Thank you for coming along on this adventure. Please do the UA-cam thing and like, comment, subscribe, and share this series with your friends and family!
Also, not to "fanboi" too much, but I love your channel - you've got some incredible content, so it's an honor that you found my videos and liked them! Thanks again!
We always prepared for our Adirondack backpacking trips by studying the Adirondack Mountain Club trail guide sections and photocopying useful maps. Northville-Lake Placid is so famous for hikers and backpackers. Makes me feel nostalgic for Upstate New York. For a lot of my career, I worked in Albany and in Watertown, around the edges of the Forest Preserve.
LOL he has definitely learned his lesson for backpacking trips though ... he brings a lot less food weight than he did on this first let of the NPT ... unless, of course, if we're only doing a few miles into a lean-to ;)
Thanks much. I like your videos better than all the others I have seen. I plan to do the NPT toward the end of May. I expect the bugs will be abundant.
I'm excited to see what "blowdown" you come across, because that was absolutely adorable. Coming off the Dix Range down Lillian brook the herd path simply disappeared, and we found ourselves trying to go from East to West looking for a trail running north to south to return us to Elk Lake. There were hundreds if not thousands of trees, mostly lying north to south, and the slope was such that you would climb up on a trunk, then step off the other side and what was only 2 or 3 feet on one end was a drop of 6 - 8 feet on the other. The last half mile to the trail, took us 3 or 4 hours.
I actually didn't record any footage of some of the crazy blowdown we had to traverse, but it wasn't as bad as what you went through, that's for sure. An ambitious trail crew with some chainsaws and gasoline could probably take care of most of what we saw in a weekend.
Definitely! I recommend using two poles and going slow because I have heard about tons of folks slipping on the rocks, getting soaked and/or hurt. Thanks for watching!
Been backpacking in the Adirondacks an average of twice a year for 35 years. The Silver Lake Wilderness is the only major wilderness in the Adirondacks that I haven't hiked or backpacked in...most of the others I have been all throughout and some multiple times. (High Peaks/West Canada Lakes/Siamese Ponds/ Five Ponds)
@@JayMorrisonOutdoors Yeah, love the Adirondacks...I have my favorite spots though....and now I'm trying to venture out west for my big vacations. For the longest time I took a week every fall foliage season in the High Peaks.
I can't tell you how much I enjoy your videos! Just found your channel a few days ago and I'm loving it. I hope to do the Northville-Placid trail next summer and your videos are a great inspiration. I can't wait to see your progression on the trail. Keep up the great work!
Excellent start. Beautiful scenery. It's awesome you are logging the distance and time it took. It's nice to see your progression. Keep up the excellent work. I do have to say that I am impressed you still find the time to edit and upload your videos.
Thank you very much! I find that the editing process is an awesome opportunity to relive the adventure, so it's not too difficult to find time to get it done ;)
Anytime man! Totally dig you’re channel. I use the woods lake trail to bushwhack to cathead. Hoping to do that on before winter. It’s pretty much an overniter. If you really push you can do it in along day. Spent the past couple weeks just finishing up honey do lists before winter.
The trail during the first day (Northville to Woods Lake) was very easy to follow. Parts of the trail on Day 2 (Woods Lake to Silver Lake) were a bit tougher -- especially as you get closer to Rock Lake. Overall, if you're paying attention, you shouldn't have too many issues, but I recommend/encourage folks to carry their map and compass just in case! Thanks for watching!
Howdy! My wife and I are planning a thru hike for next summer and enjoying your videos, thanks for sharing your insight. We were wondering what kind of water shoes you were using when you crossed the stream. It looks like they had some solid protection for your toes! What brand were they?
Thank you very much! I was using Croc's Men's Swiftwater Mesh Deck Sandals. They're awesome for crossings, but the mesh doesn't dry out very quickly, so that can be annoying for some people (my son hates that, but it doesn't really bother me). Good luck on your adventure!
We did not skip the road walk - my wife dropped us off near the Five and Dime in Northville and we trekked the 3(ish) along the pavement. It's not too bad overall, but yes, there is a small parking area at the trailhead in the woods. I *believe* that the road walk is necessary for the "official" completion of the NPT, but other than that, I'm not sure if I'd do it (I hate walking on the road ;) )
@@JayMorrisonOutdoors Thanks. I am doing what will probably be a three day trip as close as possible to Saratoga Springs. Basically 1.5 days up, and 1.5 days back down. Think the beginning is a good choice or should I skip up to Piesco and start there?
