Beaver Lake: Hemlock Hollow and Bog Trails

I started Frankie out in a hat for this hike, for protection against mosquitoes.  However, it quickly became clear that the heat would be a bigger challenge to our comfort, so we ended up ditching the hat.  It got close to 90 degrees today, and my little sweat-head definitely lived up to his moniker.  Frankie loves boardwalks, so we made a figure-eight shaped loop using the Hemlock Hollow Trail and the Bog Trail.  Even when combined, these trails are only 1.0 mile, and are easy and level-surfaced.  This meant Frankie could manage the hike on his own, which is a bonus for me in the heat.  I'm a sweat-head, too!

Lower Dixes

Macomb

4,405 feet  |  ranked 21/46 in height  |  17th peak climbed

South Dix

4,060 feet  |  ranked 37/46 in height  |  18th peak climbed 

East Dix

4,012 feet  |  ranked 42/46 in height  |  19th peak climbed

Erin and I met at a Thruway park-n-ride at 4:15 am on a Wednesday morning, and by the time we returned to pick up my car it was 11 pm.  This was a very long day for us (especially considering we both worked the next day, and I leave for work at 6:15 am).  However, we were desperate to get in a hike and this strategy made it happen.  I had been worried about the limited parking at Elk Lake and our late arrival due to the long drive, but luckily there was only one other car in the lot when we arrived around 8 am.  The bugs were horrendous, and we were bit all to hell as we put on our boots and made last minute pack adjustments.  Luckily once we started moving, the bugs dissipated.