Robert
New member
I drive into Coreys parking on a sunny, warm Tuesday afternoon. I am actually excited about this trip, and despite the long day I face tomorrow. It’s a new area with fresh places to explore and things to see.
Day 1: I start out on the trail to Blueberry Pond. It's wet and muddy, but otherwise an easy trail. Surrounded and overshadowed by the trees, Blueberry Lean-To is too dark and foreboding for me. I decide to move on to Ward Brook Lean-To and closer to the trailheads. This lean-to is occupied by a school group of 8, so I push on to Camp 4. I’m glad I do, as this is a very nice setting with two lean-to’s and a running brook behind. I’m alone tonight … well, not really. I amuse myself by playing hide and seek with a mouse trying to explore every pocket in my backpack. No doubt it’s picked up the residual odors of my day food long since gone.
Day 2:
Seward: As I arrive at the cairn early Wednesday morning, another hiker comes in from Blueberry Lean-To. We are grateful for the company on this arduous day. The ascent to Seward is relatively easy, but long. There is significant mud as we start the ascent, and along the way. We don’t encounter any major blowdown, and the trail is easy to follow. The few rock scrambles and the head rock near the summit don’t pose any major problems. I make a mental note to turn LEFT here on the return leg. We find the red disk sign on the tree in the small round clearing on top. However, the persistent cloud dome and thick growth limit our view to about 50 feet. What’s out there? We push on.
Seward, I wonder what you would show us on a clear day?
Donaldson: At the first summit we actually step out onto the ledge on the left, but don’t find the sign. Thinking we’re not quite there yet, we push ahead. On the return leg, the cloud dome lifts as we return to the ledge. We can now see Seward’s summit, as well as the traverse down the eastern side to Donaldson. Behind us now, we can also see Emmons for the first time. As we turn to leave, I spy the red disk sign up a tree. Picture time!
Donaldson, thank you for the brief views of Seward and Emmons, and the measure of what we are accomplishing today.
Emmons: My sense of time tells me we are close to Emmons. My companion thinks we haven’t reached Donaldson yet. He’s very happy I’m right! The leap onto the rocks on the right brings us to the summit, such as it is, yet yields no views whatsoever. I find the red disk sign. Pictures, a 10-minute lunch, and we’re off on the return.
Emmons … Vinni, viddi, vicci!!
We keep going, and going, and …! A companion helps provide some humor about “the trail that never ends”, and the “Everyready trail” between Seward and the cairn. We finally arrive at the cairn on Ward Brook Road 10 hours and 50 minutes after we started. And, I have another mile and 150 foot climb to Camp 4. What a day!
I return to Camp 4 to a companion “Denny” and his 2-year old golden retriever “Ellison”. She’s a delight, and Denny’s a talkative, retired NY State park superintendent. We share food, a fire in the fire pit in front of the 2nd lean-to, and many stories about our trips. Denny advises me to see Duck Hole now, as it will soon disappear. The dam is about to go and it won’t be repaired. He also urges me to see the Cold River area. Maybe I will hook up with Denny and Ellison for the more leisurely … and flatter … exploratory trips I take in the future as an “old man of the mountains”.
Day 3:
Seymour: I’m up and off early on Thursday morning. I’m all business now, as I have to complete Seymour, return to Camp 4, pack up and pack out today. The cairn just before the Ward Brook Lean-To is easy to find.
It’s steeper up to Seymour than it was to Seward. It looks like I could go up the slide(s), but the steepness and apparent slipperiness warn me away as I’m alone. The summit yields some really good views on this very sunny day. As the sun begins to dry the mud on my boots, I experience some new aromas mingled with my cheddar, salami and oyster cracker lunch. Ampersand Lake to the north is beautiful. Its shape and center isle remind me of Elk Lake. The Sewards look positively tame from here. Right!!
I’m up and down in just over 4 hours. I scoot back to the lean-to, pack up and head back to Coreys parking. The walk along Ward Brook Road and Blueberry Trail is actually quite enjoyable. I am pleased to see the high pond water and dam, evidencing the beaver’s return to the Adirondacks. I meet a lone woman headed in who’s obviously anxious about the Sewards, but determined to do them. I share my map and experiences, and provide some comfort. We say goodbye and good hiking, and I head for home.
