Outstandingingredientsthat combinedtomakethissucha wonderfultripincludeleadership byEileen,Loretta,MaryAnn, ChrisandPaul;thevarietyof rivers,landandsights;andgreat companyandmutualsupport Wealsosavoredgreatappetizers, mealsanddessertsprovidedby ourstableofvolunteerchefsatour homebaseatMeachamLake campground.Someofusthought we’dloseafewpoundsthisweek, butthatideamighthavegotten lostsomewhereonthewaytothe desserttable.
Ourgroupofallagesalsocele bratedLindaandJill’s90thyear Maytherestofusfindhalfoftheir energyandpassionaswecontinue ourpaddlingjourneys!
“I’mtouchedwhenoldfriends celebrateourbirthdays,butIreally don'tcaretobragaboutmyageto theworldatlarge!Don’tsuppose
Lindadoeseither.”correctedJill Arbuckle.
“AndtothinkIwastheonewho startedthis,bywhippinga somewhatsquishedbirthdaycake forLindaoutofmydrybag,at lunchhalfwaydownthe Nolichucky,”sheadded.
T“IfeelIgotmy$100worthoutof theweek.ButIamstillre hydrating,”addedMaryAnnHoag. heylovedthegroup dynamics,multipleboat liftings,thetarpfolding, andthesharedmealprepand clean-up.
“ButDon?andCharles?Doing thistripwithoutyoutwowasan incrediblefeat,”MaryAnn observed.
“Nowwefullyunderstand,”she addedforall,“whataheavylift youtwopullofftoexecutethis amazingweek.”
WemetonHorseshoeLake intheAdirondacksfora mellowpaddleuptheBog RivertobasecamponLows Lakeforfourdaysof paddlingandhiking.The forecasterspredictedacouple ofrainydays,butweweren't deterred.Littledidweknow whatMotherNaturehadin mind.
henwearrivedonSept11, wefoundabeautiful campsiteonapointon HorseshoeLake.Twoof uswentforapaddlearoundthis undevelopedlakeandcameacrossa groupofdiversretrievingmaple syrupbottles,dumpedintothelake over100yearsago,byA.Augustus Low’sHorseshoeForestryCo, establishedinthe1890s.Lowhas beenforgottenbymany,butheleft aparadiseforgenerationsof quietwaterpaddlerstoenjoy.
OnMondaymorningwelaunched fromLowsLowerDamandpaddled uptheBogRiver.Itwasabeautiful, peacefulpaddleundertowering pinesandintoavastwetlandthatis theresultofthedamthatLowbuilt in1903toimprovelogdrivesand generateelectricity.Completingthe 0.2mi.carryaroundtheupperdam, builtin1907formoreelectricity,
wedecidedtopaddleontoLowsLake, ratherthantakeinthepanoramicview fromLowsRidge.We’dsavethatfor betterweatheronThursdayWewanted tosetupcampbeforetheexpectedrain thateveningWefeltluckywhenwe foundabeautifulcampsite,withasandy isthmus,facingwestacrossthevast expanseofLowsLake.Theraincame, asexpected,butwewerereadywith tentsupandtwolargetarps.Itrained allnightandintoTuesdaymorning,but westayeddryandwarm
Whentherainletup,mostofusdecided topaddletoGrassPond(nowabaythat hadbeenseparatebeforetheupperdam) tobushwhackupGrassPondMountain fortheview.Weendedupfollowinga herdpatharoundGrassPondbecause wecouldnotfindoneupthe mountainWedidnothaveenough timetopushthoughuntrodforestand getbacktocampbeforedark.There wasmorerain,butitstoppedbeforewe gotbacktocamp.
Therainreturnedwithavengeance thatnight.Itwasamajorstorm, withheavyrainandhighwinds gustingtolevelsthattoreatarpand threwalogseatoffitsbase.Awa offogblockedoutthelakeaswe crawledoutofourtents.Strong windandbitingrainrippedthrough ourcampsite,whichwasin shambles.Threepaddlersdecided toleavefirstthingtousethestrong tailwindtoquicklyescape.Two othersdecidedtowaititout
Eventually,thestormbegant die.Thecloudsthinnedand thefogliftedThesun finallybrokethrough.Thetwo hangersonhadaleisurelypaddle, exploringthelake,ontheirway out.TheyclimbedLow’sRidgefo aspectacular180degreeview Wednesdayevening,theycamped alongtheBogbetweenthedams, putupwithmorerainfordinner, butnothinglikewhattheyhad experiencedTuesdaynightand Wednesdaymorning.Upon reachingthelowerdam,midday Thursday,theyfeltthattheyhad endedthetriponahighnoteThe stormwasjustanotherstoryto impressfriends.
