Member since:
September 26, 2006

The Sacandaga Campground, Camping In The Snow

May 22, 2009 12:35 PM EDT (Updated: November 02, 2009 02:54 PM EST)

views: 107 | rating: 9.4/10 (31 votes) | comments: 43

It was Memorial Day Weekend in 2002. I had to be in New York for business. I had done my homework and found out our favorite campground in the Adirondack Mountains was opening. My sister Elaine needed to go to Plattsburg to watch her daughter win an award at University so we decided go on a road trip together and make it an adventure.

That idea appealed to both of us. There is no place on earth that makes it easier to relax and let our hair down than the Sacandaga River. I cherish our time together there – with or without kids.

We knew it could be cold so we prepared for it. We brought warm clothes, extra bedding, expecting a cold night and enough food for an easy lunch (lobster) before we went to Plattsburg, and simple night time meal and one breakfast.

We were expecting those pesky black flies that terrorize humans who like being out doors in early spring so we brought our screen tent. With that we could zipper ourselves inside to keep away from the bugs. It turned out it was still too cold for black flies which delighted us.

We packed light – just what we thought we would need, just enough to be comfortable and have a good time. One tent, 2 cots and sleeping bags, two chairs and more than enough firewood..

We went to the campground first and set up our tent, bedding, plus the screen tent. Our Lobster was delicious. Every once in a while we just have to have lobster at camp. We then cleaned up, changed into city clothes and headed to Plattsburg. We did what we needed to do there and headed back to camp arriving after dark. We were surprised to see we had neighbors, but not too close, so we started our fire, opened a bottle of wine and sat by the fire and talked for hours.

Heading to bed well after midnight, we fell fast asleep warm and toasty in our sleeping bags and winter pajamas. Our tent is a good one and protects us from all weather.

Elaine awoke sometime before daybreak and needed a pee break, I decided to sleep and no go outside. She came back quickly and said with enough authority to wake me up – Mare, come outside right now and put on your shoes.

Huh? Nothing was computing but I put on the sandals I had worn to Plattsburg and headed out of the tent.

It was still dark but by the moonlight it was delightful. The whole world was covered a couple inches of snow. It was breathtaking and cold. Elaine's camera was locked in the car so we didn’t get a photo but it is etched in memory.

We both got back into our sleeping bags and slept for a few more hours. When we did wake up, get dressed and ventured outside – most of the snow was gone but everything was dripping wet. We enjoyed our coffee bundled up pretty well and then headed out to hike the campground. The spring flowers were just popping out and life was beginning to show up in the Adirondacks.

Our river that we love was high with winter run off and very loud, crashing over rocks so we know we didn’t bother our neighbors the night before. They were gone by the time we woke up

That segment of Camp Insanity was short and sweet and a Gift For The Soul. That is the title of the article Elaine and I wrote for the New York Conservationist about the campground. It was published in 2001 so we brought a couple of copies for the caretaker and head ranger Cindy. She said the magazine gave her goose bumps but we think it was the snow.

We hated to pack up and go home.