugay Lake, Upper Saranac Lake, Upper Sargent Pond, Upper St. Regis Lake, Utowana Lake, Weller Pond, West Pond, Whey Pond, Whitney Lake, Wilcox Lake, Wilmurt Lake, Windover Lake, Wintergreen Lake, Witchhopple Lake, Wolf Pond Belmont, Wolf Pond Newcomb, Wolf Pond North Hudson, Woodhull Lake
Lake Washington was expanded and put into service as a reservoir in 1907, although it had been providing water to its predecessor, Monell's Pond, since 1852. The dam has been raised many times since then to increase capacity.
In 2016 the city briefly declared a water emergency and started using Browns Pond, its backup supply, when levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) near the federal Environmental Protection Agency guidelines of 200 parts per trillion (ppt) were found in the lake. A pond on the Stewart Air Guard Base from which Silver Stream, one of Lake Washington's tributaries, rises, had levels of 5,900 ppt.
Pharaoh Mountain is located about 10 miles east of Schroon Lake, and can be accessed from the Long Swing / Pharaoh Mountain Trail from the North along with a much steeper and longer trail from Pharaoh Lake from south.
If you choose to take the infamous and rough Crane Pond Truck Trail to it’s end, and then park at Crane Pond, it’s only about a 3 1/2 mile hike up the mountain. If you stop at Alder Pond, and don’t drive through the shallow end of Alder Pond to get to the last mile of Crane Pond Road, then it’s a 4 1/2 mile hike each way.
Below is Alder Pond. It was an amazing morning, as the rain let up and started to clear off. The truck trail cuts through the end of the pond, and with the recent rains, it was deeper then I wanted to take my old pickup through.
At end of Crane Pond Road is Crane Pond (not surpisingly!) There is a parking area here, and Crane Pond is known for it’s good fishing and beauty.
Reaching Glidden Marsh on the Pharaoh Mountain Trail. Pharoah Mountain is in the distance, with the peak sticking up. Most of the trail is relatively flat, until you reach the mountain, and then you start climbing.
About halfway up there, there is the most charming little water fall.
As you climb, views become progressively better.
Reaching the summit, there are views in almost all directions, although you have to wonder around the top of the mountain to get all views. Here is looking North-East toward Ticonderoga. You can see Lake Champlain in the distance — barely, along with Crane Pond, Alder Pond, Oxbow Lake, and other features up close.
On the northernly view, you have nice views of the High Peaks Region of the Adirondacks, with Mount Marcy and Alonquin Mountains peaking out top.
To the south-west, there are view of Gore Mountain (ski trails still with snow on it as of April 11).
There also is a primative campsite on top of Pharaoh Mountain.
To the South-East there is Pharaoh Lake, which I did not visit, but the maps show about 5 lean-tos surround it.
Desolate Swamp is quite purty from the mountain.
After hiking up the mountain, I took a side trip to the beautiful Oxbow Pond, and the other side of Glidden Marsh. Here is the Long-Swing Trail along the edge of Glidden Marsh, near the turn off to Oxbow Lake.
Oxbow Lake is so beautiful, and probably real deep.
The Oxbow Lean-To. It looks well used, but is in good shape, and has a decent outhouse a little ways from it, a fire pit, along with lots of water for cooking in the nearby pond.
The one end of Oxbow Lake is swampy, as it runs between outfall of Crab Pond down to Oxbow.
Heading back to the truck, the sun flickers on the outlet of Glidden Marsh.
An amazing hike. Definitely want to come back, and possibly spend a night at Oxbow Pond.
Good morning! Happy Sunday. Time to get up in a bit before it’s real wet then head home. Rain showers and 46 degrees at Long Pond State Forest in Smithfield Flats, NY. â There is a north breeze at 8 mph. ð.
Back in New York State. I decided to drive all the way back to New York yesterday from Paw Paw as I figured it would mean back tracking to get back to Interstate 99 and heading north. ðĢïļ Rain is expected before day break in Wellsboro so I figured that at any rate, not worth the back tracking and the $10 fee to camp in Pennsylvania. âš At Long Pond State Forest which is two hours from home l figured that the rain would start later so maybe a quick breakfast and coffee â ðĨĢ before the rain picked up.
Figured it would be interesting to come back via 81 and see at least the skyline of Hagerstown Maryland, Harrisburg, Wilkes Barre and Scranton Penna ð but truth be told by the time I reached Hazleton it was dark, and from Hagerstown to the I-78 and I-81 split in Jonestown, traffic was much too heavy for ones eyes ð to leave the road for much scenic viewing. People often suggest taking Interstate 81 to West Virginia but I have to say at this point I don’t recommend it. ð Too much traffic, especially truck ð traffic compared to the leisurely drive along Interstate 99.
Truth is though I was bored with taking Interstate 99, I’ve done it several times in the past years to West Virginia. ðŧ It’s scenic but after a while the towns are all the same. Somehow I was hoping that 81 would change things up. Same thing with US 6 in Penna. It’s slow, and long, the farms ð and rural homesteads ðĄ ð are still the same but with fewer burn barrels ðĒ as a decade or so ago. All that plastic shit stinks when you burn it, lol ð.
