Well, we tried. We waited for the rain to stop on Wednesday, and by the time we got on the water it was late. We paddled for a half hour, and realized that at our pace, we would not make the island campground until late, so we returned to Old Forge and extended our hotel stay.



On Thursday morning we put in further down the chain and spent some time paddling around 4th lake, including the narrow passage (above) into 3rd lake. Then back to Old Forge and the water park.



Friday we spent some time at the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake. They have lots of boats here, from Wee Lassies (by Henry Rushton) the ancestor of our skin-on-frame canoes, to Adirondack Guide Boats, one of which was being built in the shop on the premises.



When I was a kid, I thought the guideboat was just a canoe with oars, but it is so much more. In this photo, despite the no-flash limitations at the museum, you can see the dramatic shear of the gunwale, the flare of the sides and the pivoting yoke that allows the boat to be portaged easily. What you can't see is the precise fitting and many nails that make the boat sturdy, yet light.



Here is a link to Cape Falcon Kayaks with steps in building a skin-on-frame guideboat.
Below: a canoe rigged for sail, and a metal, bolt-together boat made to be transported in a car.

Off to the Adirondacks

Heading out to do the first four lakes of the Fulton Chain, the start of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.

Guilder Pond

For my birthday, my wife gave me a book entitled Water Trails of Western Massachusetts, by Charles W.G. Smith and published by Appalachian Mountain Club Books.

In it is described this modest trip to Guilder Pond on the shoulder of Mt Everett in Mt Washington, Massachusetts. I had visited here many times as a boy, but had not been back for ages. It is a beautiful spot. I was also lucky enough to be joined by the fellow below, though I had to be stealthy to get anywhere near him.

August Paddling

Haven't been out much this summer, but today I did a section of the Housatonic, from the old covered bridge in Sheffield north to the Green River and back . Had to work for it, against a strong current in places, but the return trip was speedy. Seven plus miles round trip. Saw one snow white egret and a Great Blue Heron.

Slide show in left column.