@Paul the Backpacker it's hard to say. I really liked every section of the trail. If I had to choose just one, I suggest doing the West Canada Lakes section. It's an amazingly beautiful area with a lot of lean-tos, and fairly-well maintained trails. When are you heading out?
My wife and I did the Benson Rd. to Piseco section back in May this year. I recognized many of the views you showed of that section! We stayed our first night at Rock Lake. Was there a lot of blowdown from Rock Lake to Silver Lake? There was when we were there (an especially big one soon after Silver Lake) and was curious if any trail maintenance had been done since then. Also, did you use a gimbal for your camera? I filmed a lot of our hike with my action camera but a lot of it is very jittery from my walking. I definitely want to invest in a gimbal before doing my next section.
Thanks for watching! There was a ton of blowdown between Rock Lake and Silver Lake - this, as well as general fatigue, really slowed our pace on Day 2. Thankfully, Silver Lake was gorgeous and ultra refreshing ;) I don't actually use a gimbal when I record. I have a GoPro Hero 7 Black, and the built-in image stabilization is incredible. I just have the GP setup in a case with an external microphone (and windscreen) on a short, flexible-leg tripod.
I did not see this sign in last week. where is it. I thought the official start was across the street from Stewarts, where there is a NPT Sign stating mileage? I'm confused.
Which sign in? The one from the very beginning of this video is in the parking area where the wooden arch is (across from the Stewarts). There's also another sign in after the road walk when you first enter the woods.
The hardest part for me was getting to the trailhead - a bunch of anxiety was making me think it was a terrible decision. Once I got to Northville and strapped the pack on, life was good!
Not in Northville, but we did see a decent sized black bear come out onto the trail from the woods about 40' in front of us after we crossed the bridge at Whitehouse ... my and John's first bear encounter and it was exhilarating!
i know I'm pretty late commenting but I'm probably heading to woods lake next weekend. was there a lot of road noise at woods lake? how as the trail from benson road to the lake?
Woods Lake is pretty close to Benson Rd, and you can hear traffic, however it's not a terribly busy road, so it's not like you will be hearing them all the time! The trail from Benson Rd to the Woods Lake sites is ~1\4 mile of easy walking. Good luck and enjoy your weekend!
LOL yea, it's from Omeals. It uses a chemical heat pack inside water to warm up the pouch holding the food. Convenient, but definitely a lot more waste than reasonable for a multi-day backpacking trip ;)
There are a few places through the southern ADKs and in the Catskills that the timber rattlesnake calls home, but not many, and if you pay attention, they can be avoided.
Thank you for coming along on this adventure. Please do the UA-cam thing and like, comment, subscribe, and share this series with your friends and family!
great job with this Jay. researching the trail for my own hike
Thank you very much! It's a great trail and I can't wait to get back on it again. Good luck with your adventure!
Also, not to "fanboi" too much, but I love your channel - you've got some incredible content, so it's an honor that you found my videos and liked them!
Thanks again!
We always prepared for our Adirondack backpacking trips by studying the Adirondack Mountain Club trail guide sections and photocopying useful maps. Northville-Lake Placid is so famous for hikers and backpackers. Makes me feel nostalgic for Upstate New York. For a lot of my career, I worked in Albany and in Watertown, around the edges of the Forest Preserve.
The NPT is a great trail, and I think it gets overlooked because it's "only" 140 miles long ... I know I underestimated the trek ;)
Really good content
Thanks!
John knows how to hike man with that set up and food
LOL he has definitely learned his lesson for backpacking trips though ... he brings a lot less food weight than he did on this first let of the NPT ... unless, of course, if we're only doing a few miles into a lean-to ;)
great video, looking forward to watching the rest of the series
Awesome, thank you!
Well done video. Love the quotes. On to episode 2!
Thanks!
Thanks much. I like your videos better than all the others I have seen. I plan to do the NPT toward the end of May. I expect the bugs will be abundant.
Bugs and mud will be the name of the game, but it'll still be an epic trip! Thank you for watching!
I'm excited to see what "blowdown" you come across, because that was absolutely adorable.
Coming off the Dix Range down Lillian brook the herd path simply disappeared, and we found ourselves trying to go from East to West looking for a trail running north to south to return us to Elk Lake. There were hundreds if not thousands of trees, mostly lying north to south, and the slope was such that you would climb up on a trunk, then step off the other side and what was only 2 or 3 feet on one end was a drop of 6 - 8 feet on the other. The last half mile to the trail, took us 3 or 4 hours.
