Lake George was working hard on Labor Day. I know because I was working just as hard. A stiff breeze from the south and swarms of motor boats had stirred up a chaotic chop. It had been calm at Mossy Point when we launched our canoe and headed up lake. But with Cooks Mountain hovering on our right and Rogers Rock starting to peek over a low shoulder things began to get interesting. A long north-south fetch (30 - 40 miles) with steep mountains on either side creates a wind tunnel effect that can range from challenging to capsizing for small boats.
Today it was just right. The waves didn't have me reviewing my nonexistent life insurance policy, but they did bring a little surge of adrenaline to our adventure. Besides, when your destination is the best beach ever, a little rough water isn't going to stop you.
Just when my shoulders were starting to burn we rounded Black Point, skirted Turtle Rocks and landed on lovely Tiroga Beach. We were as far northwest as you can get in Washington County (WC). The boundary line angles across Black Point Peninsula 'til it comes to the water, then follows the shoreline south. To the north is Essex County, to the west Warren, but the beach is a little slice of sandy heaven that WC can claim.
On one of the hottest, most popular holidays of the summer the beach was officially closed. The classy bathhouse was locked and there were no lifeguards. No doubt the young people who keep watch had all gone back to college. But the place was busy with sunbathers, kids building sand castles and little tykes splashing in the water under the watchful eyes of their parents. I believe this is the municipal beach for the Village of Ticonderoga and to their credit no one was trying to keep people from enjoying it. Can citizens actually assume responsibility and take care of themselves? Don't tell the politicians!
A quick, cool swim and the energy of happy kids was ample reward for the effort of getting here. (You don't have to come by sea of course: Black Point Road will get you here the American way - by car). The setting is perfect. Weeds Bay backed by Anthony's Nose, Record Hill and South Mountain on the east and the steep slabs of Rogers Rock across the lake. I have great memories of paddling to its base and scooting up the Little Finger Crack years ago. Beyond are wooded hills and broad lake stretching south to the horizon.
In this age of large dump trucks I don't know if the beach here is natural. The sand could be brought in or it could be built up by the lake. The beach faces south into the prevailing wind and waves, which would tend to pile up sand against the rocky projection of Black Point. The topo map shows a wetland across Tiroga Point road in back of the beach and this seems to be common pattern for natural lake beaches in the Adirondacks and Vermont. It's as fascinating a place for naturalists as it is for swimmers.
Before our beach vacation we had made a quick paddle down Ticonderoga Bay to Diane's Rock. This small, unremarkable island is visible looking north from Mossy Point in the middle of the channel. The rock's namesake was my mother-in-law and Gwenne wanted to see how it was doing. Diane Struble stood on the rock on August 22, 1958, got greased up with the (over) eager help of several men, and began swimming south. She didn't stop until she reached Lake George Village, 35 1/2 hours later at 10 p.m. the following day. Thousands of people were waiting for her there and when they hoisted her onto the dock she had become the first person to swim the length of Lake George, some 42 miles. There are plaques at either end of the lake commemorating her achievement and we wanted to see the one at the start. It's easily visible once you get close and reads:
For a nice story and photos of Diane's swim check out Barney Fowler's
Adirondack Album, Copyright, 1974, published by Outdoor Associates, 1279 Dean St. Schenectady, New York 12304.
Gwenne is currently working on an oral history project of her mom's accomplishments collecting memories of people who knew her.
What a great Labor Day on Lake George, remembering THE SWIM and enjoying a swim.
No comments:
Post a Comment