PhotobyGeorge Baldwin,circa 1901,ofthe HorseShoe Forestry Company railroad. Collectionofthe Adirondack Experience
dmititIsn’tthatonereasonwetag alongonnovicestepuptripstoview heyardsalefirsthand?
notjustwhitewaterfolks,norjust hotumble
Amongthisseason’sbestcarnageinvolvedChris Viani’sbrandnewNorthstarcarbonfibersolo canoe,offeringexcellenttensilestrength,with symmetricalrocker,andanuncompromisinghull designtodeftlyhandleanywaterconditions,flat orfast
Tobefair,Chriswasn’tintheboateithertime OnceitwentairborneoverabeachonLow’s Lakeas20mphwindspummeledthecanoes storedonshore
Theotherdumpoccurredwhenhehadloaned heryetagain,asheoftengenerouslydoesThe ultralightframewrestledtoprogressundersome fallentreebranchesonTwoBridgesBrookinthe Adirondacks
Thepinetreewon
Quietwatercarnagealsooccurredona challengingsectionoftheRaritan,whereBrian andSusanledacappedoutgroupwithmixed skills.
“Wehadtwoswimsbecauseofsometreesthat wereintheway,”explainsSusan.Eileen,Mark, andChrissteeredfolksaroundthehazard,but somewentwiththeflownonetheless,attheir peril
Thetwomostspectacularcarnageeventsofthe season,however,resultedintwonearlywrecked boatsWe’llletyoureadaboutthoseelsewhere inthisissuefromtheboaters’views
Yetit’sabitworryingWhywasn’ttheremore carnage?
Weheldfourinstructionalclassesfor kayakandcanoe,andaddedovera dozennewnovicepaddlerswhosought usoutforClass2tripsWehostedfollowup tripsattheFifeBrook,theLehigh,EsopusCreek, evenwentfortheBeaverKill.
You’dthinktherewouldhavebeenmoreself rescuingfun?[Notethekeywordhereisfun, nottragedyThankstoAMCswiftwatertraining andclubtraditions,safetyissynonymouswith fun.]
Coulditbethegeneralcaliberofthestudents? Therewereonlyfiveswimsduringourlessons. Onlyone,acanoeist,swamtwiceCoaching kayakatoneofourinstructionals,Ivanfelt, “Guesstheyjustaren’ttryingtoohard.”Or coulditbethequalityofourinstructors
AdiNarayan,abeginnerkayaker,putitthisway, “Everyonemakesitsuchafunandenlightening courseIfeellikewewereinductedintoawarm andlovingriverfamily”
Let’sgiveGenZkayakstudentRachelO’Grady thelastwordonAMCtraining:“Itwas100% legit!”
EileenYingettingreadytopractice herself-rescueskillsontheRamapo inApril,2022.PhotobyMartyPlante.
reallycouldn’tsayhowit happened;itjustdid.
Thissecondswimoftheday involvedmoretumbling,withme hittingarockortwoalongtheway.
Ifitisn’tdifficult,thenyou'renot learning,right?
Iamsemi-retiredand59yearsold, sothereyouhaveit–notthe youngestwhippersnapperoutthere, butIamfindingitpossibletolearn andactuallyhavealotoffunon rivers.Iwantedtoseewhatallthe fusswasaboutwithcanoesvs kayaksinwhitewater.
Iparticipatedintheinstructional canoeingonmovingwatercourse ontheDelawareRiver,havingonly donewhitewaterkayakinginthe past,foraboutayear,soI’mstilla novice/intermediate.
Westartedwithflatwaterpractice followedbyClass12riverrunning. Therewasanunusualamountof windandthecanoebehavedmuch
likeasailboat,butweallstayed uprightwithinitialferryingand eddyingout.
Myteacher,Chris,informedusthat ournexttaskwouldbetoeddyout onriverright,andthataproper angleandlotsofspeedwouldbe needed.Ihadneither,andpromptly swamped
Sodidmyfellowstudentwhenit washerturnnextafterme.
