Paddling Henderson Lake

16 of us had a nice paddle around Henderson Lake today. The water was quite high due to the tropical storm remnant that rained on us a couple days this week. So we got to explore up the inlets and outlets to the lake. Also due to all the rain, many of the leaves had been knocked off the trees so color was definitely past peak. But it was still a nice day, and our final paddle of the season. We leave for NJ tomorrow.

Paddling the Rollins Loop

We had a very nice paddle today. It was a gray but very calm day and the tree colors are spectacular.We put in at Fish Creek, paddled up to and through Copperas and Whey, enjoying the carries with our light-weight boats, into Rollins then Floodwood, Little Square and back into Fish Creek. We saw the usual assortment of birds - black ducks in Fish Creek, a bald eagle on the south shore of Whey Pond, and lots of belted kingfishers, loons, mergansers, and great blue herons.

Paddling the North Branch of the Saranac River

We checked off another paddle on the Paddle Pursuit today.We drove to the dam at Lake Kushaqua where we put in and paddled down the lakeand through the narrows into the North Branch of the Saranac River. It is a nice winding river of the sort we like to explore.We stopped at an impressive beaver dam about 2 miles upstream.We could have carried over it, but we had read that you can't get much farther, so we stayed in our boats. The round trip paddle was about 8 miles.

This picturesque church is on the Kushaqua Mud Pond Road on the way to the dam.It seemed in very good shape but was all closed up and there were no signs to indicate what it is and whether it is still in use.

Paddling to the Upper Locks

We paddled today despite the low clouds - at least it did not rain. We started at South Creek,went into Middle Saranac Lake, stopping to see the resident eagle on Ship Island, and then down the Saranac Riverto the Upper Locks. We got out for a brief rest at the locks, then retraced our steps for a total of 7 miles.

Moose Pond

We finally did another paddle today. We joined the wayfarers in a paddle around Moose Pond, followed by a picnic at Marilyn and Peter's. The Moose Pond paddle would normally be very tame, since it is not very big.It was a bit more of a challenge today since we had high winds, forecast to be 30 mph. But our boats performed outstandingly, riding the waves and keeping us dry, unlike the kayak where even with our spray skirts on we would have gotten wet. Here is a view of Whiteface from the lake.As a bonus I finally learned from Bill how to find the trail into Moose Pond from Route 3. The road into the trailhead is just on the Saranac Lake side of a house with a barn about 1/4 mile past Trudeau, shown as a gravel pit on the left side of the map. There is a dirt road leading to a narrow walkway over the river. Several folks said it is a great place to cross-country ski, as long as there is enough snow. The road is not plowed so you have to park along Route 3 in the winter. You can ski right onto the lake, which is very picturesque.

Love My Boat

Thirteen of the usual gang went paddling today from Hoel Pond, through Turtle and Slang to Long Pond and back again, ending at Ginger and Bill's, for a total of about 10 miles. The weather was pleasant, though not as warm as we expected it to be. And we saw the usual wildlife - lots of loons, an eagle, and a great blue heron.I got in and out of the boat many times and carried it a lot and it performed wonderfully. I carried over the railroad on the way out from Hoel to Turtle and went through the culvert on the way back. Between Turtle and Slang is a very shallow spot where I got out and walked the boat. Then there is a carry between Slang and Long Ponds. We got out and lunched at a vacant campsite on Long Pond. As usual our trips serve as a good advertisement for Placid Boatworks.Then at the camp we of course got out and hauled the boats onshore to make room for everyone. It is very easy with the lightweight boat. I'm so glad I got it.

East Branch of the St Regis River

I finally got back on the water today - a trip on the East Branch of the St Regis with ADK. The take-out is on Red Tavern Road at the top of this map with the put-in off the bottom.The weather was beautiful and the river was neat with lots of plants in bloom though I didn't get a chance to stop and take pictures along the way. This is at the put in.But it was too much driving for a relatively small amount of paddling. To do the river one way involves an hour-long car shuttle. Plus it took me an hour to get to the put-in on Route 458, though that isn't bad. But the paddle itself was just about 2 hours and that was only because we slowed down to accommodate some of the paddlers. We only paddled a little over 5 miles. We had to go through 3 rapids that I was a bit nervous about, especially in my new boat, but I and my boat came through unscathed. But I would not attempt them going upstream, so if one put in on Red Tavern Road upstream of Everton Falls and paddled upstream to the rapids and then back down it still wouldn't be a very long paddle. So I much prefer the Middle Branch of the St Regis which I would like to do again sometime.

Another Raquette River Paddle

Eleven of us put in onto Stony Creek Ponds from Coreys Road and paddled out Stony Creek and down the Raquette River, taking out at the newly-renovated crusher site for a total of about 10 miles. Though rain had been forecasted we didn't get a drop and it was not too hot. We stopped at Barbara and Keith's afterward for snacks and good company.

A Great Adirondack Day

Yesterday I went paddling on Round Lake with Jim and Cindy.We stopped at the usual sandy spot at the end of the lake for lunch.I just love the great reflections on the lake.Then W and I drove to Lake Placid, had dinner at Caribbean Cowboy - yum, then went to the first Lake Placid Sinfonietta concert of the season. It was a great day.

Raquette River Paddle

We got back to camp Friday after a nice visit to the Vermont Quilt Festival and then went to Larry and Nancy's for dinner that evening. I got some chores done Saturday then today went with 6 others on the 12 mile round-trip paddle to Raquette Falls from Axton Landing.Our group is definitely a good advertisement for Placid Boatworks. That is my new boat in the foreground.

Maiden Voyage

My new boat and I joined the wayfarers for a paddle from Floodwood, down Fish Creek, around to Follensby Clear and a short portage to Polliwog where we took out onto Floodwood Road where a car had been spotted. The weather was good and there were essentially no bugs. But they are not entirely gone. There were quite a few black flies around camp when I got back. The water is quite low, especially for this early in the season. So there will be quite a few paddles that will be too rocky to interest me this year. W picked a good year to be off the water.

We passed this stump that looks so much like a dog that someone put a bandana on it.The lady slipper orchids were blooming on the island in Follensby Clear where we stopped for lunch.