how to survive: camping with your dog

To be honest, camping with my Westie Bestie, also known as Charles the Feminist, was not something I would have initiated on my own.  The pup requires a fair amount of beauty rest to maintain his rugged good looks and he’s pretty terrible about sharing sleeping quarters.  Also, being a rescue he can get a bit stressed in new environments and the last thing I would want is for him to spend a weekend away feeling panicked in his little puppy heart.  But when my partner in crime Grace suggested that he tag-a-long, I couldn’t help but at least try it.  I mean who wouldn’t want to hangout with this handsome devil nonstop for three days.  I’m happy to report that my fears were [mostly] unfounded and our inaugural camping trip was quite the success.  If Charles were on a hearts and minds campaign, there would be no competition.  The pup excels at garnering maximum belly rubs from unsuspecting strangers.

I went into this whole dog-in-tent situation pretty blind.  What more could he need than the basic necessities of water/food/bathroom bags?  Should you find yourself in a similar situation, here’s what I learned from my first pup + camping adventure:

1) Provide a comfortable traveling experience.

Charles the Feminist has his own car seat when living it up with my parental units.  Actually, he has two because who really wants to be switching those things out from one car to another.  Now usually I would be an obnoxious child and mock my parents for having such a thing.  Charles is a dog.  Dogs can do just fine sitting on a seat with a towel, if need be.  However after having the pleasure of driving more than 20 hours in 3 days with my canine companion, the seat was a necessity.  Not only did it keep the pup contained but he seems to have quite the affinity for that apparatus.  It allowed for prime window gazing, nose in the breeze-ing (when permitted), and he was always happy to get in the jeep.  A win-win for all involved.  As an aside: if your dog is on the larger side of life, a more comfortable traveling experience may entail a fluffy blanket and ample space to stretch out.

2) Plan size-appropriate activities or be prepared to carry your pup.

While in Acadia National Park, Grace and I decided to hike to Bubble Rock, which is described as a moderate trail that when all said and done is about 1.5 miles.  Since we found the Bubbles to be fairly easy/we weren’t as tired as we were expecting given our back to back 4 am wake-ups, we decided to take on the Jordan Pond path which was described as an easy and level loop.  We took what I am guessing is the Bubbles Divide trail but what was later referred to as the Avalanche by a local, which adequately sums up what I encountered with Charles – all the rocks.  For us human folk, it was fun to scramble down various wannabe boulders.  For the canine in the group with adorable stumps for legs, it proved to be a lessen in foot placement and I would guess that he was carried by yours truly for about half of the trail.  Tacking on Jordan Pond Path brought our hike to about 5 miles so by the end of it Charles could no longer find the energy to keep his shortness moving.  Fortunately, being 20 lbs means that he is easily schlepped but I would recommend avoiding my mishap and keeping in mind your dog’s stature and previous mileage when choosing your hike.  Or be prepared to get in a nice arms workout.  Grace is pushing for me to add one of these to the camping gear.  I think I’ll plan on keeping our hikes puppy appropriate from here on out. 

3) Prepare to have your sleeping space invaded.

As I mentioned, Charles is not the best at sharing a bed.  He takes his sleep schedule quite seriously and makes known his displeasure at any mid-slumber toss and turns.  Given the cool evening temperatures in Maine this time of year, Charley had no choice but to snuggle up and deal with my intermittent movements.  Add to it that we had two people and a pup in a two person tent and things got very cozy indeed.  In retrospect, I would have thrown a dog bed/blanket in the car.  Mind you the pup had no trouble at all getting his shut eye in but I would have preferred a little less late night snuggles.

4) Embrace the camp dog stench.

 During our island hopping adventures, I encouraged Charles to take advantage of the calm seas and go for a swim.  Dogs should be dogs and run/swim/play to their hearts' content.  (Except for rolling in dead things/animal feces.  We will have none of that.)  By the time we got back to the campground, it was evening but I still wanted to hose him down since he had spent some quality time in the sea.  He was the epitome of a salty dog.  Much to his disapproval, I tossed him in the shower for a quick rinse, hoping that there was still enough sunlight for him to dry off before the temperature dropped.  Huge mistake.  The cool evening temps necessitated me wrapping Charles in one of my sweatshirts and then letting him cozy up in my sleeping bag.  Lest I remind you of point number 3, this was not the greatest of sleeping set-ups for me.  Lesson learned and bath time will only be occurring at the height of summer heat or in the comfort of his own home.  The pup scent is part of the whole camping experience - why cut yourself short?

