Ausable Chasm

This past weekend excited white water paddlers traveled to explore a section of the Ausable River that flows through Ausable Chasm that until recently was off limits. A federal mandate allowed paddlers access to the river on the power companies land that allowed them to travel through Ausable Chasm Company owned land. However, breath taking scenery and class IV drops were only part of their adventures, after leaving the river, paddlers were surprised to find state police issuing summons to paddlers for trespassing. American Whitewater, which was instrumental in opening this stretch of river to paddlers, is working on clearing up the issue and is seeking to legally assist paddlers in court. This is yet another case of paddlers testing navigation rights. Stay tuned...

For first hand accounts check out North East Paddlers Message Boards forum

You can also follow this story on American Whitewater

Adirondack Explorer blog post by Phil Brown

Tuesday Night Kayak

We are into our third week of the Tuesday Night Kayaking.
We have had some great evening paddles. So far we have been on the Saranac River from Second Pond to the lower lock, Lake Placid and this past Tuesday, Stony Creek Ponds to Axton Landing. Come out and join us! We meet at the shop about 5 pm and try to leave by 5:30. Bring your own kayak or we have special rental rates for Tuesday evenings. Please call ahead to let us know you are coming. 891-7450.

Ready for a new run

Whitewater paddlers have been waiting for word on access to the Ausable River where it flows through Ausable Chasm. American Whitewater has been working on behalf of paddlers to open this section of river and was hopeful to see kayaker on the river Memorial Day weekend. Click here for the latest blurb from AW regarding this issue.

Saranac River Clean-up 2010

Yet again a Adirondack Paddlers Club, supported by local canoe and kayak outfitters and volunteers, has organized to clean-up the shore line of the Saranac River in the Village of Saranac Lake. According to Jim and Jennie Sausville, this was at least the 15th year of the Saranac River Clean-up. Some years have seen as many as 20 people and some as few as two.

Other than the usual plastic grocery bags, cans, empty packs of cigarettes and bottles, other items pulled from the river included: 6 bikes, 3 shopping carts, 3 road cones, 4 golf balls, 1 foot ball, 1 cassette tape (America - Your move), a glass pipe, a flash light, a pink toilet, many t-shirts, a winter coat, a couple pairs of jeans, Hot Wheels underwear, a stroller, about a 100' of metal pipe, broken plates, along with a lot of random junk!

Thanks to Adirondack Paddlers Club, St Regis Canoe Outfitters, Adirnodack Lakes and Trails Outfitters, and all the volunteers for another great haul!!

Sun damage

We all know the damage that sun can do to our skin and the importance of covering up or lathering up. But your skin is not the only thing that can be damaged through prolonged sun exposure. Your canoe or kayak can also be damaged by harmful UV rays. But don't worry, there's something you can do!
When your canoe or kayak is not in use, be sure to store it upside down and in the shade. Most UV damage is done when your boat is not being used. A canoe or kayak left by the waters edge is likely to fade and become brittle much quicker than a boat stored in the shade. Do be aware of not storing your kayak under a pitched roof, as winter snow can build up and slide and cause more immediate damage to your boat.
303 Aerospace Protectant is a spray on application designed to block UV rays that cause slow fade. As part of your putting the kayak away for the winter routine, be sure to clean with water, dry, then spray your boat with 303. Make sure to rub in until dry. It will not only protect your boat, but also give it a nice shine. 303 also makes sprays that are designed for fabrics such as PFDs, paddling jackets, and spray skirts. Many paddlers also choose to purchase a cover for the boat. Covers work very well and are usually custom made for you canoe or kayak.
So be sure to protect not only yourself, but your equipment too.

'Round the Mountain

This Saturday, May 15th at 11:00 marks the start time of the 'Round the Mountain Canoe & Kayak Race, and the beginning of the season for many recreational canoeists and kayakers. Participants start in Ampersand Bay on Lower Saranac Lake and paddle southwest to Bluff Island where the they follow the Saranac River south to the Lower State Locks. After carryng around the locks, paddlers continue through Oseetah Lake, back into the river then meet the finish line on Lake Flower in the Village of Saranac Lake. In total the course covers 10.5 miles of water and a bit of land.The extended weather forecast for Saturday is calling for a mix of sun and clouds and temperatures in the low 60s, perfect paddling weather. If you are thinking about participating, the entry fee is $25.00 ($20.00 for Adirondack Watershed Alliance members). Make sure to show up early for racer registration and to give yourself enough time to warm up, but most of all be sure to have fun, it's a long season.

Canoe and Kayak Demo Days 2010

This weekend marks the 10th annual Adirondack Lakes & Trails Outfitters Canoe & Kayak Demo Days on Lake Flower in Saranac Lake. For 10 years we have been hosting a free on water demo event aimed at giving beginner to veteran paddlers a chance to try many different types of canoes, kayaks, paddles, and PFDs before buying. ALTO staff and company representatives will be on hand helping paddlers decide which canoe or kayak is best for them.

What's new for 2010?