I actually didn't record any footage of some of the crazy blowdown we had to traverse, but it wasn't as bad as what you went through, that's for sure. An ambitious trail crew with some chainsaws and gasoline could probably take care of most of what we saw in a weekend.
Good stuff dude! Your content keeps me watching! Like a page turner book.
Thank you for the kind words - glad you enjoy it!
Thanks for watching!
Even when low that creek is slippy and strong. I wiped out 3/4 of the way through it.
Definitely! I recommend using two poles and going slow because I have heard about tons of folks slipping on the rocks, getting soaked and/or hurt.
Thanks for watching!
Nice video. Thanks for sharing your NPT adventure!
Thank you for watching! I hope you enjoy the adventure!
Been backpacking in the Adirondacks an average of twice a year for 35 years. The Silver Lake Wilderness is the only major wilderness in the Adirondacks that I haven't hiked or backpacked in...most of the others I have been all throughout and some multiple times. (High Peaks/West Canada Lakes/Siamese Ponds/ Five Ponds)
Awesome! There are so many amazing places in the Adirondacks that adventure can be found around almost every corner!
Thanks for watching!
@@JayMorrisonOutdoors Yeah, love the Adirondacks...I have my favorite spots though....and now I'm trying to venture out west for my big vacations. For the longest time I took a week every fall foliage season in the High Peaks.
I can't tell you how much I enjoy your videos! Just found your channel a few days ago and I'm loving it. I hope to do the Northville-Placid trail next summer and your videos are a great inspiration. I can't wait to see your progression on the trail.
Keep up the great work!
Thank you so much for the kind words and support! I can't say enough good things about the NPT -- I hope you enjoy your trip!
Luv your videos, I’m hoping to do NPT in 2023 !
Thanks! ... and good luck on your adventure!
Great start and thanks for taking us along with you.
I appreciate you all coming along week-after-week, so thank YOU ;)
amazing
Thank you! Cheers!
Great start.
Thank you!
I went there yesterday but I didnt hike far at all its beautiful
Excellent start. Beautiful scenery. It's awesome you are logging the distance and time it took. It's nice to see your progression. Keep up the excellent work. I do have to say that I am impressed you still find the time to edit and upload your videos.
Thank you very much! I find that the editing process is an awesome opportunity to relive the adventure, so it's not too difficult to find time to get it done ;)
New friend ,Shared a subscribe, Look forward to watching the rest of your channels content. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for your support!
Good stuff brother. Finally getting the chance to do some binge watching. I bet the dip in the lake was a amazing.
Super refreshing and exactly what I needed to wash the "meh" feeling away! Thanks for watching!
Nice you guys started at the N’ville five and dime, cool a lot of folks start over by woods lake and park at the lot there.
I wanted the trip to be authentic and complete, so those first 12 miles had to be done ;)
That’s what i figured great vid man
Thank you for your support!
Anytime man! Totally dig you’re channel. I use the woods lake trail to bushwhack to cathead. Hoping to do that on before winter. It’s pretty much an overniter. If you really push you can do it in along day. Spent the past couple weeks just finishing up honey do lists before winter.
Looking forward to following yer journey. Having done the 46 (and a few more!) this trail is on our list!
Thank you! I highly recommend checking out the non-High Peaks treks throughout the park - the NPT and Cranberry Lake 50 top out that list!
A whopping 5,000 views, 146 likes and o 0 dislikes that awsome!
I'm particularly proud of our NPT series --- I'm glad people find value in it and like it as well!
Looks like a lot of fun. How easy was the trail to see/follow? It's hard to tell from the footage.
The trail during the first day (Northville to Woods Lake) was very easy to follow. Parts of the trail on Day 2 (Woods Lake to Silver Lake) were a bit tougher -- especially as you get closer to Rock Lake. Overall, if you're paying attention, you shouldn't have too many issues, but I recommend/encourage folks to carry their map and compass just in case!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the reply. This looks like one to add to my bucket list!
@@texmexia49 Definitely -- you won't be disappointed with the trail's incredible beauty!
Howdy! My wife and I are planning a thru hike for next summer and enjoying your videos, thanks for sharing your insight.
We were wondering what kind of water shoes you were using when you crossed the stream. It looks like they had some solid protection for your toes! What brand were they?
Thank you very much! I was using Croc's Men's Swiftwater Mesh Deck Sandals. They're awesome for crossings, but the mesh doesn't dry out very quickly, so that can be annoying for some people (my son hates that, but it doesn't really bother me).
Good luck on your adventure!
@@JayMorrisonOutdoors Thanks so much for the quick reply!
We’re totally binge watching your NPT series this morning, LOL.
