Nenana River Rafting, Alaska, review

This was one of my favorite excursions in Alaska. It was cold and wet, but our guide was funny as heck. Plus, the one thing I wanted more than anything on the trip was to see a moose in the wild. Everyone else had seen them except me.  Until this trip. As we rounded a bend, there at the shore, munching away, was a moose mom and two young. It was amazing to see them so close up and in their natural setting. Of course, due to the rapids and nature of the activity, I didn't have my camera. My friend explained it that nature wanted me to actually see it live, rather than fiddling with a camera and only getting to see the picture afterwards. It is a picture in my mind that I will never forget. I did get to see ore moose afterwards, but this viewing was special. Oh, and the rafting itself was a lot of fun too. I would highly recommend it.

Do you see what's wrong with this picture?

Yes, it's really a real estate sign, but doesn't it look wrong to see two deer heading toward a sign that says "HUNT" ?

Squirrel Stole my Graham Cracker!

I generally don't approve of feeding wildlife, but it wasn't intentional, originally. I had been reading, you can see the glasses and book set down on the table haphazardly, in the video. The squirrel came up as I was reading and took the graham cracker right away between my reaching in and grabbing one. My arm was resting right against the package. So then I put my book down and set up my camera to see if the bold little devil would come back, and with such easy pickings, who can blame him ( or her).  After I got a video surveillance of the perpetrator,  the graham crackers were moved to a safer location.

I burned his home!

I was scavenging downed branches for free firewood along Uncas Road and I broke apart a branch to throw into my fire, and this little guy was inside the crack in the branch. I almost burned him! 

Raquette Lake Inlet from Brown's Tract Pond

I have always loved the natural setting of the inlet to Raquette Lake. I have taken the outlet from Brown's Tract Pond by site 89 through to this end at Raquette Lake. It took about 4 hours because of the downed trees. That was a few years ago now, not sure how many trees are in the way anymore. It is a beautiful trail. Narrow in spots. You have to be able to get in and out of our kayak or canoe easily because of the number of times you have to lift your boat over the downed trees. Also, if kayaking, make use you can use your paddle like a canoe paddle due to narrow spots.

looking from bridge to Raquette Lake

Showing diversity of plant life supported in the area

View from bridge back towards Brown's Tract Pond

Lilly pads. PLEASE DO NOT PICK TH FLOWERS!

How considerate for the bears that can't read yet!

Here's a picture of the recycling center at my favorite state park. I just love the information section for the bears. Not only are humans so illiterate that the no-smoking sign has to be image based, but apparently the bears also require image based information signs. I think the bears have a good shot at filing a law suit based on species discrimination.

I have always heard about ducks on a log, but here they are!

Chipmunks are too cute

I know there's nothing fancy about these pictures of chipmunks, but they're so cute I had to share. Maybe because when I was a kid, chipmunks gave us hours of entertainment when we went camping.  We always made "chippie gyms". Now as an adult, I know that it is wrong to feed wildlife, but I just have to tell you how much I miss chippie gyms. I camp all the time and every time I go I wish I could still make them. I wonder if anyone else ever made them or if it was just us.

Plant Camouflage

Check out this mushroom! It was right in the middle of my campsite. None of the prior visitors had plucked it, kicked it, or smashed it up as kids often do. Probably because it is so well camouflaged. Even I didn't see it at first. It blended in with the dry decaying leaves at the base of an old tree.

Pros and Cons of Limekiln Campground

Limekiln Lake Campground has been a popular for families for a long time.  It once had a reputation as being the place for teens and young adults. It seems the teens and young adults have grown up and now bring their families and their grandchildren.

PROS:

Nice large beach area

Variety of types and location of sites

Changing rooms and bathrooms at beach

Close to Inlet

Far enough off highway so there isn't road noise

CONS:

Tends to be busier and noisier than many other parks

Opposite side of lake are private camps, so lots of boats and jet skis

Some sites are very small and close together

Shower facilities are damaged and moldy and need repairs asap

Due to large number of people, bears are frequent issue

Sites come equipped with lockable boxes for your food and cosmetics to help prevent the bears from visiting your site.

Example of site. This is 254

 Example of site, this is 266

Boat launch area.

Dump station: easily accessible.

Picnic area:

Beach from picnic area

Kayak racks and picnic tables on beach

Campsite example: site 148

Showers, nice bench on the outside to put on shoes where it's dry.

Sink area needs update. No real mirrors, just metal panels that sort of reflect. 

Toilets: pretty standard. tile needs updating, grout in poor condition

Showers are in very poor condition. Many tiles missing, grout is falling out, what grout is present is covered in mold, some of that is basic housekeeping, but in a campground with this many sites, it must be hard to keep up with cleaning. The shower building clearly states that the building is closed daily from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm for cleaning. I'm thinking a general hose down is all that is done. I find it difficult to believe that the amount of missing tile and grout is just from this year. I also find it hard to believe that nobody has cut themselves on the edges of the remaining tiles.

 Even the ceiling is covered in mold.

Limekiln has many redeeming qualities, but it is certainly not in the running for my favorite campgrounds. I do like the beach and some of the sites further in are nice and spacious, but the sites in the first circle are extremely tight and must be tent only and there are a few sites that even tents couldn't fit well unless they're one person backpacking tents.  The showers need to be addressed. Someone is going to hurt themselves on those floors. The above pictures were taken on August 24, 2016. I hope that they condition is not being corrected because they will be upgrading to new facilities as of next year? If not, I'd find another place to shower.

Pros and Cons of Eighth Lake Campground

This is a nice DEC campground. It has more pros than cons in my opinion.  

PROS:

 most sites are large and level and separated from the other sites.

lots of hot water in the showers

access to two lakes! 

large grassy picnic area

benches for dressing in shower room outside the wet stall

easy access dump station

CONS:

Not surrounded by state land so motor boats are around

showers could use update

Small swimming areas, sloped access

close to highway so some road noise

Long walk to anything from many sites

Very few activities provided, must create your own ( not a con for many)

Bathhouse

real mirrors in bathroom, good lighting

 bench is handy outside stall for putting on shoes, few bugs on ceiling, some around lights, but generally clean.  The floors need to be repainted, but hey, it's New York State, they don't spend their money on these things.

Some walls also need paint updates, but the floors in the shower are single surface. That may mean it's old, but it's easier to keep clean and you don't end up with uneven floors with pieces missing.

an average site

rest room buildings. well lit and there are a lot of them

 site 39. A water site. nice and large, wide opening for backing in, nice view of water through the tree. Enough trees for privacy, yet maintains water view.

There's about a 6 foot almost vertical drop to the water. Not bad for most, but if you're 

"mobility impaired" this may be an issue.                             

 Picnic Area: large, grassy, a lot of shade trees available. Not a lot of picnic tables. I'm guessing this area does not get a lot of use.

Eighth Lake beach. It's small and down a hill. However, notice how few people are using it. It could be like your own little beach. This was around noon in August, about 80 degrees,  so it's a time I'd expect there to be people there.

Boat launch for Eighth Lake

Signs are clear and good directions

Another example of a campsite, this is 105, obviously.

They've added kayak racks for storage

This is the boat launch/beach on Seventh Lake, yes Seventh Lake! Two lakes for the price of one!

View to the right of the Seventh Lake boat launch

View of Seventh Lake straight off the boat launch

View to the left of the Seventh Lake boat launch

Easily accessible dump station

Recycling Center, clean and organized.

They also have boat rentals available at the main entrance.

Overall, if I wasn't a die hard Brown's Tract patron, this campground might win me over.