My last afternoon at Big Moose was spent hiking up Bald Mountain to see the amazing view of the Fulton Lakes chain and the Bald Mountain (Rondaxe) fire tower perched at the top. built in 1917, it is one of 120 fire towers constructed in New York in the early nineteenth century. Tower observers reported smoke sightings to forest rangers, documented weather conditions, and recorded all planes flying over the adirondacks during World War II. The tower has been restored by the N.Y. Department of Environmental Conservation with the help of the Friends of Bald Mountain Organization.

Reading the interpretive sign, we were amazed that observers lived in tents for the two years that the tower was being constructed and that at one point an observer, his wife and one child resided in the tiny observer cabin pictured. We wondered if they carried building materials and supplies up the mountain or perhaps used mules. Either way, a staggering feat of labor.

The trail is only about a mile but is quite steep and much of it is a rocky ridge line that could be treacherous when wet. An awe-inspiring view of the Fulton Chain of Lakes is

the reward. Beginning at a dam in Old Forge, NY, the Fulton chain consists of

eight lakes with numbers as their names: First Lake, Second Lake, Third Lake, etc.

(Originally published on July 12, 2009 at www.topmomblog.com)

Following the whirlwind of Sara’s wedding, we high-tailed it to one of Don’s favorite spots in the world: Big Moose Lake in the Adirondack mountains of upstate New York, Where every summer since Sara was a babe-in-arms he had been visiting an idyllic spot called the Waldheim for two weeks in July. Even after moving to California he continued to carry on the tradition for his, now, three daughters until about ten years ago.

It was a time to reconnect with his daughters, relax on the dock, swim in the cool waters, tramp along sunlight-dappled paths bordered by verdant, dewy ferns, mushy from recent rains, listen to the haunting calls of the loons in the dark of night, and revel in the natural beauty of this remote northern region of the U.S.

The History of the Adirondacks has been influenced by many powerful forces including: logging, mining, farming, and tourism. during the “GildedAge” of the late nineteenth century it became the summer playground of the rich and famous such as J.P. Morgan, the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers who built what became known as The Adirondack Great Camps.

Time for a celebratory cocktail cruise with old friends, so more to come.

(Originally posted on July 8, 2009 at topmomblog.com )