RIDGE CAMP
The culmination of our camp building projects in the 70's, Ridge is the prettiest, the most secluded--a perfect Adirondack Getaway. (Hikers Only!)
CLICK & GO!
(On this page.)
An antique woods road . . .
Amenities Summary.
Safety First! & Guest Information
About access to Ridge.
The Ridge Camp Story--How it go that way.
 Four Star Camping.
Guest Notes:
"One thing would have made it better, it would've been a longer stay."
"The views, the peaceful setting , the sauna - absolutely incredible."
"Great trails and spectacular views! Dinner by candlelight."
"The water quality in the bath house . . ."
More about Ridge Camp (on the next page).
Meet Our Guests at Ridge Camp. (What they had to say about it, with photos.)
 
[Click on Photo For Larger Size]An antique woods road follows a moderate grade uphill 1-1/2 miles through an open forest of mature hardwoods to the Cow Pond, a watering hole for cattle in bygone days. Ridge Camp is there, just below Rattlesnake Knob, with breathtaking views of the High Peaks. A short walk to Cookout Hill and Blueberry Hill, and the summit of Rattlesnake Knob with more views of Whiteface and the AuSable Valley. 
A mature design, the main building (600 sq.ft.) features an open cathedral ceiling over the sitting/dining room and kitchen), a loft bedroom and a balcony that overhangs a screened porch on the first floor.
The camp is rented as three-building complex along with the "Guest Shed" (200 sq.ft.) and "Sauna" (280 sq.ft.) with wood-fired sauna, washroom, sleeping loft and porch overlooking Cow Pond. Root cellar. Privy.
For location see Fourpeaks Trail Map label [RC] and CLICK HERE for the kind of secluded living offered at Ridge Camp.Three buildings, five rooms, Non-smoking, Pets welcome, 1080 sq.ft. in all, max. 8 persons. Single or double occupancy, $670/3 nights, $1340/week. CLICK HERE for a seasonal offer, promptly delivered. 11% Sales/Occupancy Tax applies to all rentals of less than one week duration. A Deposit Payment is required to secure reservation. Cancellation fees apply. See Guest Information for occupancy limitations and financial arrangements. Discount Prices. 
"Ridge Camp" Amenities SummaryBedrooms/beds: One double bed (loft upstairs) and two single beds at the main camp. One double bed and two single beds in the "Guest Shed." Room for rollout mattresses for extra persons on the sleeping lost at "The Sauna." Blankets and pillows supplied. [CLICK HERE for Frequently Asked Questions about what to bring, including linens and towels.] Full Kitchen: Dry sink, full size cooking range with oven, 4 cubic foot refrigerator, dining service for 8 persons and a complete selection of utensils, dishes, silverware, pots and pans, including a toaster, a tea pot and 3 kinds of coffee makers. Toilet: Outside Privy (outhouse). 
Water/washing: Old-fashion pitcher pump right at the kitchen sink. Big stand pump at nearby Sauna/Well House with bathtub, washstand and gas stove for heating water. [CLICK HERE for all about limited water at Fourpeaks Backcountry Camps, especially in Winter. CLICK HERE for fun bathing ideas.]Lighting: Gas lighting. No electricity. (Bring electric reading lamps, extra candles, if you like. No kerosene, gasoline or other lighting permitted.) Fireplace/heating: Jotul woodstove on main floor, Vermont Castings Intrepid freestanding fireplace (parlor stove) at bedroom loft, Cauley-LeMay woodstove at the "Guest Shed." Firewood supplied. Gas utility stove for heating water at "The Sauna." Porches: Furnished screened porch with couch, table and benches. Open second story balcony off loft bedroom. Open Back Porch. Additional: Wood-fired sauna. Outside picnic table. Hammock. Charcoal barbeque grill. Miscellaneous: Dish soap, hand soap, sponge/pot scrubber, Comet cleaner, firewood, dish towels, toilet paper, trash bags, matches, candles, biscuit mix, honey, salt, pepper, sugar, etc. are all supplied. [ Planning your visit? CLICK HERE for more helpful information on setting up housekeeping.]