5) Make new friends.

People love dogs.  Or should I say, people love Charles.  This dog is more than willing to take a break from whatever the day's activities to allow his adoring fans to show him some love.  Everywhere we went, someone would stop by and ask to pet him while chatting about their own puppy loves.  It created a quick community in a place where Grace and I would have otherwise most likely been left alone.  At the Bass Head Harbor Lighthouse, we met two engineers from Detroit who helped with the transport of Charles over some obstacles.  Along the Jordan Pond Loop, we met a kind older couple who had recently lost their own dog so we exchanged stories on the impact of pets.  Old Quarry Campground is exceptionally dog-friendly so Charles was off-leash and free to mingle with some of his peers.  

All-in-all it was a successful first camping adventure with the pup.  Now to plan our next excursion... 

stonington, maine

As we sat down with our mishmash of leftovers for our last night in Maine, I was only peripherally aware of the single, older gentleman loitering about the campground lobster pot.  With the threat of a tropical storm stymying our plans, I was more than preoccupied with the how and when we going to get back to New York.  (Spoiler alert: I made Grace get up at 2am.  She was thrilled.  Fear not – we’re still on speaking terms and hey we made it back across the LI Sound on a ferry. Win-win if you ask me.)  Also, any extra mental reserves were spent dreamily reminiscing of our day’s activities. 

Inspired by our surroundings and a slow morning, Grace and I had spent the afternoon lazily paddling from one island to another, which dot along the inner coastal Atlantic.  It was one of those days when you know in the moment it is something to be treasured.  While we never ventured too far from our launch, we spent much of the day by ourselves save for an island with an old quarry at it’s heart.  In true New Yorker fashion we managed to meet a couple of newlywed Brooklynites.   We discussed the surprises encounters that occur when one ventures away from the concrete jungle while snacking and sunbathing on the boulders that made up the shorefront.   After parting ways with our new friends and a much regretted dip in some fresh water, we continued on, stopping at the next public island which just do happened to have a little beach that was protected from the intermittent winds which helped make up for the previous stop’s poor decision-making.  As we continued to weave around the marine isles, the only other creatures to be seen were the occasional otter and a multitude of waterfowl and shorebirds.  We returned to the campground as the sun began to sink behind the ancient pines, adding some pink and orange hues to the evening sky to help ease us back to reality. 

By the time the responsibilities of kayak-returning and human/dog-cleaning were finished, any reinvigoration from an afternoon of island exploration had been mostly re-focused on the aforementioned extenuating circumstances of our trip’s end.   We set up our array of snacks and munched away while I did my best to coral Charles the Feminist why planning our return trip home.  I did not anticipate that I would soon be involved in a lengthy conversation with the fellow over by the lobster pot. 

There were certain aspects of this gentleman I noticed right away -probably a familiar thought to anyone who finds themselves as single, young-ish ladies – he was older, presumably my parents’ age, did not have a wedding ring on, and seemed to be by himself.  Again, in the purely judgmental sense, not someone I would have pursued a conversation with.  Not because this equates to an individual being creepy (he was not) but because the threat of it is there and most of the time I simply don’t want to deal with it.  Despite of or perhaps more likely due to my various distractions, we eased into the standard interaction of where are you from and what do you do.  However the discussion quickly veered off from formalities and I found myself seated across the way from a very angry individual.  Not at me, mind you, but at the universe it seemed that had allowed such atrocities in his life to occur.  The issue at the heart of this surprised me.  From his outward proclamations, it would appear that all of this pent up emotion was centered on inadequate pay for his profession, interspersed with vitriol regarding the current administration, a certain ‘crooked’ politician, and a variety of sexist and/or racist comments. 

