A Restless Soul must Wander

Have you ever had the urge to just close the door behind you and walk away? Walk away from the endless lists of things to do. Walk away from the relentless noise that swarms in your head. Walk away from the inevitable changes that you know are on the horizon and can't be controlled. I think we have all felt that urge to just walk away. When I get that feeling I become restless. I need to find a quiet place away from all the chatter and noise that fills the world around me. A place where I can calm my soul and clear my mind. Yesterday I found that place. A place where the only sounds were the breeze through the trees and the blue jays cackling. A place where the view has only been changed by the changing of the seasons and mother nature's fury. Welcome to Long Pond.

Tree branches hung over the winding gravel road. Muddy water splashed on my truck as I slowly rolled through the puddles. The humidity had finally broke and the crisp 55 degree breeze felt good. Driving past the first swamp I stopped and gazed across the still water.

A beaver lodge sat peacefully amongst the dead trees. I couldn’t help but reminisce about the last time I was back here. It was a cold winter night over 20 years ago. An arctic wind howled across the snow covered swamp. I was with a friend who had an obsession for predator hunting. We were on snowshoes trying to find a bobcat. I could still picture the intensity in his eyes as every asthmatic breath he took swirled in the light of his head lamp. Tragically he is no longer with us but the fond memories remain. I snapped out my daydream and drove down to the parking area. As usual I grabbed my camera and signed in at the DEC sign in box.

My first stop would be just a short walk down the trail to Clear Pond. The light breeze created small ripples across the open water. The stridulation of crickets echoed in the distance. I was only a few hundred yards from my truck but I could already feel the stress level in my body drop. This is what I had been looking for.

A quiet peaceful place alone. I took in the view for a few moments and moved on. The start to this hike is on one of the many snowmobile trails that wind around the North Country. The wide path made for quick easy navigation.

About .6 miles down the path it splits and the foot trail to Long Pond veers to the left. Early fall leaves were beginning to line the dirt trail. I rock hopped over a small mountain stream that ebbed and flowed over and around rocks bound for Clear Pond.

I came to an old rotted DEC sign on the ground. Someone had been good enough to position it pointing in the right direction. I checked my map one more time just to make sure I was heading in the proper direction and I veered to the right.

Being alone in the woods like this gives you a bit of a primal feeling, a sense of being alive and very present in the moment. All your senses are switched on taking in the sounds, sights, smells and feels of this wild place. At a mile and a quarter down the trail I come to another swamp. Dead trees and large rocks are scattered in the still water. It makes for a peaceful habitat to watch the birds and bugs swoop around.

I stop for a moment to watch a turtle resting on a downed log. Around the back side of the swamp I realize that the trail is underwater. I take a quick off trail detour and get back on my way.

As I stroll along I ponder the fact that so many people rush to the High Peak Region to escape into nature only to find the trails lined with people. Yet here I am on a beautiful trail all alone in the middle of nowhere less than an hour from my home. At about a mile and a half in I could hear the sound of trickling water in the distance. A small opening in the trees reveals Little Rock Pond.

I work my way closer to get pictures as small frogs chirp and jump into the backcountry pool. Here I could see the slowly changing leaves that line the water. Deep shades of red contrasted beautifully next to the green leaves that have not yet started their autumn transformation. I take a few swigs of water and continue on to my destination. Over rocks around down trees I admire the stunning trail through the secluded White Hill State Forest.

Finally after trekking for an hour and a half Long Pond came into view. The serene backcountry view was truly a gift from the heavens. The only sounds around were the chipmunks, squirrels, and the bluejays that echoed over the water.

I sat on a small rocky ledge on the bank and cherished the sights before me. The only sign of human existence out there was the occasional jet trail crossing the deep blue sky. I enjoyed a small snack and took a bunch of pictures.

The reflection of the trees across the water was breathtaking. Alone 2.5 miles back in the woods sitting on an uninhabited pond was just what I needed. After a half hour break I decided it was time to head back. My restless soul was finally at peace.

About this location:

The Long Pond trail sits in the White Hill State Forest in Parishville, New York. Located just inside the blue line of the Adirondack Park. This close to 10,000 acre isolated area does not see a lot of people. It is most commonly used during the winter months as a snowmobile destination since there is a snowmobile trail that crosses through it. The trail head starts at Clear Pond which is more widely known as a trout fishing destination.

Once you park at Clear Pond you have a few different trail options to take. The most popular trail is the 1.4 mile trail that goes around Clear Pond. The trail I chose starts on the snowmobile trail then branches off to a footpath. I chose Long Pond as my destination for this trip but it actually continues on to a few other ponds. The trail is pretty easy to navigate and is well marked with the red DEC trail signs. I can't emphasize enough how remote this adventure felt.

I was the only person at the parking area and I only cut a few tracks in the mud back to Little Rock Pond. From that point back I did not see another sign of human existence. If you are looking to get away from it all and let your restless soul wander, look no further than the Long Pond Trail. This place is truly a Northern NY Adventure you will never forget.

Aaron Hardy

Northern NY Adventures

“Make Life an Adventure”