  Four-Star Camping. Enjoy the quiet and beauty of untrammeled Nature in considerable comfort with no equipment and no experience required. View our Graphic Amenities Summary and get help deciding which Fourpeaks Cabin is right for you. How to work a woodstove. How to light the gas lights. How to work the pitcher pumps. All about the privies/outhouses.
Safety First! & Guest Information. The buildings at Fourpeaks are spread out on a 700-acre property, 2-1/2 miles end to end. To maintain an orderly,  clean and safe place to live, the good will and cooperation of our guests are essential. Prospective visitors must familiarize themselves with propane (gas) safety, fireplace/woodstove safety, water safety, housekeeping responsibilities, arrival arrangements, and other matters that will affect their personal safety and comfort at Fourpeaks. If you're considering a Fourpeaks vacation rental, CLICK HERE for our Safety First! & Guest Information pages. Access to our Backcountry Camps. There's year-round auto access to The Cabin, Sugar Camp, New Camp, Gypsy Camp and Thoreau House, but there's no "front desk" at Fourpeaks. so you need to find out how to get to your rental. CLICK HERE for How to Get to Your Rental.and What to do When you get There.During the Summer season guests at our two remote camps, Wolf's Nest and Ridge Camp, meet us at our Camp Barn Office. There, we take their food and gear and jeep it up to camp. And we take it back down when they leave. There's no need for them to pack it themselves. In Winter, early Spring, and at other times when road conditions are unfavorable, guests at Wolf's Nest and Ridge Camp must carry their stuff on their own (Wolf's Nest, 5/8 mile or Ridge Camp 1-1/2 miles). Firewood plus propane for lighting and cooking are already in place at camp. Wash water is at the Well House at Ridge, but wash water must be carried up for Wolf. A full orientation to camp precedes the visit. Extra backpacks and a cargo sled are available for loan. No guest vehicles. Except for short access roads off Stonehouse Road (to Thoreau House, Gypsy Camp, Sugar Camp, New Camp and The Cabin), the use of guest vehicles on Fourpeaks roads and trails is strictly forbidden. [More about access at Frequently Asked Questions.] Meet Our Guests! The Fourpeaks Photo Guest Book. is
a fun way to learn about our Adirondack backcountry vacations.
Who came. Where they're from. Where they stayed. The Season. What they did here.  Photos. Letters and Guest Book entries. CLICK HERE for Fourpeaks Photo Guest Book pages. Find John & Donna on Cookout Hill. Brian and Kelley climb Rattlesnake for the view. And more. Pet-friendly vacations.  Romantic getaways.  Solo Guests
 Families with Kids.
The Story. Bigger and Prettier.Back from a trip to France in '73 we admired the design of the Gypsy wagons so much I just had to build one. I told Merritt about the idea and his Dad Frank gave me the frame and wheels off an old Chevy truck he had fixed up for a woods wagon. Scaled down to just six by ten it was a perfect fit. It had a bed and kitchen with a little potbelly stove. Merritt and I built it over the Winter and we decorated it with paisley cloth from India--a nice touch. It took a whole day to drag it with the tractor all the way to the Ridge. We stayed in it one Spring weekend hiking around the ledges with pretty flowers (native orchids and columbine) picnicking and enjoying the views. We remember the frog chorus from the pond on those Spring nights. I started sketching plans for the new camp right away, using the open plan and loft ideas first tried at Sugar Camp--only bigger and prettier. Mark Shaw and his wife came up for a weekend with us and we showed them the site. My serious concern was just how close to the height of land to build it. We ended up a hundred feet down from the exact ridge line (marked with barbed wire fence years ago). I'm not sure what those people (clients of mine from the city) thought of those camp building involvements. By Summer Bill Lincoln had dug out the shallow well and a root cellar. Shirley Wallace cut all the boards and dimension lumber full size from local pine. Bobby Wallace built it and the idea for second story balcony came about when the four by eight beams cut out even longer that I asked for. It got done by Fall and Bobby and his wife joined us there for a Thanksgiving dinner. The dinnerware was Tennessee pottery from that year's Smoky Mountains visit and the silverware was the five and dime open pattern stainless we had bought over the years for our Chelsea Hotel home (both still there). CLICK HERE to hear what happened to the Gypsy trailer after