Do you remember if you skipped the road walk, is there parking at the trailhead where it goes into the woods?
We did not skip the road walk - my wife dropped us off near the Five and Dime in Northville and we trekked the 3(ish) along the pavement. It's not too bad overall, but yes, there is a small parking area at the trailhead in the woods. I *believe* that the road walk is necessary for the "official" completion of the NPT, but other than that, I'm not sure if I'd do it (I hate walking on the road ;) )
@@JayMorrisonOutdoors Thanks. I am doing what will probably be a three day trip as close as possible to Saratoga Springs. Basically 1.5 days up, and 1.5 days back down. Think the beginning is a good choice or should I skip up to Piesco and start there?
@Paul the Backpacker it's hard to say. I really liked every section of the trail. If I had to choose just one, I suggest doing the West Canada Lakes section. It's an amazingly beautiful area with a lot of lean-tos, and fairly-well maintained trails.
When are you heading out?
@@PaulBogush August is a perfect time to go -- much less bugs, typically nice days and not too chilly at night. November is essentially winter ;)
@@JayMorrisonOutdoors Good to know....I hate bugs and have a lot of mental bug baggage from June ADK trips....
My wife and I did the Benson Rd. to Piseco section back in May this year. I recognized many of the views you showed of that section! We stayed our first night at Rock Lake. Was there a lot of blowdown from Rock Lake to Silver Lake? There was when we were there (an especially big one soon after Silver Lake) and was curious if any trail maintenance had been done since then. Also, did you use a gimbal for your camera? I filmed a lot of our hike with my action camera but a lot of it is very jittery from my walking. I definitely want to invest in a gimbal before doing my next section.
Thanks for watching! There was a ton of blowdown between Rock Lake and Silver Lake - this, as well as general fatigue, really slowed our pace on Day 2. Thankfully, Silver Lake was gorgeous and ultra refreshing ;)
I don't actually use a gimbal when I record. I have a GoPro Hero 7 Black, and the built-in image stabilization is incredible. I just have the GP setup in a case with an external microphone (and windscreen) on a short, flexible-leg tripod.
I did not see this sign in last week. where is it. I thought the official start was across the street from Stewarts, where there is a NPT Sign stating mileage? I'm confused.
Which sign in? The one from the very beginning of this video is in the parking area where the wooden arch is (across from the Stewarts). There's also another sign in after the road walk when you first enter the woods.
@@JayMorrisonOutdoors Ok, yes, I did find that. Thanks.
Did yu do the whole npt or just part of it
Not yet - unforeseen circumstances made my trek a section hike, but I'm heading back out in July to finish it up!
@@JayMorrisonOutdoors so it takes about a week to do whole trail ?
I'm hoping to do at trail 1 day
The hardest part for me was getting to the trailhead - a bunch of anxiety was making me think it was a terrible decision. Once I got to Northville and strapped the pack on, life was good!
@@JayMorrisonOutdoors I watch alot people on appachlian trail my 1 favorite is this guy hawk
@@JayMorrisonOutdoors from georgia to maine but pennsyvania be hardest state for me tons of snakes
The A.T. is on my bucket list ... some day!
@@JayMorrisonOutdoors try watching hawk on at hes great on you tube
U see any bears ar all in northville ?
Not in Northville, but we did see a decent sized black bear come out onto the trail from the woods about 40' in front of us after we crossed the bridge at Whitehouse ... my and John's first bear encounter and it was exhilarating!
i know I'm pretty late commenting but I'm probably heading to woods lake next weekend. was there a lot of road noise at woods lake?
how as the trail from benson road to the lake?
Woods Lake is pretty close to Benson Rd, and you can hear traffic, however it's not a terribly busy road, so it's not like you will be hearing them all the time! The trail from Benson Rd to the Woods Lake sites is ~1\4 mile of easy walking.
Good luck and enjoy your weekend!
@@JayMorrisonOutdoors Ah thank you!
Did I hear that correctly, a self-heating lunch?!? Huh?!?!
LOL yea, it's from Omeals. It uses a chemical heat pack inside water to warm up the pouch holding the food. Convenient, but definitely a lot more waste than reasonable for a multi-day backpacking trip ;)
Arleast there no rattlesnskes on npt
True, no rattlesnakes that I'm aware of ;)
Only at tongnue mountain which bolton landing near lake george
There are a few places through the southern ADKs and in the Catskills that the timber rattlesnake calls home, but not many, and if you pay attention, they can be avoided.
@@JayMorrisonOutdoors but yu never saw any right