23rd Adk Canoe Classic

[Glen L]

aka "the 90 Miler" begins Fri, 9-9 @ 8AM on Old Forge beach w/ launching of the Open Touring class. 10 additional waves totalling 250 boats to follow all bound for Blue Mt L beach 35 m away. Four carries (3.5m total) offer a chance for leg streching.
Day #2 begins on Long L 2.5m S. of causeway/bridge & finishes 33m later @ "Crusher", the state boat launch on Raquette R. E of Wabeek. Only 1 carry, the 1.25 hump around Raquette Falls
Day 3 travels 22m from Fish Crrek campground thru Saranac Lakes to L Flower. 3 carries of .6m total
If you're in area might be worth a look. Can watch race portions from various hikable hi points on rte (Bald, Black Bear & others N of Fulton chain; Castle Rock. Owl's head, Ampersand, Seward Range ........)

[ALGonquin Bob]

I can't stop myself...

I did the 90-Miler in September '01 and enjoyed it very much. I would like to paddle in it again, but made a promise to myself that I'd buy a better (faster) canoe first. I haven't done that yet, as I've been busy HIKING since Nov.'01, and haven't done much paddling. I do miss my canoe trips.

For example: I paddle my canoe up a river or across lovely lakes, enjoying the scenery and maybe see some loons or an osprey. Arriving at a beautiful waterside site, I set up my tent, sit in my chair, look out across the water, maybe read a little, eat and DRINK BEER! After a day or two of this, I leisurely paddle back to the car and go home in a very relaxed mood.

Hiking trip: I drive up after work, arrive at the trail head around midnight, and sleep in my car. Next day I get up early and hit the trail. I hike to a summit or summits (maybe even have a view), and hike out after dark. After a second night sleeping in the car, I drive home. A different kind of fun, and a lot of work. Must... hike... mountain...

I miss canoeing!

[Kevin]

A different kind of fun, and a lot of work. Must... hike... mountain...

I miss canoeing!

This weekend was a pure 'relaxation' weekend for me. I need that time off from hiking peaks every now and then. I'm already working on plans for my next (and possibly final) paddle for the year. Spent $1200+ on kayaking gear this past year and haven't been out too many times. I know in time I'll get my money's worth, but if I don't put some extra effort into tearing myself away from the mountains I may never get on the water again.

Paddling is definitely a different kind of outdoors experience, and one that I am growing to appreciate more and more. As percious says regularly, you really can't understand and appreciate Nature unless you spend a few nights in it. I really do see and hear more sitting quietly in the woods than I do rushing through them on a peak bagging mission. It's true that if I do a lot of peaks there's a cumulative effect of time in the woods, but animals hear or feel me coming long before I see them... so I rarely get to experience the wildlife I see while being still somewhere secluded.

[rondak100]

kevin wrote, and quoted:

" "you really can't understand and appreciate Nature unless you spend a few nights in it." I really do see and hear more sitting quietly in the woods than I do rushing through them on a peak bagging mission. It's true that if I do a lot of peaks there's a cumulative effect of time in the woods, but animals hear or feel me coming long before I see them... so I rarely get to experience the wildlife I see while being still somewhere secluded."

Sitting totally silent while hunting is a great experience (it really has nothing to do with the hunting, (shooting time is a major natural-buzz-killer). Sitting in a climbing tree stand is an added bonus.

I had a squirrell bring a green apple , twenty feet up a tree, 8 or ten feet from me, and start snacking. It was amazing. I was wondering where the apple came from; I saw him stashing them around the ground below. I then heard a thud; I realized it was an apple hitting the ground about 200 feet away from me. I would never have heard it, or realized it was an apple, if I didn't have 4 hours trying to figure out where the squirrell was getting the damn apples. I does'nt seem like much, but to me it was a wonderous morning. When I returned in the late afternoow, several does came down and were trying to kick apples out of their hiding places. No doe tags so I just watched in amusement. A few puzzle pieces slowly came together that day.
Slow can really be the way to go sometimes.

mike

[Kevin]

Mike, yesterday I was asking Val if I could go hunting with her sometime. I'm not into killing things for sport (I like target shooting with guns and that's it)... But I won't complain about having deer for dinner!

I was thinking along the lines of what you were saying, and the stories others have shared about sitting in a tree stand for hours and seeing numerous species of animal come and go. As a child I remember watching bugs and such for a long time, curious about their behavior. I probably have a little biologist in me. I still watch and take photos of things when hiking, but mostly insects and flowers as they have a harder time 'getting away'.