Ridge Camp was built. (CLICK HERE to hear The Whole Fourpeaks Story--1967-2003, 7 camps, 3 barns, 1 Stone House, 700 acres and 40 years.) #1538 ". . . running ever since we got back from our honeymoon. one thing would have made it better, it would've been a longer stay." Subject: Guestbook Entry To: fourpeaks@whiteface.net Date : 10/11/1999 Name : Jean L*****er & Jim B**l Email : v****@starpower.net Location : Baltimore, MD Comments : Re: Visit at the Ridge, 9/27/99 to 10/1/99 Hi, Martin! Sorry to take so long in getting back to you but we've been running ever since we got back from our honeymoon. As for our visit, we had a wonderful time and thoroughly enjoyed your place. If one thing would have made it better, it would've been a longer stay. Don't change a thing if you can avoid it. We're already talking about when we'll be able to come back up and visit with you, again. I'm sure we'll be in touch before too many seasons go by. In the meantime, thanks for everything! Jim & Jean #1558 "The views, the peaceful setting , the sauna - absolutely incredible." Subject: Guestbook Entry Date: Tue, 02 Nov 1999 To: fourpeaks@whiteface.net Name : Jim Ph****s - Len K**** Email : jp****@mail.calltech.com Location : Columbus, Ohio Comments : Martin Thank you oh so much. Our second visit to fourpeaks was so much more than we had expected. Staying at Ridge Camp was the best thing we decided to do. The views, the peaceful setting , the sauna - awe the sauna, absolutely incredible. It was a break that we both needed to rest, relax and explore. The only thing I would change at Ridge Camp would be to add a fireplace. The dogs had a great time as well. We will be back in the spring and this time we want Sugar Camp. Take care and have a great winter season. Jim & Len WEBMASTER'S NOTE: Fireplace, well really parlor stove, added March 2000. #1045 "Great trails and spectacular views! Dinner by candlelight every night was a real treat." Subject: Guestbook Entry Date : 11/5/2001 Name : Jon & Leslie R***** Email : jlr***@vermontel.net Location : Killington, VT Comments : We had a wonderful few days of peace & quiet, just what we needed. Ridge Camp was great, everything we needed was there and having dinner by candlelight every night was a real treat. Spent our days hiking and picknicking, great trails and spectacular views! We will definitely be back. "The water quality in the bath house . . ." (An email exchange.) CLICK HERE for Martin's note about Ridge water (above). Date: Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:45:15 -0700 From: gord****@xplornet.com To: martin@4peaks.com Hello Martin Kim Aa***rd and I visited Four Peaks in the Fall of 2006, and had a wonderful few days of hiking. We are considering returning again in 2009, and if we did return, we would like to go back to the solitude of the Ridge Cabin. The only part of the entire experience that gave us a bit of pause was the water quality in the bath house. We wondered whether you had found any treatment solution to get rid of those anaerobic bacteria - have you tried a shock treatment with bleach? The dates we are considering at this point are September 24th-27th or October 1-4. Before we make our decision, could you please let us know whether the well status has changed, and whether either of those dates are available for the Ridge Cabin? If the water is the same, we would still consider coming, but we might want to bring extra water with us. Regards Gord (from near Kingston, Ontario) and Kim Aag***d (from Aurora, Ontario) Subject: a shock treatment with bleach Date: Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:04:09 -0400 From: "Martin (Your Adirondack Guide)" To: gord****@xplornet.com Gord-- I'm very interested in learning from you what you know about "a shock treatment with bleach." I did this for years with no noticeable results. But maybe I wasn't persistent enough, didn't use enough bleach, or used it at the wrong season, the wrong time of day, phase of the moon, etc. I routinely tell people something like--"The well at Ridge has a varying concentration of (harmless) anaerobic bacteria that expire after a few minutes exposure to the atmosphere, turning the water reddish in color--the result of ingested iron. The well water is fine for washing. There is also a supply of water in the blue containers from my well which you should use for cooking." I got this information years ago from a son of mine who is/was a water geologist and this was confirmed by a guest in that profession as well. I think, but I'm not sure, that both of them suggested chlorine bleach. Help me out. What do you know about this?. I'd love to have