Buggy Adirondack Trip (with lessons learned about summer hanging)

**georgecarr** · 07-20-2013, 21:19

I decided to head out on a hike I had dreamed about for many years - Sand Lake Falls in the West Central Adirondacks. The hike itself isn't all that difficult. It's basically a 7.2 mile (one way) moderately level hike to a beautiful waterfall that sees few visitors each year. I went the weekend of July 13-14, 2013 and the last entry in the shelter logbook was from a hiker passing through on May 29th. The thing that made this hike difficult was the heat and humidity. Well, that and swarms and swarms of mosquitos and gnats.

The hike itself was pretty uneventful and I hope to go back someday when the weather is more favorable. Unfortunately, even though the surroundings were awesome, I couldn't sit around and take it all in due to the bugs, so I retired to my hammock around 7 to read and listen to my ipod. I was sleeping in a WB Traveller with a 40 degree HG UQ and a WB Travelnet. Well, not sleeping, sweating. After about an hour I realized I needed to do something about the UQ, since the very thing that makes it great in cool weather was the same thing that was killing me right then - it does a great job of retaining heat! After I moved the UQ off to the side I finally started to cool down and at some point ity actually did cool down. I believe I had one of the best nights sleep I've ever had in a hammock that night.

A detailed trip report and all of my trip pics can be seen on my blog www.walkingwiththeson.com

Here are few pics from the trip:

**KMACK** · 07-20-2013, 21:22

Heat and bugs...its been bad this year. Good to hear from you too! (Former E2E customer)

**georgecarr** · 07-20-2013, 21:26

Originally Posted by KMACK

Heat and bugs...its been bad this year. Good to hear from you too! (Former E2E customer)

Good to hear from you, too! It's been a while, but I remember

.

**Redoleary** · 07-21-2013, 07:24

Nice report. Those bear tracks had to have gotten your attention! Beautiful area, thanks for sharing.

**gargoyle** · 07-21-2013, 07:38

I would have swam in those falls. Nice spot.
Thanks for the report.

**TriSec** · 07-21-2013, 08:37

I just spend a week at Scout Camp in 90+ temps and wet-wool-blanket humidity.

I had a 40-degree "summer" bag that I was using as my quilting material, until by the end of the week it was just too **** hot for anything. My last night I was in the hammock with no "under" and just a light cotton blanket for a topquilt. Maybe the only good night's sleep I had all week. (I was actually a little chilly by morning, but after sweltering all week, I was enjoying it too much to get up and get another layer.)

**georgecarr** · 07-21-2013, 19:08

Originally Posted by Redoleary

Nice report. Those bear tracks had to have gotten your attention! Beautiful area, thanks for sharing.

Definitely made me more aware of my camp house keeping.

Originally Posted by gargoyle

I would have swam in those falls. Nice spot.
Thanks for the report.

Thought about a swim, but the bugs were just too distracting.

Originally Posted by TriSec

I just spend a week at Scout Camp in 90+ temps and wet-wool-blanket humidity.

I had a 40-degree "summer" bag that I was using as my quilting material, until by the end of the week it was just too **** hot for anything. My last night I was in the hammock with no "under" and just a light cotton blanket for a topquilt. Maybe the only good night's sleep I had all week. (I was actually a little chilly by morning, but after sweltering all week, I was enjoying it too much to get up and get another layer.)

I too started out with no UQ, but by the time it cooled off I was able to move it back under. Definitely a learning experience.

**Tendertoe** · 07-21-2013, 20:23

Beautiful spot.

I know your pain about the bugs in the area.

My wife and I planned a 3 day trip to Pharoah Lake 2 years ago in July and cut it short after 1 day due to the incessant bugs.

The area was beautiful but even with deet on 24/7 we still ended up with what seemed like a hundred bites a piece.

**georgecarr** · 07-21-2013, 20:27

Originally Posted by Tendertoe

Beautiful spot.

I know your pain about the bugs in the area.

My wife and I planned a 3 day trip to Pharoah Lake 2 years ago in July and cut it short after 1 day due to the incessant bugs.

The area was beautiful but even with deet on 24/7 we still ended up with what seemed like a hundred bites a piece.

Funny how much timing really matters. I did a 4 day Pharoah Lake loop the first weekend of May 2012 and it was perfect weather and no bugs. Seems to me August through early May is the season for the Adirondacks.