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3 day, 2 night paddling recommendations - late Sept / mid Oct

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  • 3 day, 2 night paddling recommendations - late Sept / mid Oct

    First, a big thanks to all of you for all of your information here! 3 of us are going out on either the last weekend of September, or if the weather is bad, the second weekend of October this year for a 2 night, 3 day paddle tour somewhere in the ADKs. We'll be taking a lightweight kevlar canoe, and a rather heavy touring kayak (65 lbs!). We do have a cart for the kayak (which I know won't help everywhere), so the plan would be for one person to carry the canoe and two carry the kayak. We'll probably have to make a second trip for gear. 2 of us are very experienced canoeists and the other an experienced kayaker. One of the party is built like a offensive lineman in his mid 50s, and a bit out of shape. That combined with the heavy kayak makes us target paddling routes that don't require many carries, and if there are some, no long carries. We are well equipped with overnight camping gear and 2 of us are very experienced outdoorsmen and campers.

    I have been to the ADKs several times, but it's the first time for 2 of us. We are looking for any suggestions as to good possible routes and start/end points. Aside from the minimal carry issue, we'd like decent campsite availability, good scenery, and good fishing would be a bonus. We are attracted to the newly opened Essex chain, but it looks like a mile in from the parking to the water.

    Any recommendations or observations would be very much appreciated!


    Thanks in advance,

    Broadwater

  • #2
    Heading up the Oswegatchie from Inlet sounds ideal for you. No carries, all campsites are waterside. You can either spend two nights at one site or split either the paddle out or return into two legs and spend each night in different spots. You'll probably have to lift over a few obstacles but nothing terrible if you take care.

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    • #3
      Long Pond is a .3 carry in on an old road, good fishing too, I'm told.
      Little Tupper Lake, no carries, unless you choose to visit Rock Pond, good fishing, but not for those native brookies anymore!
      Lows Lake has many, many sites, a very short carry and good fishing.
      Do you plan any other activities? Long and Lows have some excellent, short climbs with rewarding views...

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      • #4
        Srca

        I second Long Pond. There is a lot to do - hike up Long Pond mountain, try and get to Ledge pond, portage to other ponds in the are, etc. etc. I say ditch the kayak and rent a canoe from St Regis Canoe Outfitters so you can all make it up to Fish Pond or even St. Regis Pond. I was hoping to try the new Essex Chain but fires are not permitted - can't imagine camping (especially in the fall) without a fire.

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        • #5
          To get from Long Pond to Fish is a long & sometimes rough carry to Nellie, then one or two shorter carries before Fish.
          On the other hand, St Regis might be a good match for the request - after paddling across Little Clear from the boat ramp, there's a medium-length but very flat & easy carry to St. Regis Pond (which is beautiful).

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          • #6
            I just did a 20 mile, 3 day / 2 night trip with my son's boy scout troop 2 weekends ago.
            We started at the top of upper Saranac Lake to (small carry) Middle Saranac, 1st night camp. Then went onto Lower Saranac for night 2 camp. Then on day 3 we went all the way to Lake Flower where it ends up in the town of Saranac. It was a nice paddle and camp.

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            • #7
              3 day, 2 night paddling recommendations - late Sept / mid Oct

              These are extremely helpful, guys, thanks!! We want to keep hiking to a minimum (both with and without hauling boats and gear) in part due to concern for one person's fitness level. He'd be too big to carry out!!!

              If there are other thoughts or suggestions, please keep them coming!

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              • #8
                I would second the Low's Lake idea. Only one ( very short ) carry, plenty of campsites, good fishing. Plenty of side trips.

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                • #9
                  I think Floodwood would be a good spot. Easy put in and plenty of paddling without any carries. There are a few short carries to check out adjacent ponds as well.

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                  • #10
                    Ref, Essex Chain: 1/4 mile from parking to Deer Pond, another 1/2 mile to Third Lake which is connected to most of the others. Very doable with a wheel system but no fires on the lakeside campsites. You'll see the rules.

                    I'll also suggest St. Regis Canoe area or Lila to Lowes with some good bass fishing on Lowes.
                    Life's short, hunt hard!

