SRT25 - Day 107
Monday, July 21, 2025
SRT25 - Day 107
Summer 2025 Road Trip
Monday, July 21, 2025
This morning we had some lingering clouds, but it looks like the rain has decided to move on and we can dry out for a while.
Today while exploring the forest around our campsite, Bones and I came across an unusual plant. It goes by many names; Ghost Plant, Ghost Pipe, Indian Pipe and Corpse Plant just to name a few. Its scientific name is Monotropa uniflora.
https://wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-wildflowers-indian-pipe-monotropa-uniflora.html
It’s a perennial wildflower that lacks the green pigment chlorophyll, which most plants use to convert sunlight into energy. Ghost pipe is a type of parasite to mycorrhiza fungi. That means, instead of using sunlight it draws its nutrients from fungus that live in the forest soil. I’ve come across this plant in many different states, but it’s always been in the deeply shaded coniferous forest (pine trees) and it’s usually after a day or two after a rain.
Looks like we’re going to have a beautiful evening.
Bones: Ho boy, oh boy, oh boy! We get to go night paddling! The stars are so bright and beautiful! I just love paddling at night.
This afternoon, Bones and I were going through our supplies and Bones found our Christmas lights, that we use when we go night paddling. Bones was so excited to go that I didn’t have the heart to turn him down.
There is a surprising amount of light pollution in the Adirondacks. But, we still had some beautiful views of the stars. The formation of stars in front of us that looks like a giant W, is the constellation Cassiopeia.
https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/cassiopeia-constellation/
If you’re wondering how we find our way back to camp in the dark. It’s pretty easy actually. I use the GPS on my phone to track where we’re going and follow it to get back to camp. But in reality, I prefer to use the old two light method. That’s where you set up two lights at your starting point, one behind the other and slightly above. Then when you’re ready to come back, you just line up the two lights and they will guide you home nice and easy.