• Swift canoe and kayak is offering a new light-weight pack canoe to its line up. The Pack 12 & 13.6 are new for 2010, and are expected to be a hit with their clean lines, super comfortable seat, and light-weight lay-up.
• Ocean Kayak's Nalu is the first roto-molded SUP, that's a Stand Up Paddle board for those of you not in the know. The Nalu offers a price point option for those paddlers interested in changing their on-water perspective. With the popularity of SUP growing, we are interested in seeing how this new SUP from Ocean Kayak will be received by traditional Adirondack paddlers.
• Jackson's Day Tripper 12 will be the go to kayak for the paddler who just can't stand to leave his or her best friend behind. The Day Tripper's enormous cockpit is perfect for paddling with a dog, child, cooler, or possibly all three. The large opening allows company in the cockpit without crowding the paddler.
• And don't forget, kids like to paddle too! Jackson's Mini Tripper, Perception's Acadia Scout 10 & Carolina 12 XS give moms and dads just what they are looking for, a kids kayak that can keep up. All designed specifically with kids in mind, these 3 kayaks will make any kid feel like a pro.
  

So if you or a friend is looking for a canoe or kayak, be sure to stop by Lake Flower in Saranac Lake this Saturday & Sunday for a great opportunity to try before you buy.

Northern Forest Paddlers Film Festival success

The fourth annual Northern Forest Paddlers Film Festival, a fundraising event for the Northern Forest Canoe Trail and hosted by Adirondack Lakes and Trails Outfitters, was a great success. Held this year on Friday, April 16 in Lake Placid, it's been described as the best Northern Forest Paddling Film Fest yet. The event drew in over 200 people and featured films on traditional birch bark canoe building, paddling in Antarctica, a long distance paddling trip from Skegway, AK to Seattle, WA and of course some whitewater kayaking crash n' burn clips. This annual event started in the Adirondacks and has grown in popularity. As a result, it is now held in other locations along the Trail including Maine and Vermont. The addition of new venues helps to raise funds and awareness for the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. Interested in what the Northern Forest Canoe Trail is doing next? click here

Northern Forest Paddlers Film Festival

Join Adirondack Lakes and Trails Outfitters and the Northern Forest Canoe Trail at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts for the 4th Annual Northern Forest Paddlers Film Festival.

Come together to celebrate the arrival of the paddling season and show your support for the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.

Ticket prices

-In Advance $10.00 (by calling the LPCA @ 518-523-2512)

-At the Door $12.00

-Students $8.00

All proceeds from ticket sales go to the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.

-The events is scheduled for Friday, April 16

from 7:00pm-9:00pm at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts

-doors open at 6:00, come early and mingle

-there will be refreshments and give-aways at intermission.

Films to be included in this years events...

Paddle to Seattle: Journey through the Inside Passage - This independent documentary chronicles the progress of two intrepid adventurers paddling handmade wooden Pygmy kayaks from Alaska to Seattle.

Dream Result - Whitewater action from around the world, including world record waterfall drop of 186ft!

Terra Antarctica - Jon Bowemaster's newest film explores by kayak the disappearing ice that covers Antarctica.

Earl's Canoe - We meet Earl Nyholm, a member of the Ojibwe Nation, as he walks through the woods of Wisconsin looking for just the right birch tree to be used in the making of a traditional Ojibwe canoe.

Kayaking is not a Crime - The second clay-mation short from 15 year old whitewater kayaker Ben Doran, takes us along for the search for the perfect waterfall.

Don't miss this great night of paddling films and make sure to bring a friend!

Northern Forest Paddlers Film Festival sneak peak

The 4th annual Northern Forest Paddlers Film Festival is scheduled for Friday, April 16th at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts. Here's a link to a preview of one of the films that will be shown.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEVEXC5xQAA

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!!

ADK Paddlers Club Hits Up Sacandaga

Schools out for the beginners whitewater class run by the Adirondack Paddlers Club. The Sacandaga River on Thursday, July 16 marked the last field trip before the group was set forth for independant study.

Big thanks to Jim Sausville and Jason Smith for getting the crew down stream safely. Big smiles where had by all and most were calling for a third run (they did get in two).

If you missed the trip, be sure to check in with the club next spring when classes start up again. Until then, paddle on and keep smiling.

First in a Kayak

On Saturday, 67 year old truck driver, Gil Whitney of Lakeville, Maine, paddled the St. John River into Fort Kent Maine to complete the final leg of the 740 mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail. He was the first paddler to complete the trail in a kayak. It took Gil 57 days to traverse 4 states, 1 province, 22 rivers and streams, and 56 lakes and ponds. Along his journey he was bruised by a swim in class IV rapids, made a quick visit to a hospital, battled an inner ear infection, got a flat tire (on his portage cart), paddled with a swimming black bear, and lost nearly 30 pounds of body weight. I think I see a reality show in the making.

Gil's wife Kathy document the trip by posting on Gil's Bucket List. Click here to visit.
For more information on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, click here.
and to read the NFCT blog click hereCongratulations Gil!

The Tuesday Night Group paddling at Franklin Falls 6/23/2009

Playing in the current at the base of Permanent Rapids

Moose Mountain