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                    • #11
                      Thanks for all of the helpful suggestions, guys! The 2 canoe men took a test ride in the kevlar this weekend and quickly discovered it wasn't going to work (don't worry, they dried off fast . The result was a decision to go with the big old aluminum 17 footer. Whatever dreams we had of doing any kind of portaging died that day.

                      So, the plan now is to drive to the Indian Carry and enter the southern part of Upper Saranac Lake. Early on Day 1, we'll start to explore Upper, and see how far north we get, with maybe some paddles into adjacent ponds on the east and north end of the lake. Day 2 we are planning to devote to Middle and Lower Saranac Lakes, and on Day 3, we were thinking about using the car to portage the boats to Stony Creek Ponds and explore the Raquette River. We are debating whether to head towards the falls or towards Tupper Lake.

                      I had a few questions you may be able to help me with. Can we leave the car overnight at the north end of the Indian Carry? How long would the paddle take from Stony Creek to Tupper Lake or the falls?

                      If anyone has any campsite/leanto recommendations, please send them along. If there are any can't miss places to see, I'd love to hear them from you.

                      Thanks again!

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Hokay. 2 men went into the water trying a canoe.. That says something about their experience.

                        And now you plan on taking them in October on one of the largest and most dangerous lakes in the Adirondacks??

                        Get it people.. its not about the boat.. Its about YOU the paddler.

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                        • #13
                          3 day, 2 night paddling recommendations - late Sept / mid Oct

                          Yellow Canoe- I take your point, but these 2 have been canoeing for more than 40 years and have a lot of experience boating through the wilderness. Since I don't want to make this thread about their spill, I'll reply in detail to your post in PM. I take your post to be sincere and cautionary, and I do appreciate that.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by BroadWater View Post

                            I had a few questions you may be able to help me with. Can we leave the car overnight at the north end of the Indian Carry? How long would the paddle take from Stony Creek to Tupper Lake or the falls?

                            If anyone has any campsite/leanto recommendations, please send them along. If there are any can't miss places to see, I'd love to hear them from you.

                            Thanks again!
                            I won't make any comments about you or your colleagues' paddling experiences, but three days and two nights, I think, are ambitious plans for all of the options which you want to consider.
                            First, I don't know about overnight parking at the Upper Saranac/Indian Carry lot, but I do know that parking is OK at the Axton and Seward TH lots accessible from Corey's Rd. It's a little more than 6 miles upriver to the Falls from the Axton put in--and another 6 miles back if you plan to continue on to Tupper. From the Stony Creek Ponds/Indian Carry put in to Trombley Landing is about 9.5 miles. From Trombley Landing L-2 to the Moody launch south of Tupper is a bit above 9 miles, not allowing for mistakes at the oxbow and/or wrong turns. There are a number of L-2's between the one at Stony Creek and the Falls, and one at Trombley Landing. There is nothing downriver from Trombley except for the launch, with adequate parking, at the Crusher.
                            To include the Saranac Lakes and the Raquette would be a lot of intense paddling, especially in the normal wind conditions on those bodies of water. The Raquette, by itself, would be a more leisurely trip. If you've never been to the Falls, the up and down trip is definitely worth the effort.
                            "Days in the woods are days beyond time"--Paul Jamieson

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                            • #15
                              Thanks for the advice, Nutmeg. I have been feeling the same way, that we might be trying to do too much here. We have added a third night camping, so that will give us a bit more time, but I think all 3 of would prefer a relaxed pace. With that in mind, as well as some of the winds I've been hearing about on Upper Saranac, maybe we will keep off that lake entirely, unless we put in at Fish Creek and camp there one night at the state campground. We are all risk averse and are far from thrill seekers. I've been kayaking for 10 years now, and have managed to stay dry the whole time and stay out of tight spots largely due to knowing what my limits are.

                              Do you think there is enough to see on Middle and Lower to keep us occupied for 2 days, and then maybe take a shot at the trip down the Raquette to the falls and back on the third day?

                              If anyone else has some non windy suggestions, I'm all ears.


                              Thanks!

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