Hiking NY: Backpacking Around Cranberry Lake

Last week I headed out with two friends for a 40 mile backpacking loop in upstate NY around Cranberry Lake in the Adirondack Region. We parked and started at noon in Wanakena heading counter clockwise. (An alternate and longer loop adds about 10 miles at this point on the High Falls trail to make the Cranberry 50, however we did not do those). We aimed for a campsite along the lake about 10 miles in and all was well until around a mile from the site it started pouring rain! So we made it to the site around 5pm with wet feet.

It stopped raining just long enough to set up our tents, but started up again while cooking dinner and did not stop until the morning. Despite the mud, the site was nice with a creek-fed pipe giving us all the water we could want. We listened to the loons on the lake overnight.

 We were happy to be greeted with the sun as we started out early the next morning, it almost made us forget our wet shoes! Our goal for this day was about 12 miles to the next camp site on the other side of the lake. We crossed over creeks, beaver dams, and thru many forested areas.

There was another chance of rain this night, but we were elated to make it to the next site with sunshine AND a beautiful view of the lake. We had stumps for chairs, and a rocky beach. We all immediately took our nasty shoes and socks off to dry out for the first time that day. We then hung a clothesline and dried out all of our sleep gear and set up the tents to dry as well.

The rain held off that night, however as soon as we hit the trail in the morning it started up again (getting our nice dry feet all wet once again) and followed us ALL day until the late afternoon.

The goal for day 3 was about 15 miles to the last campsite before ending and halfway thru that was a road walk in the town of Cranberry Lake. We happily took a long break inside a small convenience store for lunch and rest. By this time my feet were very sore and my poor wet skin was starting to blister and tear. I bandaged them up the best I could but nothing really sticks in wet socks.

As we made our way out of town onto the last stretch of trail we all agreed that instead of saving the last 5 miles for the next morning, we would just pound them out since we had the daylight to finish. The next campsite would definitely be wet, and there would be no drying out for the next day. So if we already had wet feet, why not just finish?

So we began the death march and man were my dogs singing! As fresh blisters developed and tore open I had to stop occasionally to retape and bandage them so I didn't limp so much. The trail was painfully uneven with roots and rocks just enough to twist your ankle if you didn't pay attention. Everything was wet and muddy, and when the sun finally showed its face around 3pm we were happy at least to not be finishing in the rain.

After endless miles we finally made it back to our starting point of Wanakena and boy if your car isn't the most welcome sight after a long hike!!!! I was very thankfully to have thought ahead and brought clean dry clothes for the long ride home and I quickly took my nasty shoes and socks off then changed clothes. I felt halfway human enough to hit the road and forage for some gas and a hotdog to sustain me for the 4hr drive home.

All in all it was a decent loop but I don't prefer road walking or going thru towns. It would be pleasant to section hike or stay in specific sites overnight that were scenic. I'm sure it would have been much more enjoyable had the rain stayed away. Wet shoes are hard to come back from on a multiday hike. Day 3 we knocked out about 17 miles which is my new daily record with a full backpack for a total of approx 40 miles and 3600ft gain in 3d/2n.

Family Vacation to Costa Rica

Last month the Pierce family escaped to the beautiful country of Costa Rica! I had an amazing time there in 2022 and have been talking about it non stop, so I'm happy to finally be able to share it with my boys. This trip was also special because this may be Brad's last family trip with us for awhile since he is going off to university next year!

Our direct flight was out of Toronto, so we drove up there the day before for a chill evening at the hotel. We caught an early shuttle to the airport and our car was safe and sound parked in the hotel garage.

The flight was direct from Toronto to Liberia, CR and we were at our rented apartment by 1pm! It was a beautiful condo with 2 bedrooms, a patio, and a balcony off each bedroom. We had a full kitchen plus laundry.

For the first evening we ventured out to a small grocery store for some essentials, then checked out the beach that was only a few  minutes walk away.

In the morning Nick and I enjoyed waking up with coffee  on our balcony listening to the birds. We even had a peak of the ocean view!

Our first full day there we headed over to a local place by us to rent a golf cart for the day. We were surprised to be greeted by an ex-pat Canadian who had been living in CR for years and was also a realtor there! He was very nice, and had starfruit tree in his yard that he happily shared fruit from.