The catch here though was he genuinely trying to be understood and from what I gathered he was a nice guy.  I understand the notion of ‘good intentions don’t matter’ and I am guilty of harboring such sentiments but in this moment his intentions were of the utmost importance - if only because it enabled me to be open to a change in perspective.  While my initial internal reaction was to focus on weaknesses in his argument in order to take it apart piece by piece (thanks for those genes, Dad), instead I simply listened.  I’m not entirely sure why either.  It’s not as though I have some super human power of patience and/or compassion. Maybe I was still reveling in our dreamy adventure, or I was influenced by the still and weight of the evening sea air, or maybe even I was just too tired to argue after a few long days with pre-dawn risings.   Whatever the reason, it was a fortunate reaction. There would have been no benefit from behaving in a confrontational manner.  Oftentimes people just want to be heard and I forget this because being a person myself, I want to tell my story.  I want my experiences to be validated, for my thoughts to matter.  I want to be known without being exposed.  How rare is it though that I grant that opportunity to the people that I meet.  As the conversation lingered on, he recalled episodes of profound sadness and it was in those moments that his particular worldview began to have some context.  He felt letdown by society - that his hard work and perseverance were for naught.  After all he had overcome, where was the fulfillment of his American dream?  I became preoccupied with the root of his pain rather than focusing on its symptoms and by doing so I ended up just feeling sympathetic. 

It wasn’t all tales of disappointments and despair.  When the topic ever so lightly shifted, every so often a smile would flash across his face such as when describing his love of navigating the Maine coastal waters by kayak or recounting a time of childhood impishness where he grew up in the Midwest.  He spoke with emotion as he shared the pride he felt at finally accomplishing his professional goals.  And he even managed to express some hope at what the future may hold, if only to return to Stonington the following summer. Ultimately, behind the tirade and misplaced advice was a person venturing through life and just trying to make sense of it all. 

post script:

i by no means think i had a perfect response to this encounter but it did get me thinking quite a bit throughout the weeks that follow.  how often do i hear someone say something i disagree with or at worse find offense in and instead of rejecting the words, i reject the person.  i think there is a balance in all of this but a personal life lesson nonetheless.  yay for adulting. 

notes:

we stayed at the old quarry campground and absolutely loved it.  there are limited campsites available so i would recommend reserving a spot sooner than later.  given our last minute plans, we stayed in an overflow site which happened to be a waterfront patch of grass on the owner’s front yard.  it was lovely, especially for a first time camper.  we also rented our kayak from them and found the staff to be incredibly helpful with planning the perfect afternoon excursion.  oh and if you are going to get lobster, buy it there – it goes straight from the sea to the pot.

i still dream of returning for a backpacking adventure at the nearby isle au haut.  thus far it’s been my favorite spot in acadia national park.

don’t be like us and drive to maine for a three day weekend.  make it at minimum a five day adventure and congratulate yourself for taking the time to sleep during your vacation.

acadia national park, maine

I'm so thankful Meg was all like "let's go to Maine" for Labor Day Weekend. I had never been and it felt like our final impulsive summer roadtrip for the season. We had one last long weekend to get out of dodge before both of our schedules filled up with a lot more obligations. I've just passed my 11th year anniversary of moving to New York City, and the more roots I grow here having a place of my own, the more I want to invest in my little corner. Adulting: le sigh.

I'd like to say becoming an official New Yorker also means becoming well versed in all of the New England getaways, right? Well, I will definitely dream of becoming a Maine regular with age. Our little travel squad of 3 couldn't have loved Maine more on our 3-day weekend. (Charley, the family dog who also goes by Charles the Feminist, proved to be quite the pro at the hiking and camping bit too!)

Though it's about an 8 hour drive from NYC, we made it in record time thanks to waking up super early to avoid traffic and the 90s hip hop station. Upon arrival, we set up camp at Blackwoods Campground and headed over to explore the seaside at Bass Harbor Lighthouse in the late afternoon light. I had my first ever proper lobster dinner complete with local blueberry beer with little blueberries floating around in it. Charles happily sat at our feet (and flirted with everyone else there) on the deck of the restaurant as we enjoyed the sunset over a bay of sailboats... I'd say that's a pretty good welcome to Maine. 

