Day 1 - Old Forge, NY, to Seventh Lake, NY

U-2016-8-21 – Starting Day!

At the Eastern Terminus, Old Forge, NY 

Map 1: Old Forge to Long Lake, NY

Trail Overview-- at the Western Terminus!

Start: Old Forge, NY, Visitor’s Center

End: Seventh Lake, Lean-to near Goff Island
On the Way:  Old Forge, Inlet, Fulton Chain of Lakes

Map:  1

Miles: ~14.5

Weather: Downpour all afternoon, ending with a nice clear evening.

A fortuitous start at the Eastern Terminus, in the middle of a rainstorm

The gearpile, 1/4 of which is food.

Zach and I sign the first register.

Revisiting our lashing technique
 on the way up to Old Forge.

Today it begins.  With my 18’ yellow sea kayak, new camping setup, and way more food than I should probably be taking, I start off to see how far along the NFCT I can get before the autumn cold, exhaustion, or boredom convinces me it’s not fun anymore.  I think a good litmus test is this: if I can’t readily and convincingly answer “yes” when I ask myself, “Are you glad to be here?”  That’s when it’s time to consider calling up the dutiful Hannah and Zach and asking for a ride home.

            Along those lines, Hannah and Zach are absolute saints.  They accompanied me on the 5-hour drive from Boston to Old Forge, kayak precariously strapped to the top of the rental car, took in the glorified brochure of a kiosk that is the Visitor’s Center, helped me pack the boat and launch it, and only laughed a little uproariously as I fell in the water getting in my boat.  Then they turned around and headed back to Boston.  What pals.  Plus they saw me off in the middle of a torrential rainstorm that only worsened once they left.  Auspicious starts, all around.

Dieter Das Boot (he's German) is christened
with water from all directions.

            Feels good so far, but I need to make sure I hydrate vigorously, stretch religiously, and eat prodigiously to shrink this damn food bag.  It’ll be better to haul once it’s emptier…

            Errands-wise, I need to call the folks and visit an ATM.

The rain lets up!

Things Learned:

+  Keep the map out.

+  Use a sleeping pad in hammock.  Gotta.

+  The bailing sponge can live behind my seat, where it won’t drench my bottom.

+  Don’t overfill the skirt pockets, or it won’t grip the boat well.

Shandy Point Lighthouse on the edge of a Lake.  (It's trying soooo hard.)

Trail Magic: 

+  Got surprised by the biggest loon I’ve ever seen when he surfaced right next to my boat.  He laughed at me and swam away.

A post-portage double rainbow!

+  At the end of my first portage, which had all the frustrations of the steep end of the learning curve, I saw a double rainbow.

The first night's hammock hang, next to Seventh Lake.

+  The two dudes already at the lean-to had a toasty fire ready.