West Canada Lakes Wilderness, New York

The West Canada Lakes Wilderness of the Adirondacks would serve as the venue for the 2009 Academy Graduates Backpacking Trip.  Mark Raven, Matt Raven, Nick Handley, Dan Ferren, and Dustin Farmer met at Cross Community Church in Elyria, Ohio just before 6:00 AM on Friday, August 14.  Excellent time was made into New York until our first stop for gas on the Thruway near Rochester, where we were greeted with 1970s style gas lines.  One more stop was made just outside the Adirondack Park border for some final sustenance before leaving civilization.  Some difficulty was had finding our final road to the Trailhead (Jessup River Road named by Google Maps and National Geographic’s software is in reality marked as Perkins Clearing Road), but we reached the Pillsbury Mountain Trailhead and hit the trail at 3:30 PM. 

We quickly made our way up the gradual incline of the Cedar Lakes Trail for 1.6 miles and then made a turn onto the Pillsbury Lake Trail.  We reached Pillsbury Lake to find the lean-to occupied by an old man with his dog, who inquired of us where we were from and what day it was.  The next stretch of trail from Pillsbury Lake to Sampson Lake would be the most difficult terrain of the loop.  Many parts of the trail were so muddy and wet that it required significant bushwhacking to get around without completely soaking our footwear for the remainder of the trip.  After reaching Sampson Lake and enjoying the view from the lean-to, we continued on to the wooden bridge crossing West Canada Creek.  With the sun having already dipped below the tree line, we were relieved to discover the West Canada Creek Lean-to just yards up the trail and unoccupied.  Camp was set up and all soon retired to their quarters.  Early in the night, we were awakened and alarmed by the sound of a bear tearing through the lean-to.  Thankfully, we learned that this thunderous noise was exactly the same sound that Dan makes when he rolls over. 

Saturday morning started early, with Dustin rising from his tent in a vain attempt to warm his frigid being with a horse blanket, nicotine, and a breakfast buffet he found hanging from a tree not far from the lean-to.  After filtering water, we began down the Northville-Placid Trail by 9:00 AM.  After a short stretch of dry trail, and meeting a pair of gentlemen who considered our itinerary to be insane, we crossed South Lake and then onto the West Canada Creek Lean-to #1, which was not on our map but would be an excellent place to camp.  As we approached West Lake, the trail bore overwhelming evidence to recent and substantial flooding.  At some points, we were given the eerie perception of actually looking up at the lake from the trail.  The bridge across West Lake provided some much needed dry steps and an outstanding view of the lake and mountains beyond.  From here on out, the trails would become increasingly passable.  Near King’s Pond, we encountered a swarm of Bald-faced Hornets, and these agents of evil inflicted great pain and damaged morale.  At our first glimpse of the Cedar Lakes, we took a break for lunch and filtering water.  Rather than following the shore of the lake, as it should, the trail uneventfully leads away from the lake and climbs Cobble Hill.  Descending Cobble Hill brought us to a bridge that crosses at the intersection of Beaver Pond (fully equipped with a beaver dam under the bridge) and Cedar Lake.  In less than a mile, we reached the final Cedar Lake Lean-to and our best lake view of the trip, with the ominous Pillsbury Mountain looming in the distance.  Our trek soon left the Northville-Placid Trail as we crossed the end of Cedar Lake onto the Cedar Lakes Trail, which took us back to the Pillsbury Trailhead and the van.

Upon returning to the van, the decision made by Nick earlier in the day to forego the climb of Pillsbury Mountain was confirmed.  After a short period of rest and refueling, the remaining four hikers began the assault on the Doughboy at 5:00 PM.  The trail initially descends and crosses the Miami River before beginning its steep climb.  Early on, it became apparent that Dan would not be able to complete the hike, and the prudent decision was made to turn back and join Nick at the van.  Mark, Matt, and Dustin did reach the summit of the Doughboy, and were greeted by snakes, a welcomed breeze, and the defunct Pillsbury Fire Tower.  No views can be seen from the ground, so a climb up the fire tower is mandatory.  From the fire tower, we saw one of the most spectacular 360-degree views we had seen in the East so far, especially looking north into the High Peaks region.  Hoping for five minutes of rest after climbing down the tower, we were driven from the summit by swarms of midges.  The 1,500-foot descent down the 1.7-mile Pillsbury Mountain trail seemed to take forever, and did.  We returned to the van and were on the road by 8:00 PM.  A stop was made in the tourist town of Speculator, New York at the Mountain Market for some sustenance, and then at McDonalds along the Thruway near Syracuse before returning to Cross Community at 5:30 AM. 

Mark, Matt, and Dustin hiked 23 miles during the 29 hours in the West Canada Lakes, with Dan hiking 20 miles and Nick 19.5.  While the elevation changes on the loop were short and very gradual, the terrain proved difficult to maneuver due to unseasonably wet weather (although warm, humid weather without precipitation was enjoyed during our trip).  The lake views were outstanding, and the views from the Doughboy were spectacular.  The West Canada Lakes Wilderness was a fine venue for the 2009 Academy Graduates Backpacking Trip, with future trips into the Adirondacks being warranted.