Trip Report: Conklin Cemetery and Pine Meadow Lake Ruins 8/17/13 – 8/18/13

For some time now, during my research of different mountains here in NY, I've been seeing some sporadic pictures of ruins surrounding Pine Meadow Lake in Harriman State Park. Through some reading, I pieced together that there were two sets of ruins in those mountains. The first was what people refer to as the Conklin Cemetery, and the second, the Pine Meadow Lake Pump House Ruins.

The history of the area that I was able to find goes a bit like this: In 1779 the Conklin family came to this area in the mountain. At the time there was no lake there, but was rather a valley. They built a house, farm, etc. What has come to be known as the Conklin cemetery was the burial site for members of the family. Over the years the land gets transferred several times. In 1935 the Civilian Conservation Corps floods the valley, creating Pine Meadow Lake. Several structures are constructed for the task, and abandoned after the lake is created. In 1963 the land is acquired survival gear by the park.

So, I decided to go to the lake and see what I could find. I would mostly follow trails, except for when I reached the lake. My plan was to travel along the southern side of the lake, where the Conklin cemetery was supposed be located. After passing the lake, I would camp in the vicinity of a lean-to shelter. The next day I would return along the northern side of the lake where the survival kits pump house ruins are located. The southern section of the lake would require bushwhacking.

The trip started out following along a river, which would take me a good part of the way to the lake. Just like last time, I had with me my trekking poles, which have been proving to be very useful.

There were some mushrooms along the trail.

… and a frog…

For those of you who may be interested in repeating the trip, I started from the parking are on Seven Lakes drive. I then followed the Red trail to the White trail, to the Black trail over Raccoon Mountain, and then a short piece of Yellow trail, which got me almost next to the southern section of the lake. 

There was some good climbing up Raccoon Mountain. I am still getting used to doing it with the trekking poles. It's actually not bad, offering good balance points.

After reaching the summit, I descended down the Block trail until I reached a short section marked as Yellow. I followed it briefly until it ended in an unmarked path that seemed to follow along side the lake. I started following it, but it soon started moving away from the lake. From what I knew, the cemetery was right next to the lake, so I decided to bushwhack along the coast. That was easier said than done. The are was so overgrown with dense vegetation that moving was impossible in most areas. I zigzagged through the bushes, following whatever game trails I could find. On the upside, some of the huckleberry bushes had started to produce fruit.

    

After spending quite some time in the area, I gave up on trying to find the cemetery. I figured the undergrowth was too thick and everything would have been covered up. I could be ten feet from a monument and I wouldn't know it. I just pushed ahead along the lake in an effort to intersect a trail and follow it up the mountain where I would camp.

However, just as I was getting frustrated that I couldn't locate the site, I emerged into a small clearing in the brush. It was the Conklin cemetery.

It was a small area, that had clearly been maintained. At first I wasn't sure how anyone had reached it at all, but that I noticed that there was a small trail leading out the other end. Eventually it proved to lead out to the unmarked path on the side of the lake.

The older head stone I was able to find was of Ezekial Conklin, who served in the Orange County Militia during the Revolutionary War. He died November 29, 1811.

I followed the small path out of the cemetery heading due east. I soon reached another opening in the woods under a group of large pine trees. A bit to the side, I noticed the remnants of an old shed of some sort. I assume it was used as part of the pump station.

I decided to stop at this spot and have lunch. I noticed that on all of the pine trees were remnants of the exoskeletons of what appeared to be cicadas.

I figured I would stay away from the upright pines and found a nice rock to sit on.

I've been experimenting with different foods, so today for lunch I had some tortillas with pepperoni and a mixture of bacon, dried tomatoes and parmesan cheese. I also brought some ketchup in a small hand sanitizer bottle. Very happy with the results.

When I was done with lunch, I decided to spend some time by the lake. I was making good progress, and since I had brought my fishing kit with me, I decided to try my luck. After looking around for a bit, I found one location where I was able to reach the water through the bushes. I set up, tied a roostertail to my line, and on the first cast I hooked something.

 

It was an eight inch Blue Gill. They are not particularly good eating, and have a lot of bones, but will do for dinner in the woods.

Since luck was on my side, I figured I would try for a few more. On the second and third cast I ended up hooking the lilies and losing the lures. I decided to cut my losses. I gutted the fish and stored it in a plastic bag from lunch. I then set out again.

At first my plan was to follow along the lake. I was about half way along it by this point. Unfortunately the same old problem popped up. The brush was too thick to move through. I again started following small unmarked paths, until I reached a decent size one. Along it there were several ruins, which appeared to be from the pump house complex.

