Looking to do a short hike after working as trailhead steward, I went to do Big Crow from O'Toole road, part of the Lake Placid 9 challenge.  I get to the lot, sign in at the register, and start hiking the trail next to the register.  After 15 min or so I start asking myself, am I on the right trail?  I thought this trail was only 0.7 miles and steep, but I've gone at least 1/2 a mile and it's been flat!  I check the GPS, and yup, I'm on the wrong trail, I'm heading towards Hurricane!  Oops!

So, I make a decision to keep going the way I was, and to go over Weston and do the Nun-Da-Ga-O Ridge instead.  I am glad I did.  The views from Weston looking over towards Hurricane and Giant were beautiful.  As I was hiking further down the ridge, I met a porcupine!  This was the first time I ever saw one in the wild, and he was just waddling down the trail going the same way I was going.  Teeth rattling in warning as it waddled away.  Beautiful creature, and I was very glad when he got off the trail.

By the time I got to the trail junction with Big Crow, even though it was only 0.2 miles to the top, it was a steep 0.2 miles, I was tired from hiking over 5 miles, and it was getting dark, so, I went down and missed Big Crow. I'll have to go back and do that again some day in the future.