If you visit Acadia National Park, going to the top of Cadillac Mountain to see the sunrise is hands down the top thing you should do (pun intended). It's the highest point in the North Atlantic seaboard and the first place that you can see the sunrise in the USA for the majority of the year. You won't be alone in your venture and you'll have to get a head start (sunrise was at 5:50am), but there's enough room for everyone to find their own rock to enjoy the panoramic views of the sun drenching up over the hundreds of little islands in view. 

We took a pitstop for breakfast at the Sunrise Cafe in Bar Harbor for a refuel before a few hours of hiking. It was comfy and crepes may have been involved... Charley was a champ on our hike, making it up several impressive scrambles, surveying the area around Bubble Rock, and strutting his stuff around Jordan Pond. I may be the last person on Earth to learn this, but walking around with a dog is the best way to make a lot of friends. We stopped and met many new friends on our walk around Jordan Pond (which is a beautiful mixture of planks, paths, and rocks) and once we crossed the halfway point to make our way back around the other side of the loop, we met those cheerful familiar faces again. Several of them said how they had been talking about how cute Charley was for the past 30 minutes since we last saw them. It's a really tough life being a Westie in Maine.

Though Acadia and Mount Desert Island were an epic start to our laborious Maine vacay... the island hopping was just beginning. 

wanderlust wednesday: tupper lake, ny

Almost each and every summer my extended family makes the trek up to the Adirondack Mountains for a week of camping and general shenanigans.  It’s a tradition that started many years before I was born and I hope it continues when I am long gone.  For the most part, we fully engage with car camping at its finest complete with evening campfires and one too many s’mores.  I know.  You never thought such a things was possible.  While most of our time is spent living it up at our campsites, when ventures are made to the outside world we tend to flock to Tupper Lake.  There are many North Woods towns that get a greater influx of tourists than Tupper Lake and at first glance it may look like the kind of place to pass on by with Saranac Lake and Lake Placid nearby.  But it’s these oft forgotten neck-of-the-woods that I find make for the best adventures.

Tupper Lake ends up being about a 6 hour drive from NYC so it takes a commitment to get up there but there’s nothing quite like the Adirondack Mountains.  Also, just think of the epic road trip playlist you can groove to you with your buddies as you make your way up.  Car dancing is where it’s at.  So if I could be booty shaking in my orange lovebug up to the Adirondacks this weekend, here’s what I would be up to:

STAY

There are a number of motels to stay at if you wish to re-live the 1980s (the family favorite is Shaheen’s).  However if you are making the trek to hangout in a woodland wonderland, I would recommend you either camp or cozy up in a cabin.  The goal here is to embrace nature.   For the more adventurous type, there are a number of NYS DEC campsites available by canoe/kayak at or near Tupper Lake.

EAT

Tupper Lake has a bunch of new eating establishments which is so very exciting, especially for us veggie minded folk.  There are two microbreweries in town: Raquette River and Big Tupper.  The former is for tastings only but they had shaded picnic tables and a food truck – Arthur’s BBQ – which meat-eaters and vegetarians alike enjoyed.   (Get the beer pretzel.  You won’t regret it.).  The latter has a brewpub feel with a large, wrap-around bar and Mexican-inspired eats.  They’re open 4pm-10pm meaning you can get a nice little pub-crawl going from lunch at Raquette River to dinner at Big Tupper.  Around the corner from Big Tupper is Well Dressed Food and I could hardly contain myself when I saw this cute little shop open along the main street.  I have yet to try it out but it’s well reviewed if that sort of thing matters to you and looks to have delicious eats.  Also, as far as I know, it is the only place in town to score an espresso.

Big Tupper Brewing may not have cable but they do have WIFI... you do what you've got to do when it comes to watching the Olympics.

SEE

Big Tupper’s – the aforementioned brewery - namesake is an old ski mountain in town.  You can wander around the grounds, which during the summer months tend to have a pretty array of wildflowers for your viewing pleasure.   For more nature seeing, ignore the advertising geared towards the 10 and under crowd and head on over to the Wild Center.   The elevated treetop trail is just as fun as much fun as it looks and who doesn’t want to challenge their cousins to a teepee-building contest?  Due to its popularity, I would recommend visiting during the week rather than the weekend and the earlier in the day the better.

DO

Canoe!

