With pack baskets on our back and boats loaded, we made the carry into Long Pond. It was aptly named, and after meandering, we found a campsite on a point with space enough for three tents. We set up camp, and searched the woods for a privy, with no luck.
Since we were there to paddle, we got back in the boats and kept following the dogleg of Long Pond and found our first carry at the end of the easternmost shore. We strapped our pack baskets on and threw the boats over our shoulders and made the portage in a fraction of the time that it would have taken in the kayaks.
While we floated on Slang and Turtle Ponds, we traded stories with Jeff and Lisa before we found the portage to Hoel Pond. We had two choices: carry the boats over the railroad tracks OR go through the culvert into the pond. Naturally, we chose the culvert - pushing our boats through ahead of us! It was great fun and we got very wet in the process.
We found a small sandy beach on Hoel Pond and had a picnic before exploring the shoreline further. It was a large pond and we managed to find the access to Floodwood Road, where we had initially turned off the main route.
Being late afternoon, we decided to follow our previous course to our campsite. We got to rush through the culvert again with Jeff catching our boats at the end. We were serenaded with harmonica over dinner, delicious baked apples for dessert and great stories before we dozed for the night.
The next day we ate red velvet hash and banana bread early and packed camp before nine. Naturally we headed to Donnelly's for two ice cream cones before parting ways. A whirlwind of a trip for sure, but a great time exploring some of the lesser explored areas of the Adirondacks.
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