Hi Everyone!!!! I hope you've really been enjoying these last weeks of summer!!! I certainly have had some very great adventures recently. My parents took me to visit Raquette Lake in the Adirondack Mountains in New York for the very first time ever. My Dad has made a visit to Raquette Lake almost every year of his life; he won't let me say how many years that would be exactly, but we're talking about several decades of trips, and I'll leave it at that ;) Immediately upon arriving at Raquette Lake, I could see why my parents have returned year after year. As you know, we all love Sussex County for its trees and other natural wonders. Raquette Lake is just full of natural beauty and great outdoor excitement. As an avid swimmer, I marveled at how huge the lake is; it's the largest of the lakes in the Adirondacks with 99 miles of shoreline!!!
I went right to business in showing my parents just how awesome a swimmer I am by taking out into the lake after some ducks while they were both trying to enjoy their coffees on our first morning at camp. I scouted the lake edge until I saw a nice looking pair of ducks and as soon as they headed out into the water, I jumped in after them and swam way out into the lake like a champ. I almost caught up to the one duck but he rudely flew away before I could introduce myself. In the meantime, my Mom had jumped into the water after me wearing her t-shirt and sweatpants as well as her shoes (I don't know what she was thinking). Mom didn't making much headway wearing her soggy shoes so my Dad took out after me (sans shoes) and caught up to me just as I was considering what my next move should be given I could no longer pursue the duck in flight. I think Mom and Dad were pretty mad at me over the whole ordeal and Mom seemed pretty bitter that her favorite camp shoes didn't dry out enough for her to wear them again until midweek. Luckily my cuteness and sweetness earns me quick forgiveness for any of these antics and I just couldn't resist the excitement of pursuing those ducks!!! It was definitely a highlight of the trip for me and I kept my eyes peeled during the rest of the trip for any more ducks that would be up for my game of chase!!!
Spanning 6 million acres, the Adirondack Park is bigger than Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Canyon and Yosemite National Park combined. Although it is sometimes misconceived as a national park, the lands of the Adirondack Park are actually protected by a series of laws and constitutional amendments passed between 1885 and 1894 and is made up of 2.6 million acres of preserved forest owned by New York State as well as 3.4 acres million acres which are privately owned. In addition to vast spanses of forestland, there are 3,000 lakes and ponds within the Adirondack Park, as well as 30,000 miles of rivers and streams. All of this natural wonder adds up to a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts such as myself!
The Adirondack Park is also very rich with history. For any fans of the TV show "Hell on Wheels", one of the main characters is Thomas C. Durant. Durant was a financier and railroad promoter who, as vice-president of the Union Pacific, was instrumental in the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad. He also formed the Adirondack Company in 1863 which owned 500,000 acres of the central Adirondacks. Durant's son, William West Durant, was a designer and developer of Adirondack camps, including Camp Uncas, Camp Pine Knot and Sagamore Camp which are National Historic Landmarks. While we were in the Adirondacks, we hiked a super great trail that starts at the Sagamore Camp and runs all the way around Sagamore Lake. The smell of evergreen trees is one the things my Mom, Dad and I most enjoy while hiking certain of our favorite trails here in Sussex County and the Great Camp Sagamore Lake Trail was definitely one that smelled nicely of evergreens.
We are so very lucky to live in a county as great as Sussex County but it is always nice to get out and see other great places. Anyone who really loves the outdoors and nature would so very much enjoy the Adirondacks and I would encourage anyone who hasn't visited there yet to do so!!! I am so happy to have made my first trip there and I look forward to returning!!!
Well that's all I have to report for now. I wish you all a very happy end to Summer and a great start to the Fall season!!!!
With love and puppy kisses,
Piper, the Rescue Mutt