Unfortunately, all of this following of unmarked paths and looking for ruins, got me completely turned around. I had lost sight of the lake, and without realizing it had completed a good size semicircle, actually moving back west from where I had come. At this point I decided that it would be too difficult to try to follow the lake. I decided to backtrack to the north side of the lake and follow a path that ran there. This turned what was supposed to be five miles of backpacking on the first day into about seven miles. There was no time to waste. I just pushed along until I got to the area where I had intended to camp for the night. I only stopped for a bit near a small stream to fill up with water.

The area where I wanted to camp for the night was over the other side of a mountain. When I passed over the peak, it was one of the first good views I was able to get that day.

I set up camp, and got the fish cooking.

I also made my usual instant mashed potatoes, and finished a few snacks I had left over from earlier that day.

When the sun went down, I went to sleep. The next morning I fired up the stove and made some oatmeal. I didn't want to start the fire back up again because I didn't want to waste water putting it out when I was done.

After breakfast I headed back. As I was leaving, I noticed an unmarked path that was cutting across in the direction I intended to go-the north side of the lake. I decided to follow it instead of the trail. I figured worse case scenario, I would have to bushwhack until I reached the trail along the lake. I was in luck however, and eventually this path intersected the Red trail, which I needed to reach the lake. It appears that a bear had the same idea.

… and some more frogs…

Eventually I reached the north side of the lake. This time i was able to slow down and look around. There were much better fishing locations here, and the coast was easily accessible.

By the side of the trail you could see the ruins of the actual pump house, along with some other structures.

After that it was just a matter of making my way out. The overall trip ended up being twelve miles.

I was using a new GPS unit on this trip, the Garmin eTrex 20. I'm still trying to learn how to use it. I was able to record the track, but wasn't able to get a picture of the full elevation profile.

The trip was great. Other than getting turned around a few times, there were no difficulties. There were however some interesting gear developments. Recently I have cut down the weight and size of some of my gear, most notably my cooking kit and my sleeping bad (I'm using the NeoAir XTherm now). As a result, my 62L backpack now sits almost a third empty, without me even using any of the pockets. For this trip I ended up taking my REI Revelcloud puffy jacket just so I can fill up some of the room. The extra space will be welcomed during winter when I have crampons and other gear to fit in, but right now, the pack seems to large. I'll have to think of something.

For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2013/08/trip-report-conklin-cemetery-and-pine.html

Happy Independence Day!

I hope everyone had survival kits a good 4th of July. May we never forget this survival kits amazing act of defiance and the sacrifices of those who made it possible.

For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2013/07/happy-independence-day.html

Technology and The Modern Woodsman

Last month I wrote a post about a concept I called The Modern Woodsman. You can read it in full here. Before I get into the current topic it might be worth giving a recap of the concept itself.

The Modern Woodsman: an individual who is able to undertake long term, long distance trips, deep into the wilderness, only with supplies one could carry and what could be gathered from the surrounding environment. The equipment and skills used are guided by their actual practicality and are not restricted by any historical period limitations or aesthetic factors. The trips undertaken occur in the present, within the context of our current society, laws, and regulations.

The Modern Woodsman is able to navigate through the bush; he can travel over varied and difficult terrain and during any season and weather; he can properly plan the supplies needed for an excursion of a particular duration, both in terms of the resources that must be brought and what can realistically be obtained from the environment through which the travel will occur. Most importantly, he is not survival gear limited to the technology or skill of any particular time period. He uses technology, skills and equipment based on efficiency and practicality. He applies modern hunting techniques, modern understanding of nutrition, and modern climbing, mountaineering, and packrafting techniques. His equipment includes tools that are best suited for the task without consideration for nostalgia and sentimentality. The gear is centered around portability, so that it can be transported over long distances and difficult terrain. The skills he implements are designed for efficiency, not showmanship, and while his equipment is modern, it is designed to function over extended periods of time. His expeditions are not theoretical in nature, but occur in the present, within the guidelines and laws of our modern society.

With the above summary of The Modern Woodsman in mind, some questions have been asked about what technology is acceptable to use within this concept, and what technology should be excluded. Honestly, your approach is as good as any, since I am making up the concept myself. However, if you are interested in my thoughts on the subject, I'll share them with you.

The simple answer is that the only limitation on technology is the rules and regulations of the jurisdiction within which the trip or expedition is taking place. That would eliminate most of the absurd examples, such as using dynamite to clear out a path through the forest, or fishing with grenades. All other technology is fair game for The Modern Woodsman. Technology of any kind and from any time period can be used to achieve the goal of the expedition.

