Tucked into the Adirondack Mountains, Seventh Lake's irregular shoreline is lined with trees. An old wooden dock reaches out into the water, the perfect site to launch a boat, put in a canoe, or to just sit and dangle your feet in the water. Across the lake, just a short canoe trip away, is a large lean-to constructed of logs. Its open side faces the lake, an inviting place to lounge and watch the ever-changing face of the lake.

A pitted and charred ring of stones forms a makeshift fireplace, for cooking lunch or warming up at night. Evening brings the haunting cry of loons, and the peaceful sound of waves slapping the shore. Only occasionally the sound of a motorboat breaks the silence.

The last time I was there, my husband and had I decided to take a spur-of-the moment camping trip to escape the August heat. We brought my son and his friend, plus our boat, since the boys hate canoing. We were lucky to even find a vacant site, and luckier still to find one with a lean-to.

The first night we set up camp, started a campfire, and made S’mores. August nights can be cold in the Adirondacks, and that night the temperature fell to about 50 degrees. In the morning, the lake was frosted with fog.

The next night was even colder! When I woke, up the entire lake was enveloped in fog. You could hardly tell where the lake ended and the fog began. As I admired the sight, three big loons came into sight right in front of our campsite. One dove under and came up with something in its mouth. The other two started over towards him, and he gave it to the female. It was a very pretty scene – the loons against the water, which looked silver from the fog's reflection.

During the day, we swam, took the boat out on the lake, and relaxed in camp. Sometimes I would just lie on my back and look up at the pine trees swaying with the breeze above me.

As with most camping trips, this one ended way too soon. There’s a sign in the Village of Inlet that reads, “Take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints.” One of the best parts of camping is the memories you take home with you.