you visit. It's too far ahead for me to book you for 2009, but let's keep in touch. Maybe I can find a fix on this reddish water problem by then. If not I'll be sure to give you LOTS of my well water (in blue containers) so you won't have the reddish stuff to deal with. NEW IDEA. There are guests up there this week. Until I know better, I'm going up tomorrow and dump one full gallon (more than I ever did in the past) and ask the guests if they can report any difference. (I'll also bring them a few extra containers of my well water.) Depending on results, I may try 2 gallons next time. Maybe I can figure this out on my own. Best wishes, Martin Subject: RE: a shock treatment with bleach From: gord***@***.com Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:50:09 -0400 To: Martin (Your Adirondack Guide) CC: Kim Aa*** Hi Martin Sorry I haven't replied sooner - I was away last week and then inundated with company for our Thanksgiving weekend. I have had a minor problem with anaerobic bacteria in my own well. Mine have caused low level tastes of sulphur, and a bit of precipitation of iron. The situation at Ridge camp may have a similar origin, but the degree of the problem is quite different. And mine is a drilled well vs. what I think is a shallow dug well at Ridge Camp. The treatment I have used is a product called "Wellriffic," concocted by a local guy up here in Kingston, Ontario. One treatment has given me resolution for about 6-8 months. I have talked to the local well drillers up here, and they suggest that I could get the same result from a simple "shock" treatment with Chlorox bleach. For my drilled well, they have recommended 1 cup of bleach per day, but applied consecutively for 4 or 5 days, then see how it works. In the case of my drilled well (~200 feet deep), they also recommend pumping out the residue after the treatment. I don't know whether you have tried the "multiple days" approach when you did your shock treatments, but it might be worth a try if you haven't already used that approach. And given the level of iron in your case, perhaps more than 1 cup per day would make a difference. In any event, Kim and I are keen on returning (clear water or red water...) and we will keep in touch re one of those weekends in 2009 - Sept. 24-27, or Sept. 30 - October 3. Let us know if you are able to lick the problem with the well. Regards and a belated Happy Columbus Day Gord Subject: Re: a shock treatment with bleach From: Martin (Your Adirondack Guide) Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:57:04 -0400 To: gord***@***.com Gord-- Thanks for your email about harmless anaerobic bacteria causing precipitation of iron (reddish salts) when they expire. Well, thanks to your thought-provoking earlier email, I did do a shock treatment last week. I figured the well contained about 200 gallons and, making a quick calculation (I majored in Chemistry) I dumped in 3 gallons of 6% sodium hypochlorite (Chlorox). That did it! The shock treatment knocked out all the bacteria. I can't pump it out, but the residue is settling out and I expect the well will soon pump clear. My plan is to check the water seasonally. Repeat as necessary. The Pricechopper store brand is only a dollar and change per gallon, as compared to Chlorox brand at $3+. So it's not expensive. Look for clear well water when you come again. Best wishes, Martin Subject: RE: a shock treatment with bleach From: gord***@***.com Date:Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:49:04 -0400 To: Martin (Your Adirondack Guide) CC: Kim Aa*** Martin - wow, that's great news. The fellow I spoke to about my own well gave me the additional advice, in response to my question about how often I should do the treatment: "When the problem appears again, shock it again" - not too scientific, but I guess every well is different, and you just have to keep an eye on things. Kim and I loved the sauna, and clear water will make the experience that much more enjoyable. Regards Gord .  Are you in this picture? Fourpeaks hosts now welcome paying guests to a 700-acre rest and playground for vacations in the Adirondack Great Camp tradition. Couples appreciate Fourpeaks secluded settings. Outdoor loving families have fun exploring our accessible wilderness. Folks with dogs enjoy the open spaces to run their pets. A private nature rereat. For a vacation away from it all. Are you in this picture? CLICK HERE to find out! [More about this at Frequently Asked Questions.]  Inquire about a Fourpeaks Adirondack Vacation/Getaway. (Easy Inquiry Form.)
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We think we've found a fix on this! 
