I paddled Round Lake a couple weeks ago, and had a distinctly different impression of it than did the writer who has an older report on the main ADK website (Google: "Round Lake Adirondack"). This recent addition to publicly accessible canoe waters of the Adirondacks is linked to Little Tupper Lake via the Round Lake inlet. I think that this will become a very popular destination because it’s extremely easy to access. You can park along the road and launch on the creek that flows out of Round Lake and into Little Tupper, and with just a few minutes of easy paddling, you‘re on Round Lake. Access can also be had by parking in the main Little Tupper lot, launching there, paddling to the end of the lake, and under the bridge. The nature of the access, and a smaller lake, will allow people in any size kayak to go paddle camping here, as it would be a simple task to paddle back to the car for more gear, if necessary. In a canoe, you can get on the lake in just about any kind of weather with plenty of gear.

The sign-in station by Little Tupper featured an updated map showing several new campsites on the lake, which now total eleven. I recommend that paddlers make specific note of where the new sites are, since the printed pamphlet shows only the six original sites. The shoreline is irregular and big enough to cause confusion for those paddlers without the new information in hand.

Paddling up the lake’s inlet is a pleasant experience, with multiple beaver lodges along the way, and plenty of water lilies to see, paddle through, and photograph. As we emerged onto the lake, a magnificent mature Bald Eagle flew overhead. We checked out two of sites that had literally been carved out of the forest just a week before we trod there; site numbers 11 and 10. Following the newly dug and flagged path up from the water, we climbed the hill to find a very small fire ring, with new virgin sand at the bottom, situated in a very small clearing under the tall trees. A little farther up, the newly cleared tent site occupied another very small section of mostly flat forest duff. Following the “toilet” sign and more flagging, we were led to another nice new box privy in the woods. The lower part of the campsite, the part that was close to the water but below the tent and fire sites, could serve as a good “living room”. I like to camp with a view. Both of the new forest sites we looked at were in thick woods, so a camper would have to walk down the hill to enjoy a view of the lake; the fire ring had no lake view.

After viewing those new, but uninviting camps, we next stopped at what would be our home for two nights, site # 9. The landing area was a small section of gravel shore, just right to land our tandem canoe, and shallow enough to make for easy egress from a canoe or kayak . There was a nice grassy area by the water that would serve as our kitchen. I stashed my bear-proof food canister in the adjacent woods at night, and when we were away from camp. A short distance up the hill, under mature pine trees, was a clearing with an open view of the lake. That would serve as our “living room”, and we set up my friend’s circus tent, or rather, his blue and white striped canopy. We would sit under that shelter in our camp chairs (a benefit of the high volume of a canoe), to eat and drink, or to just enjoy the view.

A little farther into the site was the fire ring and tent area. This site also seemed to have been built just days before our arrival. Although we as paddlers are fortunate to have this newly accessible lake for recreation, others have been using this area for other types of outdoor recreation for many years, so the lakeshore is far from pristine. A dirt road, still in very good condition and recently used, runs up one side of the lake. There is also road access on the other side, but not necessarily parallel to the shore. Our tent site was in a large bull-dozed area of not-too-flat dirt and stones. Grass seed had been planted and a few blades had managed to sprout already. Obviously, the lake had previously been home to numerous hunting and fishing camps. A driveway linked our parking lot (aka tent site) with the main road (now closed, I hope). While walking along that dirt road, we saw more than one area with a plank nailed high between trees for the purposes of hanging the trophy deer. I’m not against other people hunting, but trashy old littered deer camps don’t make good “quasi-wilderness” camping areas for paddlers. Maybe in several years, after the forest reclaims some of the open area, it will be wild enough for me to return and enjoy it. The small, newly built fire ring had a nice plank bench next to it (surely destined to be firewood, I suppose - I speak from experience, if not just pessimism). Old, broken glass lay all around the fire ring, at the base of the bench. No bare-footin’ it here! At the edge of the “tent site”, by what was obviously the site of a now-removed cabin/shack, lay the remainder of an old wood pile. A good number of old pieces of firewood remained, and together with the deadwood on the ground all around us, provided an ample supply for our small campfires.

Our first choice for a tent site turned out to be unusable, due to a plank sticking out of the ground on the otherwise flat spot. Our efforts at excavation showed it to be a large pressure-treated 2x6 that was buried at an angle, and went too deeply underground for us to extricate. This wood and glass litter seemed to be a result of demolition debris being buried on site, but not very carefully or completely. All this might be perfectly acceptable if we were staying in a huge cabin tent or a trailer, I suppose, but was quite unwelcome to the more eco-friendly expectations of a paddler. Maybe it’s just not "done" yet, do you think?

