St. Regis Canoe Area

[riverstrider]

I'm planning on doing an August trip to do the 9-carries route through the St. Regis area. I had a couple questions that I posted on another forum, but figured I'd ask the true locals here.

While I have an option to borrow a lightweight tandem (Mrs. Riverstrider is joining me), one option I considered was using my Swiss-type canoe cart. The general consensus was that this would work OK between Little Clear and St. Regis, and perhaps even all the way to Fish, but that the other carries (particularly Nellie to Long Pond) would not be cartable. Opinions?

Also, anyone ever have problems with bears if appropriate precautions are taken (cooking away from tent site, hanging food or placing it away from heavily used areas, etc.)?

Any info is appreciated.

Oh, and I know about the typical August crowds, but hoping to keep problems to a minimum by doing a mid-week trip and choosing a camp early each day.

-Chuck

[St.Regis]

Nellie and Bessie to Long is not a trail for a canoe cart. Lots of swampy stretches and I found the cart to be a real hindrance on this carry. Have to go through a couple beaver ponds along this route too. Overhead is much better on this particular carry.

[Msample]

In over 20 years of going to the SRCA, I have never seen a bear . Hanging food is still a good idea though, as smaller critters are pretty common.

[kayakrski]

FYI-There is another thread here concerning the long pond to nellie carry being blocked by extensive blowdown.

[riverstrider]

Pretty much what I figured from the responses so far. Thanks for the affirmation!

And kayakrski: Yup, saw that thread. I have a questiopn posted on that thread too regarding whether the trails are maintained with some regularity or whether I should be prepared to deal with the same blowdowns that are there now.

Be good!

-rs

[Connecticut Yankee]

If you want solitude then take that portage with blowdowns and swamps, talk up the mosquitoes too, that way you'll have that solitude. And no, I've never had bear problems either in the SRCA, I think they are all down at the Fish Creek campgrounds, easy pickins at the big state campground.
Even in August in the SRCA once you get 3-4 portages behind you it isn't to crowded and the people you do see are like minded folks, the beer coolers and boom boxes are at the drive up camp sites.

John M. A Connecticut Yankee

[John P]

Several years ago some friends of mine had an encounter with an aggressive bear at Ochre Pond (between St Regis and Fish Ponds). Not aggressive in the sense that the animal attacked humans, but it invaded their campsite and evidently expected that they'd abandon the place and let it ransack their food supplies. They had to poke the bear with a bundle of tent poles before it would back off, and the way they told the story, there was definite physical contact between weapon and bear. It sounds like a classic case of a bear that learned to harass humans in order to get food, which isn't good for people or bears. But it was a fair while ago, so it's not too likely that the same animal is still around.