Exploring the lake by paddle is one of my all-time favorite activities.  It enables you to check out the local wildlife as well as ample opportunities to cool off in some fresh water.  If you don’t have access to your own or a loved one’s kayak/canoe/paddle board, Raquette River Outfitters has quite the paddling operation going.  They’ll even help you plan a route throughout the regions interconnected lakes, ponds, and rivers.   

Hike!

There are oodles of hiking options throughout the Adirondacks, including many within Tupper Lake and the surrounding region.  Ampersand is a bit of a legend with our family, mostly due to the underrepresentation of its difficulty by certain relatives.  That being said, if you are an experienced hiker who likes mixing it up with some bouldering, it is definitely well worth the climb.  For a less strenuous hike, Mount Arab, Goodman Mountain, and Coney Mountain all offer great views.  If you’re up to the challenge, complete all three for the Tupper Lake Triad which earns you a spiffy patch to show off your endeavor.   

Climb!

Baker Mountain offers some great options for rock climbing newbies.  Both High Peaks Mountain Adventures and Eastern Mountain Sports in Lake Placid offer guided climbs, which is where you would find me, should I get the chance to hang off a cliff in the Adirondacks this summer (pro-climber I am not).  I bet they would have some pretty sweet recommendations too for those of you looking for more challenging routes.

How to embrace the lake life when you are paddle-less - addition of root beer is key. 

notes:

adirondack summers are a bit on the cooler side, especially for us cold-blooded folk who prefer temperatures in the 80s.  listen to your inner mother and bring lots of layers.  i’ve been known to wear the same cardigan over and over again but if i was in the need for something new these two look like the perfect combination of affordable and cozy while treating the people involved in the clothing manufacturing process well.  

the olympic center at lake placid is especially fitting given this summer’s primetime activity but does require a bit of a drive on over from tupper to get there.  the photo op alone may be enough to entice you but let me sweeten the deal and remind you that you can ride an inner tube down the ski jumps.         

for more adirondack loving, check out last summer’s posts here and here.

wanderlust wednesday: car camping

Given the amount of attention backpacking gets in these here parts, one may be lead to believe that I favor backpacking to car camping.   That simply is not true. Ok, maybe it is a little bit true but when the air becomes crisp and I find myself craving for a home with a hearth, car camping is where it is at.  Let's be real folks, my dreams of an apartment with a fireplace, yard, and parking space are not going to be realized any time soon. 

The addition of a vehicle and a prescribed camping spot enables cold-blooded people like me to enjoy the great outdoors.  The other weekend I brought camping no fewer than 2 jackets, 2 sweatshirts, 1 long sleeved tee, 1 tank top, 2 pairs of pants, a couple pairs of socks, hat and gloves not to mention various sleeping bags/pads.  With the forecast predicting nightly temperatures in the 20s, I left nothing to chance. Being properly bundled meant I could actually enjoy the great outdoors and fully embrace the arrival of fall.  And to be a complete cheese ball, there’s something magical about the combination of autumn air, roasted marshmallows and bourbon-spiked cider around a campfire with friends.   For us New Yorkers, these next few weeks look ideal for those of you wanting to venture out on your own car camping adventure. If you're up for it, here's what I would recommend for the perfect fall getaway:

STAY

At the risk of sounding repetitive, Harriman/Bear Mountain State Parks are the perfect locale for a weekend camping trip.  They're only about an hour from the city and the parks are big enough to experience something new every time you visit.  Beaver Pond Campground is open through the end of October on a walk-in basis.  We had no trouble securing a spot last Saturday and there were plenty of places to park your tent without being on top of your neighbors.  If you're looking for something within the city limits, try Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn.  And for those of you sans gear and car, check out Malouf’s Mountain in Beacon. 

EAT

S'mores are a must in this environment and frankly it would be a sacrilege to go without.  I'm more of a deconstructionist (each element consumed separately, please) rather than a purist but some version of graham crackers + marshmallows + chocolate are an absolute necessity.  Also, we are all adults – get the good stuff.  With regard to meals, pick up some trail mix, jerky, and apples for an easy hiking lunch.  Cheesy sandwiches that can be wrapped in tin foil and thrown on the fire make for a delicious dinner. For breakfast, get yourself to a diner after breaking down camp and questioning your sanity.  Your hair will be matted across your forehead, your derriere will be lumpy from all the added layers, and you will have a particularly musty scent affixed to your clothing.  Fear not, the locals won’t notice you and the kind wait staff will happily serve you up the best hot coffee and fried eggs. 