Allswimsmakemepanic,andthis firstoneespecially.Ihadforgotten tohangontomypaddleOtherwise, classicswim,nocomplications.
Thatsecondswimcamelaterthat sameday(ugh,notagain?Yup.)
ThistimeIwasnavigatingovera bitoflargerrapidsandsimply flipped.Iturnedmybacktoward therocksastheycameupandthat helpedalottogentlybumpoff them,feetupofcourse.Evenwith awetsuitIdidhavealittlecuton mybackwhereImusthavehit.
Thewetsuitwasnotripped–thank youNRSandallthemoneyyougot outofme.
Mythirdswimthisseason waswithmykayakatFife Brook.
Iattemptedtoshootbetweentwo rocks,butenteredthefeatureata largeangleandforgotto“hugthe rock.”InsteadIhuggedthe upstreamcurrent
Istilltriedtopowermywaytoan uprightstance,butthekayakwas pinned.AllIcoulddowasexitand gettoshore.
Ittookalltheexpertiseofmy intrepidhelperstounlockthatboat. Iwasimpressedbyhowthey plannedandexecutedamulti-step extractionthatinvolvedropeand plentyofdiscussionforusingthe safestapproach.
Eventually,aftertheboatwas righted,Charlesperformedaferry maneuverasheguidedittoshore. Animpressivefeatofproblem solvingandservicetoothers,for whichIamgrateful
AllIwantistonotswimonrivers, ifpossible,butasI’veheardmany times,“Weareallbetweenswims.”
Sobeit,butIstronglyadvocatethat kayakersdeveloparollIhave practicedthisalotandcombat rolledhalfadozentimesnow.That isalotofswimsavoided.Yayto that.Nokidding.IfIcandoit, anyonecan
Theassistanceofthesetrips’ leadershipwasamazing.
Theyhoveredaroundmeandgave simpledirectionswhichhelpedme gettoshore.Theyweresoexpertin helpingusoutofthesesituations, withencouragementandgood humoralways.Theyaretrulygreat peopleandgreatteachersIam thankfulfortheirdedication.
ThereisnothinglikeanAMCtrip toteachwhitewaterboatingatany levelfrombeginneronward,andthe priceisright(wink).
Icouldn’tbeoutonriverswithout peopleliketheleadersofAMC NY-NoJ.
Youguysandgalsarethebest!
JohnHeibert practicing hisrolling skillscapsizing,andtheimpending doomawaitingusatZoarGap Weletthesolocanoesandkayaks continuedownstreamasthe Dimensionassumessweep position.Wemakeaflawlessturn intothefirstyetsmalleddy withouttheneedforcommunicationbetweenabowandstern partnerwhoareinsyncWe’rein!
Wepeel-outwithoureyeslocked onthenexteddyturnandseeour greatestobstacleoftheday–an unassumingpouroverrockthat barelysurfacedabovethe waterline.
Thesummersunisout,theriverisreleasingat1000cfs, andour16-footDaggerDimensionismakingitsway downtheFifeBrooksectionoftheDeerfieldRiver. egardedasoneofthe greatestwhitewater tandemboats,the Dimension’smaneuverabilityandstability allowustosurfandferryfrom eddytoeddywithease,despiteits largesize. Thedaystartswithcontinual burstsofadrenalineeachtimewe approachaneddyorhole, followedbythefeelingofreward afterweconqueratighteddyturn inourenormousboat.Asa beginnerwhitewatercanoeist,my exhilarationisamplifiedbythe noveltyofanewriver,thefearof
Thebowpaddlerhasalready advancedbeyondthepour-over rockandthesternpaddler’s visibilityisblockedAstheboat catchesontherockinthemiddle ofthehull,wetipoverandatidal waveofwaterfloodsourboat.
Withmoredesperationthangrace, weabandonship.
Aslenderwomanandaburlyman trytoassistusbyrockingour75 poundboat,pinnedby5,000 poundsofrushingwater,while standinginakneedeeprapid.The pinkitwasleftatthecampsiteand therestofourgroupisstoppedin therapidsdownstream,justwithin eyedistance.