After getting the car we decided to have some beach time for a little while until lunch time. The small bay we were in was calm and quiet with beautiful views around us.

Hermit crab

After the beach we got cleaned up then headed on the golf cart around town. We went down the main street then to the edge of town for a small local restaurant to have lunch at.

The common local dish there is called "casado" which is a mix plate of rice, beans, salad, chicken, and plantain. We all got this, plus a side of salchipapas (fries with sausage) and everything was delicious!

It also happened to be Mother's day there, and they came around and gave me a lei!

After lunch we hopped back into the cart and buzzed around town a bit more. We stopped at a bigger grocery store for more supplies, plus some ice cream bars to cool us off. We also checked a different beach on the way home.

That evening we were going to go out for dinner with the cart, however a big storm moved in and it rained all night so we stayed in and cooked. Plus enjoyed a drink on the patio!

The next morning we returned the cart and enjoyed a quiet morning plus some beach time in the afternoon. For dinner we headed out to a local cafe and got casados again! Plus a mango smoothie. So good.

Brad got a cheeseburger

We saw this huge cricket on the way back.

Look how different the squirrels are there!

Sunday was our first excursion--jet skis and snorkeling! We met our guide on the beach, then loaded onto the jet skis and headed off into the Pacific. Jacob rode with me and Brad rode with Nick.

We stopped and watched a humpback whale and baby for several minutes!

We stopped at a small island to see a cave as well as a scenic view point from a tall hill.

Then we headed to a different beach where we parked the jet skis and got ready to snorkel. Nick and Jacob did not snorkel, so they stayed on the beach watching the wild animals come and go. Brad and I got ready then headed out in to the water.

We swam with schools of fish and sea turtles! It was really neat.

The animals we saw on the beach are called coati. They look like a mix of a raccoon and a monkey! They were digging out little critters from the sand and eating them. We also saw huge iguanas.

After that we got back on the jet skis then finished up the tour back on the beach.

Coming back to our condo, Brad saw the groundskeeper trimming the palm trees. He decided to ask him (in Spanish) if he could have some coconuts. So they gave him some! While we were cutting them up, they came and brought us 3 more. We enjoyed the water and fruit from them.

That evening I got some pretty sunset pics on the beach in the bay.

The next day was our all day excursion! Our guide picked us up at the condo and we headed out of town for our private tour. First stop was a waterfall where we could get in and cool off in the beautiful fresh waters.

After the waterfall we went to a farm for a coffee and cacao demonstration. We got to see how it is grown and processed, plus taste it!

Fresh brewed coffee

Roasting cacao beans

Jacob grinding the cacao

Brad got to grind some too

Hot chocolate

Eating sugar cane with the hot chocolate

Next we went to a rainforest for a nature walk thru the jungle. We did not see any big animals but we did see a pretty cicada and a lizard. We also got to walk on the hanging bridges above the trees.

Next is was lunch! We went to a small restaurant in the town we were by. Nick and I got the casados, and the boys got cheeseburgers. We all enjoyed fresh mango juice with the lunch as well. Everything was delicious.

View from the restaurant patio.

For our last stop we went to an animal sanctuary and saw SO many animals!

Birds of paradise flower.

SLOTHS!

Red eyed tree frog

Giant African snail

Poisonous yellow eyelash viper

Blue jean poison dart frog

From there the tour ended however on our drive back to the condo our eagle eyed guide spotted some howler monkeys in the trees and pulled off so we could get out and see them!

The next day was our last full day there, so we enjoyed a quiet morning before heading out for one last beach trip. Nick spotted monkeys right above us in the trees and we saw a whole group of spider monkeys passing thru! These are endangered and rare to see outside of National Parks.

The next morning we packed up and caught the van back to the airport for our flight home!

Thankfully all the flights and tours went very smooth....however when we took the shuttle in Toronto back the hotel where our car was parked, we discovered that my car battery was dead! The hotel had a battery pack but it was dead as well. At the last minute the security helping us was able to brainstorm with Nick and they pushed the car down the aisle in the garage just enough for him to pop the clutch and get it to start! It was just a dome light left on that killed the battery, so we didn't have any more trouble on the way home and we finally arrived at 1am. Cuddles was very happy to see us!