Tramp & Trail

Write-up: Meg Higgerson
Leader: Meg Higgerson
Co-Leader: Grace McNasser

In record-breaking heat for a Labor Day Weekend, eight Tramps drove north toward Indian Lake.

At our stop at the Speculator Firehouse, our Co-Leader offered us freshly baked and still warm blueberry muffins. We reached the trailhead around 10:45 and began the relatively flat hike for about 2 miles. The heat and humidity were quite stifling, even for the birds and forest creatures. With the exception of our own chatter, we hiked in silence.

We came to a fork in the trail. One path led to a former beaver dam and the other to the fire tower. We started to climb and scramble over rocks and roots. We all agreed that the 1194’ elevation change in that last mile was a difficult one and the heat and humidity added to the challenge.

Upon reaching the fire tower, we first sat in the shade of the ranger’s cabin to eat lunch.

Sharon’s daughter Amanda joined our hike today. She is working on her “Fire Tower Challenge.” Her goal is to not only to climb all the fire tower mountains, but to have her picture taken up there doing a handstand!!!

Following lunch the rest of us did gymnastics as we all took turns climbing the 8-story,
92-foot fire tower and were wowed by the beautiful views of Blue, Snowy, Cedar River and Raquette Lake. After an hour spent on the top of Wakely admiring the views and the antics, we started our descent at 1:30.

The return hike was a bit quicker in spite of some trips and stumbles along the way but we all made it safely back to the cars for more solar-warmed muffins and ice-cold watermelon.

Thanks to Sharon Kaelin and Amanda Zdanowicz for the photos.
Well, except for the watermelon, which I stole from the internet.
MPC