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Adirondack Tours 
In Three Parts—Il 
Tue October days having arrived, when 
nature had assumed its most beautiful. garb 
and nearly every shade was to be found in the 
variously colored leaves that, displayed from 
valley to mountain top, presented pictures of 
surpassing loveliness and made the route of 
the traveler doubly interesting, we equipped 
for another tour of exploration and observa- 
tion. Instead of rod case, I now carried my 
rifle, that an occasional ruffed. grouse or duck 
might be added to our supplies. 
From Smith’s Lake, we went by short carry 
up the North Inlet into Harrington Pond, 
thence over the ridge, through Open woods of 
quite large timber. Pretty Clear Pond was 
seen shimmering in its bed below, and having 
launched our boat and pulled across to the 
outlet, near its western extremity, we took 
the short carry over to about the center of 
the south shore of Bog Lake—a very hand- 
some body of water, about one and -three- 
quarter miles in length, with generally hand- 
some wooded and rocky shores, and why so 
named, unless after the name of some individ- 
ual, one has cause to wonder. It is at the head 
of Bog River, and a good trouting, as also a 
fine hunting locality. The outlet empties into 
Mud Lake, but as we had found it navigable 
only under great difficulty, as the alder brush 
interlacing from each bank: had never been 
cut out, and pulling through was hard work, 
we -preferred to portage over the three-mile 
carry to Mud Lake. En route, I shot two 
grouse and secured them to my pack basket. 
Mud Lake seems properly named, as much 
of its approachable from the 
water only by pushing the boat through that 
commodity. The lake is somewhat oval and 
perhaps two to two and a half miles in extent, 
and a noted deer resort. Crossing northwest- 
erly to near the inlet from Pond, we 
made our way by both carry and stream up to 
Grass Pond, and found it to be a gem, set in 
the woods, and quite attractive by its contrast. 
Here we found a hunters’ camp, with conven- 
lent spring, camp table outside and stone range 
for camp-fire, together with forked sticks and 
other woodsman’s conveniences for camp 
cookery, and we at once made coffee, broiled 
shore line is 
Grass 
our birds, and enjoyed: a late dinner, which 
we shared with March, 1 handsome little span- 
jel I had purchased. at Saranac Lake, who was 
an inseparable companion on all our excur- 
sions, and whose history is siven in an article 
entitled “An Adirondack Dog Story,” pub- 
lished in Forest anp Stream in 1895. 
\fter resting a while, we pulled to the head 
of the pond and thence over the somewhat 
rough trail into Oval Pond, whose outlet, 
known as Chair Rock Creek, we thought much 
better suited for trout than for boating, and 
along which we made the one and a half miles 
carry over good trail, and picked up more 
grouse ere we arrived at the southeast end of 
the large body of. water known as Cranberry 
By E. S. WHITAKER 
Lake, whose outlet is the main feeder of the 
Oswegatchie River. : 
This lake, with several inlets and fine moun- 
tain scenery on the east, embraces several 
islands, and must have been a fine one ere the 
dam was constructed at its foot; but now the 
larger portion of its shores presents a deso- 
late appearance, as the overflow has killed so 
many’ trees and brush, and much of the de- 
stroyed timber has fallen. Its main inlet enters 
at the southwest and is formed by the outlets 
from some dozen ponds and lakes. 
Being desirous of seeing as much as we 
could, we went across the south end ofthe 
lake, and making our way into the Big Inlet, 
ascended so far as we could without making a 
carry, and having found a favorable spot, went 
into camp for the night. Next day we thor- 
oughly explored the lake as we went back and 
forth on our way to the foot. »From the head 
of Big Inlet to the dam must be nearly eigh- 
teen miles. We stopped at Bear Mountain 
en route, and from its summit had’a fine view, 
barring the dead timber. We stopped over 
night at the Sportsman’s Home, near the foot 
of the lake, and took an early start in the 
morning for a run down the river for several 
miles, part of which was rapids and required 
some skill in passing. : 
Having gone as far down as-we thought we 
could pull ‘back ere night, we went ashore. 
