Wilderness & Peace: Adirondacks Canoe Adventure

For a few memorable days. we will camp and canoe on several placid ponds with fairly easy and gentle currents in the St. Regis area of the spectacular Adirondack Mountains. We'll spend a few hours each day paddling on the pristine waterways, including brief portages where we will carry our two-person canoes from one pond to another (less than 1/4 mile each) before enjoying campfire dinners. We will use a local outfitter but must bring much of our equipment and supplies.

The Adirondacks is a vast 6 million-acre New York State preserve abounding with birds and wildlife. Encounters with bears cannot be ruled out so group must take precautions. Moose, eagles, beavers, otters, rabbits, and bats are often sighted along with a variety of birds of prey, perching birds, and waterfowl. The sounds of nature and tranquility will surround us as we leave city noises far behind us. Cell phone reception is not available in most of the Adirondacks Park.

Please REGISTER BY AUG 12th * Participants should be confident paddlers and comfortable and experienced staying in a primitive camping environment with no running water, electricity, or restrooms. Our group will rent two-person canoes (and certain equipment) from St. Regis Outfitters on Floodwood Pond; a 50% non-refundable deposit is required to hold our reservation. On Thursday evening, group stays one night at the basic no-frills Tupper Lake Motel prior to starting the canoe trip. Please register early so that we can reserve rooms and canoes as well as coordinate transportation. Some car space may be available for NYC participants.
Outfitter & motel links: https://www.canoeoutfitters.com & http://tupperlakemotel.com/index.html

Our planned itinerary (subject to change):

DAY 1 (Thursday 9/12/19): Travel with local restaurant dinner, arrive at motel for overnight stay in Tupper Lake.

DAY 2: After an early morning breakfast, we'll head to the outpost to pickup and load our equipment on the canoes for a short paddle to one of the primitive campsites. After setting up, we will paddle around the pond to get familiar with the environment that we'll camp in.

DAY 3: After breakfast, we'll head out on a gentle 5 to 6-hour paddle around the region, enjoying the endless beauty around us. Back at camp for some R & R before dinner. If the temperature is still comfortable, we can swim.

DAY 4: A morning of paddling down a short waterway, the same one from the day before, and try to get to another nearby scenic pond. We'll return back to the campsite by noon to breakdown and paddle with our supplies back to the outpost before returning home by carpool.

All participants must bring their own supplies, food, and enough water for 2.5 wilderness days (suggested: 2.5 gallons for cooking/drinking) or bring water purification kit. backpack, tent. sleeping bag, light, toilet paper, knife, rope, flashlight, small cooler for perishable food, dry bag(s), and waterproof day pack. Cooking supplies should include: spoon, dish, waterproof matches/lighter, and heating unit for boiling water/cooking. * REGISTER BY 8/12 * NOTE: as there are space and weight limits on shared canoes, please simplify!  Please be aware that although we will eat together each camper will be responsible for their own meals. All soap/detergent/hygiene products must be harmless to the environment. Do not bring anything with a fragrance as it may draw bugs and animals. Your potable water must last for the duration with care and conservative use. Please bring only the clothes you need, swim trunks, and waterproof jacket/pants. Nights are expected to be in the 30s/40s. This is a rain or shine trip sponsored by Sundance and GO.  The trip cost is approx. $350