PCT Preparation on the Cranberry-50

By Tyler Socash
IG: @tylerhikes
http://vestigo.co/blog/go-explore-tyler-socash

One of the largest lakes in the Adirondacks sits quietly within the northwest portion of the Park...

Cranberry Lake is peaceful.  It is massive.  I clearly understand why Bob Marshall loved this place so much.  There is a 50-mile loop hike around the body of water, although most of the trail is away from the lake's tree-speckled shoreline.  You'll mostly be exploring the Cranberry Lake Wild Forest and the Five Ponds Wilderness area during the trek.  For those of you who have aspirations of getting into long-distance backpacking, this might be a perfect launching point to consider.  I used this trip as a fun (3.5 days) PCT preparation hike, and it was a great experience with friends!  (Well, hiking with Paul was just OK...)

A view from High Rock, a .1 mile detour from the Cranberry-50 Trail

Our crew hiked the trail in a clockwise direction.  We carried everything that we would need while in the wilderness for 3.5 days (food, bear canisters, tents [lean-tos are usually occupied on weekends], water filters, appropriate non-cotton clothing, headlamps, first-aid, etc.). As always, we made sure that we were abiding by the seven Leave No Trace Principles while we were enjoying the Great Outdoors!

A map of the Cranberry-50 Trail, with official tent sites!

Make sure that you detour to High Falls (upper left), Five Ponds if you have time (upper right), and Cat Mountain (bottom center) if you do the trek.  You won't regret these side trips!  Unless you get injured at one of them.  DISCLAIMER: Tyler is not responsible for your outdoor injuries.

If you'd like to see a tylerhikes original feature film about the Cranberry 50, click the link below!
I promise that it's really good.  I did all of the editing and everything.  I'm Michael Bay.

People will often ask me, "How do you prepare for a hike like the Pacific Crest Trail?"  The answer is to hike, a lot!  Nothing gets you in shape for hiking like hiking.  Go out on some microadventures near your hometown.  Climb some smaller hills after work or take your dog down a nearby trail.  Shout at the moon.  The time to adventure is now...  Or, to quote Bilbo... "It's a dangerous business Frodo, going out your door.  You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to..."  And now, to quote Pringles, "Once you pop, the fun don't stop."

Be Awesome!

Tyler "Not on the Trail Yet" Socash