Military Surplus Camping – B-47 Crash Site – Adirondack Mountains

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Hiking & Backpacking with Military Surplus Camping Gear in the Adirondacks Eastern High Peaks Region

For this 2 day, 1 night adventure, I’ll be testing out and demonstrating my milsurp backpacking load-out, along with MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) food to keep me fueled up while I search for the remnants of a cold war era B-47 bomber that crashed on Wright Peak during the night of January 2nd, 1962.

My “big 3” for this backpacking trip are a medium sized ALICE pack, USGI Modular Sleeping bag with USGI Term-A-Rest sleeping Pad, and a USGI Poncho for shelter / rain gear. I scored each of these items for around $30.  A full gear list can be found at the end of this post.

No permit is required to camp in the Adirondacks, but there are rules and regulations regarding backcountry camping. You can find more information here.

Trailhead Used: Adirondack Loj Parking Lot,  44°10’54.9″N 73°57’53.6″W
1002 Adirondack Loj Rd, Lake Placid, NY 12946

The Adirondack Loj parking area has room for many, many vehicles, however it is known to fill up by as early as 8:30 AM during peak season and weekends. Cost is $12 per day. If the lot fills up, there is offsite overflow parking a mile or so down the road.

Trails Used

  • Van Hovenberg Trail towards Marcy Dam
  • Algonquin Trail
  • Wright Peak Spur Trail

Notable Backpacking Gear Used
Note: A lot of these items can be found on Amazon for convenience, but a local surplus shop is probably the most cost effective option, if you have one nearby. 

I cut the opening sequence using pieces of a public domain United States Air Force Pilot’s Familiarization film for the B-47 Stratojet. If you find the B-47 interesting, it be worth a watch as well.

Filmed On

Disclosure: A commission may be earned on some of the links on this post.