Ourfirstplanistohavemepullon thepainterfromlandasCharles pushes/pulls/rockstheboatbyits gunwalesWedon'treallythink
Wthiswillworkwithmylimited strength.Andwe’recorrect. Luckily,twokayakerscatchsight ofusastheyapproachedtherapids andweareabletodeliveracritical messagetopassalongtotherest ofourgroup.Threemengetoutof theirboats,trekacrosssteep vegetation,andlendtheirstrength. Theideaistohavethefiveofus unpintheboatbypullinginthree directions:up,out,andaway ithaheavehospiritand acountofthree,weeach pullinourassigned directions.Theboatslidesoffthe rockandfloatsonceagainbut we’releftwithacenterthwartthat snappedintwo,thwartingour planstorunZoarGap Betterlucknexttime.
CharlesMichenerandLydia cruisingontheDeerfield. PhotobyMaryAnnHoag
Henry&Lenny
Above:Curtpreparingfor theshuttle.
Left:MartyonNarrows Rapid,HudsonRiverGorge.
Ourweekofadventuretookusonfive rivers.Andwhatanadventureitwas.
Asawarmupfortheweek,Curt GellermanandIpaddledtheIndian RiverandHudsonRiverGorge,a Class4tripI'vebeenrunningfor35 years,butthatstillgivesmethat butterfliesinthestomachfeeling. Thenextmorning,weheadedupto Quebecforarunontherapidsofthe Petite-NationRiver.
Thenextday,wepickedupArthur,an immigrationlawyerfromOttawa,then drovetoQuebectomeetourtrip leader,Dave,aparamedicwitha countyambulancesquad.
Wespentthenightattheshuttle service’scampground,thenourdriver tookustotheput-in,a35hrsschlepto theDumoineRivernearLacBenoît.For thenextfourdays,wepaddledClass2 and3rapidswithcanoesladendown withtents,sleepingbags,camping equipmentandfood.
Ourlastdayofpaddlinghadno whitewater,butitwasthemost challenging.Fromthemouthofthe DumoineRiver,weskirtedthenorth shoreoftheOttawaRiver,battlinga headwindforfourmiles,untilwereturned toourcarsatDumoineValleyGuides.
heLakeMeacham/Weekof Rivertripsinthemore remotenorthernAdiron dacks(DAKS)startedin2019, whenDonGetzinofferedAMCa five-daytriponflatwaterrivershe hadexploredasaleaderforADK andtheprestigiousPaulSmith’s College.
Eightofhisoldpaddlingbuddies, mostlyformerorcurrentwhitewater paddlers,signedup.Donchose MeachamLakeCampgroundand paddlingvenues;EileenYin organizedreservationsandlogistics; CharlesMichenerhauledmassive loadsofClubgear;variouschefs broughtdinners;andtheeveryone pitchesintraditionbegan.
Theriverswerescenicwildflowers, wildlife,birdsbutweresometimes challenging.
“There’sreallyariverhere?”we askedonaboathaulingbushwhack thatDonclaimedwouldleadtoa put-inontheLowerOsgood.
In2020,weweredeterminedto repeat,despiteCovidrestrictions. Dondevisedacontactfreewayto dogroupdinners,andthe desperatelyneededrespitefrom Covidconfinementwason.Some newpeopleevenjoinedthatyear.
Wepaddled(walked?)theUpper Salmonforthefirstandlasttime; afterthefirstdozencarryovers,I losttrackofhowmanydowned treeswepulledoverandaround
In2021,thegroupwasabitlarger–someold-timers,someoflastyear’s newfriends,somenewcomers.
In2022,Donbecameillshortly beforethetrip,butEileen,Loretta, MaryAnnandChrissteppedinto sharetheleadershipjobs,withnew Leader-In-TrainingPaulRivers addinghishelp
Itallworkedoutverysmoothly ThanksespeciallytoLorettaand Eileen,whowentuptwodays earlytoscoutpotentialputins, takeoutsandwaterlevelsforthe fivedaysThissparingusabelated surprisediscoverythat,yes,some accesspointswerenowofflimits: woodsabundantlypostednow againsttrespassing;privateroads nowvigilantlypolicedbycitizen scolders.
Withfivenewfolkwehopewill joinusagain,weallenjoyedthis year’sgrowing,larger-sizegroup.
Adelightfulweekclosedwiththe newTarpFoldingCeremony.
JillontheAugust2022DAKStrip. PhotobyMaryAnnHoag.