and having secured a couple of grouse, pre- 
pared dinner at a charming bluff overlooking 
the river; and then after a rest started on our 
return trip. After some hours of strenuous 
exertion we passed the portage about the dam 
just at dark, and then were back to the hotel 
for a ‘late supper and welcomed bed. Next 
morning we carried over to the pretty Silver 
Pond nearby, and from thence to Grass River, 
up which we proceeded until we reached the 
dam which forms the reservoir. Having ‘ob- 
tained dinner at Shurtluff’s, who lived at and 
had charge of the dam, and directions as. to 
the best way through the labyrinth of dead 
trees, we proceeded to the southerly head of 
the reservoir and up the inlet to Townline 
Pond; thence by short carry to Ege or Deer 
Pond and oy er to Boot Tree, Horseshoe, Long 
and Catamount ponds, all: very pretty, and 
‘which we successively explored, and put up for 
the nigkt at Gale’s Hotel, quite an establish- 
ment, where we had good accommodations 
and made the acquaintance of a number of 
sportsmen guests, and enjoyed a game of four- 
hand pinochle in the evening. 
Next day we. spent in exploring Lake Mas- 
sawepie, Bay Pond and Pine Pond, all lying 
contiguous and very handsome, ‘with fine sur. 
roundings, and succeeded in killing two fine 
black ducks and a grouse, which we sent over 
to the hotel with instructions to have roasted 
and served at supper. It was a matter of sur- 
prise to some who saw the game brought in, 
that with a rifle the heads alone had received 
* 
the bullet, leaving the bodies intact, especially 
as the ducks had been shot from the boat. 
After another pleasant evening we retired, and 
next morning carried over to Downey’s land: 
ing, on the Raquette River. At the northeast 
Matumbla Mountain loomed up, and at the 
northwest was Moosehead, and on the South, 
Arab Mountain. Our course was now up the 
river southeasterly and by the narrows around 
Sol’s Island, and passing the rapids known as 
Averills, we were presently at the foot of a 
handsome cataract with about twenty-foot 
fall, known as Piercefield Falls; the basin 
seemed a likely place for fish. We also saw in 
this vicinity two deer. 
After portaging about the falls, we went on 
through Fish Hawk and Setting Pole Rapids, 
and finally reached Raquette Pond—quite a 
body of water, but with unattractive surround- 
ings. Having lunched, we went northerly by 
carry and stream to Wolf Pond, and thence 
over to Big Wolf Pond, a handsome sheet of 
water, well deserving the name of lake, and 
very fine shores, which we explored with much 
satisfaction, and then went into camp for the 
night. In the morning we went by carry from 
the northeast shore through Little, Long, and 
two other small ponds and carries into Mos- 
quito ponds; thence into the large, irregular 
shaped but pretty water of Rollin’s Pond. 
Crossing the head of thisy pond, we stopped 
for a look at the curious Whey. Pond, reached 
by carry of a few rods easterly, and worthy of 
a visit. In striking contrast to the clear water 
in Rollins, that in Whey seems well named, as 
it is of a whitish color, and nothing can be 
seen beneath the surface. Here we saw two 
otters disporting themselves, and watched 
them for several minutes. 
Returning to Rollins, we went through it 
and its outlet into queer shaped Floodwood 
Pond, quite large for a pond, and having its 
waters augmented by several ponds at the 
north, whose waters are discharged therein, 
we turned southeasterly through its outlet into 
Square Pond, and thence into the peculiar 
shaped Big Square Pond, which we took a turn 
about, after stopping for lunch, and thence 
down Fish Creek, entering the upper Saranac 
near the center of dts western shore line. Quite 
a large tract northwest from this point—Fish 
Creek Bay—is a’ wonderful location for the 
camping tourist, as within an area of a few 
miles are some eighteen or twenty lakes and 
ponds within easy reach and almost contigu- 
ous, with good forest-covered banks, where 
game and fish can be had. A new location 
can be had for camp every day or so, 1f diver- 
sity is desired, and away from the crowded 
resorts, yet within easy reach. 
T am glad to note the fact that*this tract has 
since my trip béen secured by the State as a 
part of the State Park, so that it will always 
be a home for the camper. One passing along 
the Saranac would little dream of this sports- 











































































