Any good trip planners?

[usmcveteran]

So I would like help please planning a trip I have wanted to do for a few years now. I would like to hike into Terror Lake in the Adirondacks.

I know there is an old trail from Twitchel lake but I actually want to start on Big Moose Lake where there is a trail to a couple ponds and bushwhack from there.

There was / is a lot of blow down in area from 90's. I will either canoe to hiking spot or get dropped off.

Any ideas on gear or how long I should plan to take for not being in great shape? I figure 5 to 6 miles should be a doable exhausting trek.

Thoughts or opinions?

Should I bring ham radio?

[nortatoga]

If you hear Banjo music go the other direction!!!

[camper4lyfe]

My gut tells me that if you're going to bushwhack, you want to go as minimal and light as possible.

[WARFAB]

That looks like quite the trek. The state hasn't kept all the trails up like they used to. I've taken the trail from Twitchell to Big Moose lake and it was rugged but very well marked and the brush wasn't too thick. I've also made the hike from Big Moose lake to Merriam lake. Totally different ball game as soon as you loose the trail due to some beaver activity. Our goal was to make the hike AND clear/mark the trail for future hikers. There were a lot of areas where the vegetation was pretty thick and I was getting a grip workout using the clippers we brought with us. If you're going to go that route I think Camper's recommendation to go minimal and light makes sense. Trying to get through that area with a big backpack would be brutal.

The bummer was that once we got there Merriam lake was kind of a disappointment. We didn't wander around much to find a better area of the shore line, but there weren't any nice views and most of the shoreline where we were was pretty swampy.

It kind of looks like you could head to Terror Lake via Andy's Creek. Hiking Andy's Creek seems like it would be a lot more enjoyable than trying to bushwhack up from North Bay. I don't have a topographical map handy though so I'm not sure if that route would create any issues. The trail to lower and upper gull lakes is fairly well maintained if you wanted to start out in that direction.

When were you planning on making the hike? I'll be vacationing at Big Moose Lake in August. The folks at the Waldheim are super nice and could possibly provide some information about the hike if you called them. No guarantees, but I know some of the owners and staff have done a lot of exploring in the area.

[usmcveteran]

That looks like quite the trek. The state hasn't kept all the trails up like they used to. I've taken the trail from Twitchell to Big Moose lake and it was rugged but very well marked and the brush wasn't too thick. I've also made the hike from Big Moose lake to Merriam lake. Totally different ball game as soon as you loose the trail due to some beaver activity. Our goal was to make the hike AND clear/mark the trail for future hikers. There were a lot of areas where the vegetation was pretty thick and I was getting a grip workout using the clippers we brought with us. If you're going to go that route I think Camper's recommendation to go minimal and light makes sense. Trying to get through that area with a big backpack would be brutal.

The bummer was that once we got there Merriam lake was kind of a disappointment. We didn't wander around much to find a better area of the shore line, but there weren't any nice views and most of the shoreline where we were was pretty swampy.

It kind of looks like you could head to Terror Lake via Andy's Creek. Hiking Andy's Creek seems like it would be a lot more enjoyable than trying to bushwhack up from North Bay. I don't have a topographical map handy though so I'm not sure if that route would create any issues. The trail to lower and upper gull lakes is fairly well maintained if you wanted to start out in that direction.

When were you planning on making the hike? I'll be vacationing at Big Moose Lake in August. The folks at the Waldheim are super nice and could possibly provide some information about the hike if you called them. No guarantees, but I know some of the owners and staff have done a lot of exploring in the area.

I'll be up at big moose in August as well. I think I remember seeing Andy's creek as well at some point, I'll have to check that one out agaii was thinking light too because it can get marshy up there

[WARFAB]

Looks like it could be an epic hike. You'll have to post your route and photos after you do it.

[usmcveteran]

I will, I want to obviously find easiest way there. I sent email to DEC and haven't heard back yet.

[Jimbo_79]

Terror lake huh?

I call dibs on the movie rights when they find your body, lmao!!

Sounds like a cool trip. Good luck USMC!

[usmcveteran]

Thanks , it got its name from some trappers who almost died lmao.

Who knows maybe I'll scout it out a little bit this year which would be smart idea