Photogenic Falls

How many runs down a waterfall does it take to get just the right photo to take home and scare Mom with? Well, I guess it only takes one, but the real fun is doing it over and over to make sure you have a nice album to choose from. A recent Lake Placid Outing Club trip to the Moose River Festival in Old Forge NY wrapped up a great season of paddling and surely brought home some photos to prove it.

Nick Kullina on Agers Falls

Ian McMullen on Agers Falls

Jason Smith on Agers Falls

Fall Whitewater Season

American Whitewater, a non-profit Whitewater advacacy group, has negotiated with power companies to allow water to fill rivers such as the Raquette, Moose and Beaver, and publicly announce dates of such releases. The result of water running it's natural course in these rivers attract kayakers from all over the Northeast.
Labor Day weekend marked the begining of the release schedule for the Stoney Valley section of the Raquette River, located near the town of Colton. It also starts the release season for the the Moshier, Taylorville, and Eagle section of the Beaver River located near the town of Lowville NY. The grand finale of the Fall whitewater season is marked with the release of the Moose River located near Old Forge. The season finale is punctuated by Moose Fest, a full weekend of whitewater paddling, races, and apres paddle activities.
For more information on scheduled releases visit American Whitewater by clicking here.

To sit or stand...

Are the Adirondacks ready for the newest craze in paddle sports? For the past two years the paddle sport industry has been putting a lot of energy into promoting stand up paddle boards. New to mainlanders but not to surfers in Hawaii, these boards resemble large windsurfing boards. Boarders use an extra long bent or straight shaft paddle to move across the water instead of leaving it up to the wind or the waves. Boards range in price from $599 - $1800 and paddles range in price from $99 - $299. Manufacturers are producing everything from plastic roto-molded to composite foam core boards.
After recently attending a trade show in Georgia, and having the opportunity to stand, rather than sit and paddle, I found them to be a lot of fun. The boards are very stable and offer the paddler a different perspective while on the water. The boards tests your balance and move fairly well across the water. Would I choose a stand up paddle board to ply my local waterways? Probably not. While the board is stable, motor boat wake, high winds and a short warm water paddling season would limit the window of fun with this paddle craft. Not to mention the possibility of falling off in less than desirable locations. However, I do see opportunity for a many firsts: first to stand up and paddle the Seven Carries, first to stand up and complete the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, and first to stand up and paddle the 90 Miller.
So next time your on the water and you see what seems to be someone walking on water, look a little closer and I'm sure you'll see a stand up board under foot.

Route 3 Throw Down

Howdy all, Doug checking in here.

Kellan and I did an early morning assault of the Route 3 wave on the Black River in Watertown last Thursday. I brought my longer playboat thinking it was going to be a bit flat...but no chance, it was perfect. It was also the first time Kellan had surfed Route 3 and he killed it.

Honestly, it's just as fun to see a rookie click their first good surf as it is to have your own solid ride. Here's some vids (thanks Kat) from the session - enjoy!


Doug in the old school Dagger ID - thanks for the boat ALTO


Kellen getting some big eyes on the wave

Yukon Ho!

Congratulations to team Yukon Voyageurs for finishing the Yukon 1000 race on July 26th! The team was comprised of local water sport enthusiasts: Kerry J. Newell, Paul Repak, Helen (Holly) Crouch, Mike Trump, Matt Trump, Teresa Stout and Brian McDonnell. For those of you who don't know what the Yukon 1000 is, let me enlighten you. It's a grueling 1000 mile race starting at Whitehorse in Canada's Yukon Territory and traveling down the Yukon River to the Alaskan Pipeline Bridge. In other words, it's over 11 times the length of the 90 miler and 100 times more strenuous. Paddlers out to win will sleep, cook meals, change clothes, and will even go so far as to take pit stops in the boat to avoid wasting any time on shore. Our team finished in a scant six days, six hours, 52 minutes and 29 seconds putting them in fourth place in their division. I think it's safe to say they deserve at least a week of hammock time. Well done!

For more information check out the Adirondack Daily Enterprise Article: http://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/page/content.detail/id/507868.html

To check out race results:
http://yukon1000.com/resultsx.html?race=09y1k

Doug Haney and Kat Dora enjoying their new We-no-nah Escape. Doug and Kat have worked as part-timers at the shop over the last few years. They were married on July 11th at a wonderful wedding at South Meadow Farm in Lake Placid. Congratulations to Doug and Kat and we hope you enjoy your canoe for many years to come!

New York paddlers Represent in AK

Monday July 20th marked the start of the Yukon 1000 Canoe & Kayak race. The race is the longest Canoe & Kayak race in the World and organizers expect racers to take 7 to 8 days to complete. Seventeen boats started the race in Whitehorse, in Canada's Yukon territory, and among them is a team including some long time North Country paddlers.

Team Yukon Voyageurs
Kerry Newell - Heuvelton NY
Holly Crouch - Vermont
Paul Repak - Booneville NY
Brothers Matt and Mike Trump - Pennsylvania
Teresa Stout - Corsica PA
Brain McDonell - Lake Clear NY

To follow the progress of the Yukon 1000 and visit their home page click here.
To read an article from the Adirondack Daily Enterprise about the race click here.

Good luck team Yukon Voyageurs!!