SLEEP

The drop in temperature is no joke, especially for someone who spends most of the winter under an electric blanket. (Don’t knock it until you try it).  In addition to the standard tent (do not forget the fly) and sleeping bag, I highly recommend a sleeping pad.  It not only provides a nice cushion but also adds some insulation to help you stay toasty throughout the night.  Extra blankets and layers are also a good idea, especially since I find that a sleeping bag rated to 30 deg F means I can sleep comfortably in weather around 50 deg F.  Last but definitely not least, this is one of those moments when you want to sleep four people in a 4-person tent.  Body heat is an asset and now is the perfect time to get up close and personal with your friends.

Anyone else dreaming of a woodland weekend adventure? 

note:

most of these photos are from a hike to the old jackie jones fire tower (see below).  the views are epic (can you find the itty bitty nyc above?) but watch your step should you choose to climb it.  quite a few steps are missing and a number of boards are loose.  if you are staying at beaver pond, the park staff can help you with finding your way to the trail.  it's about 3 miles round trip if you go directly there and back.  

kayaks and canoes

The little blue backpack was put to good use last week during the aforementioned family tradition.  While my grand hiking plans were thwarted, I did get to adventure along one of my favorite paddling routes.  You win some; you lose some.

I (generally speaking) have a fairly strong aversion to the unsalted-ness of lakes and ponds. Fresh water folks do not understand this.  They try to tell me that what they have is where it's at with their lack of post bathing sticky skin and absence of Jaws-related fish.  (That last one is false by the way if you've been keeping up with Shark Week.)  

There are, however, exceptions to every rule (or irrational fear as the case may be) and Rollins Pond encompasses two of them.  Foremost, it is deep enough at points for me to ignore the fact that all things wrong in this world lie at the bottom of it. And secondly, it is connected via a variety of creeks and rivers to other ponds and lakes.  This means I can focus my attention on the adventuring aspect and less on the leeches lurking below the surface.  (They are worms and therefore they take no prisoners. Scientific fact.) 

As my family likes to make it a habit to invade where ever we may go, we enlisted our full flotilla of kayaks and canoes for our descent on Rollins Pond and the surrounding areas.  That above photo is only a fraction of the group.  I told you - we do not mess around. We slowly meandered our way from one pond to the next, regaling anyone within a mile radius with our never-ending Pocahontas inspired sing-a-longs.  (Spoiler alert: smallpox was just around the river bend.)    

While these pictures may indicate otherwise, it actually ended up being a beautiful, sunny day. No one unintentionally ended up in the water, hazardous run-ins with the local fauna and flora were kept to a minimum, and as far as I know everyone was still on speaking terms at the end of our journey - which may be related to points 1 and 2.  All in all, it was a successful family outing in the great outdoors, fresh water included.

Should you find yourself in this neck of the woods and looking for a paddling adventure, here's a breakdown of ours:

Route: Rollins Pond --> Floodwood Pond --> Little Square Pond --> Whey Pond --> Rollins Pond

Mileage: ~6.5 

Time: 4 hours (we moseyed, stopped for lunch, and indulged all whims)

Canoe Carries: 2 (one is about 1/3 mi, the other is a hundred yards or so)

Tears Shed: 0 (whining not included but it was kept to a minimum, especially post lunch)

Number of Disagreements Regarding Paddles versus Oars: 5,926 (and counting)

notes:

- the tri-lakes region (tupper/saranac/placid) is home to a plethora of paddling adventures.  we mostly bring our own gear but i have heard good things about the folks at st. regis.  they even have a list of suggested routes and trip planning tips. so fancy.

- if scavenger hunts are your jam, there are a bunch of geocaches in the area which could easily be incorporated into the trip or be their own separate adventure.  we indulged in the latter and good times were had by all.  don't forget to bring a trinket to add to the stash.