Somehow I just had it in my mind that Interstate 81 would shave miles and hours off the trip. ð But it’s really not that much of a time or milage savings. And while I’m only two hours from home compared to 3 1/2 that extra hour and a half got tacked onto yesterday’s drive, ð meaning several hours of driving in the darkness and arriving at Long Pond State Forest at 8:30 pm rather than before six o’clock as I had planned. I had no cell service ðķ in Paw Paw so it was just a wild assed guess on the distance to Asaph Run or County Bridge compared to Long Pond.
The moonlight helped, as did getting up and walking ðķ around the rest area near Wilkes Barre and ultimately getting a box of five hour energy shots ðĪŠ which not only made me awake for driving kept me up half the night. Almost stopped and got dinner at Dennys in Hazleton but I decided I was running so far behind schedule, best to have some energy shots, hard boiled eggs and bananas and push forward. â Regardless, I made it to camp safely and expect a nice drive the rest of the way home. ð
I was pretty wired from the energy shot ⥠last night and it was a pretty evening with the full moon ð so I stayed up to midnight.ðĶ Listened to the geese well into the night honking and every time I walked to the lake the beaver ðĶŦ would jump back in with a big splash ðĶ.
Today will have showers through 9 am, then rain after 10am. ð§ High of 46 degrees at 6am. 10 degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around November 23rd. North wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies. The high last year was 63 degrees. The record high of 77 was set in 1946. 3.8 inches of snow fell back in 2011.â
Coffee â and cream of wheat is cooking on the stove. It’s now just the final two hours home ðĄ. Probably need to get a bit more fuel â― and I’m likely going to stop and get apples ð at Annuto’s in Oneonta. They open at nine 9âĢ but I don’t necessarily have to be there right at nine. And maybe other produce like Butternut Squash. ð They have quite the selection of farm products. No doughnuts ðĐ though, even though they were good to start off vacation as a special treat. ð
Then get home, unpack, shower ðŋ for the first time in nine days ð and knead bread ð and soak peas for pea soup. Maybe go to the laundromat and buy produce at Hannaford, or that could wait until Monday.
Solar noon ð is at 12:40 pm with sun having an altitude of 34° from the due south horizon (-36.8° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 8.9 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour ð starts at 5:14 pm with the sun in the west-southwest (246°). ðļ The sunset is in the west-southwest (253°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 5:54 pm after setting for 3 minutes and 2 seconds with dusk around 6:21 pm, which is one minute and 22 seconds earlier than yesterday. ð At dusk you’ll see the Waining Gibbous ð Moon in the east-northeast (63°) at an altitude of 0° from the horizon, 235,306 miles away. ð The best time to look at the stars is after 6:56 pm. At sunset, look for rain ð§ and temperatures around 43 degrees. There will be a north-northeast breeze at 6 mph. Tomorrow will have 10 hours and 27 minutes of daytime, a decrease of 2 minutes and 36 seconds over today.
Rode about twenty miles of the Chesapeake and Ohio outside Paw Paw and then went into the village on my bike yesterday. Not a lot of note in the village that I saw but maybe I rode the wrong road. ðē That said, the Paw Paw Tunnel is really neat. ð Not only can you hike – bike the canal tunnel when I was there people were kayaking in it. ðķ Rode 19 miles or about three hours including breaks. Stopped at the Capacon Overlook ð after driving WV 9 which is as curvy as you might expect any good ol West Virginia road to be going through the mountains. Phil Ochs wasn’t wrong when he sung about the roads would wind and wind through the hills of West Virginia.
Tonight will have showers before 2am, then rain likely after 2am. Cloudy ð§, with a low of 42 degrees at 7pm. Five degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical night around October 14th. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. In 2022, we had mostly clear skies in the evening, which became partly cloudy by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 28 degrees. The record low of 20 occurred back in 1969.
Next it’s watching the forecast for next week. ðŪ I’m still thinking about a trip out to Madison County either next week or the weekend after for four days, tacking a day onto the Election Day Weekend or Veterans Day Weekend. âš I know it seems like it’s coming on right after vacation but rifle season ðĶ and Thanksgiving is right around the corner and who knows when we’ll get our first snowfall and those areas inaccessible. ðĻ Winter’s coming.
Looking ahead, there are 6 weeks until 7:15 AM Sunrise âïļ when the sun will be setting at 4:23 pm with dusk at 4:53 pm (Standard Time). On that day in 2022, we had mostly sunny skies and temperatures between 31 and 20 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 40 degrees. Winter’s coming. We hit a record high of 64 back in 1966.
The blog for the first month made a little over $80 a month or so worth in advertising. ðĨ Figuring th hosting and domains work out to $17 a month, its a nice little check. Won’t make me rich and it’s possible that I could potentially squeeze additional revenue by more obnoxious ads or changing the content on my blog but I want to maintain absolute editorial control over my blog. ð That’s one of the reasons I maintain a personal blog and don’t just do social media.