Of course, the answer is more complex than that. While not limited by the concept itself, a large amount of technology will be excluded from use due to practical considerations. Remember, part of the definition of The Modern Woodsman is that he or she can undertake long term, long distance trips, deep into the wilderness, only with supplies one could carry and what could be gathered from the surrounding environment. The technology used has to function within that framework in a practical manner. The technology utilized has to be justifiable in terms of practicality when it comes to reliability, weight, and the benefit it offers over simpler technology. 

For example, why not use a chainsaw instead of an axe? Well, in most circumstances, the chainsaw would be impractical. It offers a significant advantage in terms of performance, but the combined weight of the chainsaw and fuel drastically limits its portability. On a trip that requires carrying the equipment on one's back for 20 miles into the woods and then 20 miles out, the limitations of the chainsaw become evident. Similarly, on a trip of long duration, the necessity of fuel provides a significant disadvantage when compared to a simpler tool such as a hand saw or an axe. For me, those limitations would make the chainsaw a piece of technology that has limited uses for The Modern Woodsman. 

Another, more relevant example is GPS units. As you guys know, I use one to record my trips, but do not use it to navigate. A GPS unit offers wonderful advantages over more traditional navigation methods with map and compass, but it also has limitations which might render it impractical for certain types of trips. The main limitation is the reliability on a finite power source. A good GPS unit will last for about two days of careful use with a set of batteries. In cold weather that time decreases. So for a trip that will last a week or more, quite a few batteries have to be carried. So, as far as technology for The Modern Woodsman, such units, for me at least, fall in a category where they are useful technology that can be effectively utilized, but should be backed up by simpler methods and technology just because of their limitations.

A third example is modern stoves. I find them to be very beneficial to The Modern Woodsman. Under some circumstances, when traveling through woodland, their use is marginal, and their reliance on fuels that have to be carried, significantly limits their utility. Under different conditions however, when you have to cook food while it is raining, or have to melt snow for water when you are above tree line, a stove is an indispensable item and has a secure place within the gear of The Modern Woodsman.

It should also be noted that the practical utility of each type of technology will change with time, as the technology evolves and is perfected. It is quite possible that within 10 years there will be GPS units that can run for a month on a set of batteries, and portable chainsaws that can be strapped onto a backpack. Such innovations will change how we view the practicality of those pieces of technology and may make them more useful for The Modern Woodsman.

While at first glance this lack of limitation on the use of technology might appear strange, especially when compared to the more stylized outdoor pursuits such as bushcraft, traditional camping, etc, the practical limitations result in a very familiar outdoor experience. We can see it today in modern hunters, climbers, and backpackers, who utilize practical available technology to achiever their camping gear goals. The applicability of technology to The Modern Woodsman will always be measured on a scale, where planning and realistic evaluation of the conditions which will be encountered and the goals which must be achieved will guide the selection process.

For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2013/07/technology-and-modern-woodsman.html

Wood Trekker Social Media – Google Reader Replacement Update

If you have been using Google Reader to follow your favorite blogs, you probably know by now that Google Reader is being shut down by the end of this month.

A few months back I wrote a post explaining how you can move all of your content to a number of different survival kits readers that are available. survival gear You can see the post here.

After writing the post, several people commented that there is a much easier way to follow blogs, using a service called Feedly. I gave it a try, and indeed, it is a much better and a much easier option than anything else I have been able to find.

To use the service, simply log onto Feedly using your Google Reader account, and it will automatically import all of the blogs that you have been following. If you don't want to import any blogs, you can use whatever account you wand and add blogs manually. The program is intuitive and easy to use, but just to make things easier, here are some tips.

Once you are logged in, you can open your menu of options by moving the pointer over the small rectangle in the upper left hand corner.

When the menu opens, you have a number of options. To add a blog, click on the "Add Content" button.

That will open a box into which you can copy and paste the URL of the blog you wish to follow. When done, just press the "Add" button.

I use Chrome as my browser, and Feedly actually has an add on for the browser, which makes things even easier. It places a small button on the lower right hand corner of the screen, which when pressed open a mini menu which allows you to add blogs to your Feedly.

Anyway, this is just another option I wanted to point out to you guys in case you are currently using Google Reader and are not sure what to do when the service is terminated at the end of the month. I've also added a Feedly box on the side on my blog to make it easier for you to use.

For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2013/06/wood-trekker-social-media-google-reader.html