So we set up our tent on a fairly flat spot with only a few stones, next to a partially excavated hillside, apparently leveled to make a fit site for tents. This area might be a mud hole in wet conditions, but I’m not sure. A little farther up the driveway, going toward the road, was the box privy. I really think that box privies are the best, cleanest type of outdoor facility. I had to touch the wood to make certain that the fresh varnish on the box was dry. The privy was situated in the open, about 15 to 20 feet off the driveway, but in clear view of any campers who might happen to be walking between the tent site/parking lot and the main dirt road.

Don’t get me wrong, many people will love this campsite and the others, but I was taken by surprise here. I guess I’m just spoiled; as I’m used to paddling, hiking, and camping in areas that have more of a wilderness character, and will go back to that on my next paddle trip and High Peaks hikes. The benefits of quick easy access, the plentiful wildlife, and the natural beauty will make Round Lake a popular camp destination for the foreseeable future.

To end on a positive note, I did enjoy my two days on Round Lake. I got to spend time with my friend who sparked my interest in hiking in the Adirondacks seven years ago, and who hiked my 45th and 46th High Peaks with me three years ago. We watched a Bald Eagle soar overhead. I slept under the stars most of one night, and we enjoyed some of his home made wine under the “big top”. We sat on the shore, in the darkness, just looking up at the stars. We marveled at the Milky Way, while listening to the soulful wail of the loons and the slaps of beaver tails on the water. It sure beats the hell out of working, eh? - Bob Van Hise

Some of the riders on our July 7th Oak Orchard River Road Bike Trip commented that they would like to go on a paddle of the river. This outing was put together to satisfy that request and to check out a clear run. Dennis Seekins and Jim Bauer had cut the cables that have been collecting debris and forming a major obstacle for years. After meeting at Pembroke and spotting cars, one tandem canoe and eleven solo kayaks put-in at Slade Road. The water level was a little low, but there was enough flow to practice our moving water technique. We had a couple of beginners, but surprisingly no mishaps. The only people to get wet were the ones who went swimming during the lunch break. Submitted by: Richard Schraven

Beginning at 3 a.m., four of us drove the 400 miles to the access point. The 15 km. paddle on Charlton Lake, and, meandering Howry Creek, and the short, easy portage under benign skies to our campground on Murray Lake, hardly prepared us for the next day’s events. We woke to thickening skies, so Mike and Pete hustled to pack and cross the lake to the start of the reputed "tough portage". My Brother, Jim, and I were crossing the lake just as the thunder, lightening and downpour began. I grabbed the canoe and started on the portage, which had no blazes. With the limited visibility of the rainstorm, carrying a canoe over my head and no companions accompanying me, I took wrong turns, and followed deer trails, which under those circumstances, looked like a regular trail. As the "trail" got narrower and windier, it dawned on me that I was not on the portage.

Meanwhile, Jim, thinking he was behind me, passed Mike and Pete going back for another load. Finally, they met at the end and Jim asked, "Where’s Dick?" Having a difficult time getting the 17’ canoe through overhanging branches and between random trees, I left it to find my way out. At first, I tried to find the elusive portage, but gave that up in favor of finding the lake we came from. After at least an hour of following deer trails and bushwhacking and blowing my whistle, I found a recognized part of the lake and started toward where I knew the portage trail would be. At that time Jim heard the whistle and yelled, "Are you hurt?" Because obviously someone of my experience, to be lost, must have been injured. We had a happy reunion, glad that we all were alive and well, but now we had four paddlers and two solo canoes. While Jim and I were looking for each other, Mike was climbing the mountain with his cell phone to get help. He had to go pretty high to get coverage. He got through to the O.P.P. and gave them my particulars, so they could get a search party organized. After we got together again, Mike had to go up the mountain again to call off the rescue mission. Mike got to practice being "Grover" going up and down and over and back, but who better than Mike, the youngest and strongest of us? Organizing and carrying out the canoe search party the next day, is a story in itself, but suffice it to say that the canoe was found and the trip completed as planned, right? Wrong! The multiple portage crossings revealed some physical limitations that caused us to opt to go back the 1400 m. way rather than tackling two 2000 m. portages, which were the planned way out.

For all the challenges, we did get to the famous Nellie Lake, a crystal clear beauty with visibility to 60 meters. It was surreal paddling with picturesque scenery above the water and simultaneous viewing into the depths of the lake. I don’t know if it was the mineral content of the water or the depth, but this lake had a deep blue hue. It was a pleasure to swim in it. The campfires at night were another highlight. I will always remember Pete’s tale about finding a match for his mismatched feet.

I’ve had requests from the regular canoe-trippers for a trip with less portaging and at the same time, other requests to go back to this amazing place. If you are interesting in doing a canoe trip with us next year, send your pick for where and when! Submitted by: Richard Schraven