It's mud season. That means the snow is melting and where it has there are mud puddles. Many folks sit mud season out, but if you have a kid who's been inside for way too long, mud season is a time to get creative and get outside.
Gull Pond is a short hike from Alder Meadow Road on the northeast side of Schroon Lake. The half-mile walk from the trailhead is mostly flat. The pond is a popular swimming hole in the summer. During mud season it is quiet.
We've been to Gull Pond many times and my nine-year-old son, Tristan, was getting bored with it. The easy trail is a good way to start the hiking season, however, so I proposed an option that interested him. We got out of bed early and hit the trailhead around 6:00 a.m. In early spring it's still dark until 6:30 a.m., and this day it was foggy and drizzling. Dressed warm for the just-above-freezing temperature, we donned our headlamps and, following the beams of light, started in, picking our way around muddy patches and trying not to slide on the icy snow.
The pond was still frozen over except for a couple of feet around the outside edges. Assuming it must be thinning, Tristan tried to break the ice with a long branch, but it proved too strong to break. We did not attempt to walk on it, though. The water is very cold and we wouldn't risk falling through.
The sun came up while we were at the pond. It would have been spectacular if it wasn't too cloudy to see. The drizzle didn't stop the birds from serenading us, though. A woodpecker provided percussion for the morning song.
We walked out without our lights. There was a brief hiccup when Tristan's boot sunk into the mud and he needed help pulling it out, but it gave us a good laugh. We were home in time for breakfast, and our hiking season was off to a great start.
A sunrise walk with headlamps or flashlights is a great way to bring new variety to an easy hike for kids. Make sure to dress warm and bring hats and gloves. Adirondack mornings can be chilly, even later in spring.