Seymour, I’m glad I came. Thanks for the western region memory.
Day 1: I start out on the trail to Blueberry Pond. It's wet and muddy, but otherwise an easy trail. Surrounded and overshadowed by the trees, Blueberry Lean-To is too dark and foreboding for me. I decide to move on to Ward Brook Lean-To and closer to the trailheads. This lean-to is occupied by a school group of 8, so I push on to Camp 4. I’m glad I do, as this is a very nice setting with two lean-to’s and a running brook behind. I’m alone tonight … well, not really. I amuse myself by playing hide and seek with a mouse trying to explore every pocket in my backpack. No doubt it’s picked up the residual odors of my day food long since gone.
Day 2:
Seward: As I arrive at the cairn early Wednesday morning, another hiker comes in from Blueberry Lean-To. We are grateful for the company on this arduous day. The ascent to Seward is relatively easy, but long. There is significant mud as we start the ascent, and along the way. We don’t encounter any major blowdown, and the trail is easy to follow. The few rock scrambles and the head rock near the summit don’t pose any major problems. I make a mental note to turn LEFT here on the return leg. We find the red disk sign on the tree in the small round clearing on top. However, the persistent cloud dome and thick growth limit our view to about 50 feet. What’s out there? We push on.
Seward, I wonder what you would show us on a clear day?
Donaldson: At the first summit we actually step out onto the ledge on the left, but don’t find the sign. Thinking we’re not quite there yet, we push ahead. On the return leg, the cloud dome lifts as we return to the ledge. We can now see Seward’s summit, as well as the traverse down the eastern side to Donaldson. Behind us now, we can also see Emmons for the first time. As we turn to leave, I spy the red disk sign up a tree. Picture time!
Donaldson, thank you for the brief views of Seward and Emmons, and the measure of what we are accomplishing today.
Emmons: My sense of time tells me we are close to Emmons. My companion thinks we haven’t reached Donaldson yet. He’s very happy I’m right! The leap onto the rocks on the right brings us to the summit, such as it is, yet yields no views whatsoever. I find the red disk sign. Pictures, a 10-minute lunch, and we’re off on the return.
Emmons … Vinni, viddi, vicci!!
We keep going, and going, and …! A companion helps provide some humor about “the trail that never ends”, and the “Everyready trail” between Seward and the cairn. We finally arrive at the cairn on Ward Brook Road 10 hours and 50 minutes after we started. And, I have another mile and 150 foot climb to Camp 4. What a day!
I return to Camp 4 to a companion “Denny” and his 2-year old golden retriever “Ellison”. She’s a delight, and Denny’s a talkative, retired NY State park superintendent. We share food, a fire in the fire pit in front of the 2nd lean-to, and many stories about our trips. Denny advises me to see Duck Hole now, as it will soon disappear. The dam is about to go and it won’t be repaired. He also urges me to see the Cold River area. Maybe I will hook up with Denny and Ellison for the more leisurely … and flatter … exploratory trips I take in the future as an “old man of the mountains”.
Day 3:
Seymour: I’m up and off early on Thursday morning. I’m all business now, as I have to complete Seymour, return to Camp 4, pack up and pack out today. The cairn just before the Ward Brook Lean-To is easy to find.
It’s steeper up to Seymour than it was to Seward. It looks like I could go up the slide(s), but the steepness and apparent slipperiness warn me away as I’m alone. The summit yields some really good views on this very sunny day. As the sun begins to dry the mud on my boots, I experience some new aromas mingled with my cheddar, salami and oyster cracker lunch. Ampersand Lake to the north is beautiful. Its shape and center isle remind me of Elk Lake. The Sewards look positively tame from here. Right!!
I’m up and down in just over 4 hours. I scoot back to the lean-to, pack up and head back to Coreys parking. The walk along Ward Brook Road and Blueberry Trail is actually quite enjoyable. I am pleased to see the high pond water and dam, evidencing the beaver’s return to the Adirondacks. I meet a lone woman headed in who’s obviously anxious about the Sewards, but determined to do them. I share my map and experiences, and provide some comfort. We say goodbye and good hiking, and I head for home.
Seymour, I’m glad I came. Thanks for the western region memory.
