Smoothy in the North Country

Broad Street Bridge Wave was at a good level so Alex and I decided to test drive two new toys.

Well its official, I have a new favorite playboat. I was nervous it would not fit my size (6ft, 34" inseam and size 12's) but it is comfortable. Alex even felt the same and he is much small than me. The boat comes up to speed fast and rides high on a wave. Taking the six inches off the boat (from the RAD195) has opened up a new world of maneuverability and play. The color scheme looks great. Anyone interested in one of these boats email me to check it out.

Also, I am now representing Nookie Kayak Equipment and have their kicka$$ RiverMonster Rescue PFD. This thing is built to last and comes with all the necessary features and even some creature comforts like a waterproof drybag for you stuff that fits perfectly in the front pocket. Again any interest in checking either the Smoothy or RiverMonster out shoot me an email.

Dont Know What Happened Here...Neither Does Alex

Sporting a New Ride and PFD, I am actually not mad

Drysuit and PFD Testing

Missed the hole I was aiming for, but both worked Great

He is Angry

Cheers,
~Jason

Working out the Kinks..

Early season ice still above the eddy

More ice above the eddy, this was gone the very next day

First two days on the river since the winter. The wave underneath the bridge here on the local Saranac River was up due to the series of warm days we had so Alex and I decided to work out the kinks blow off some work and school and get our season started. Alex jumped right in as if he had never left a boat, me on the other hand had some warming up to do.

Alex plugging deep for a loop, hit bottom though

Take Me Down To Cartwheel City, Where the Water is Cold, and The Ice is Pretty

Working out some serious kinks, felt like my first time in a boat....Ever (Guess we all have those days)

Alex showing me up in my own boat, Thanks Man

Day three was too damn cold to take pictures, it was raining and about forty degrees. With the water temperature only mid to high thirties we were only on the river for an hour, of course that was my best day on the river so far this season. Hopes are high to get back in boating shape. More to come.
Cheers,
~Jason

They called it...Margaritaville

Proud sponors: Lowe Alpine....just kidding

The Triple Drop from downstream

Don't really know what Alex was doing there

So Alex and I took a drive up to a new section of the Saranac River that a kayaking friend of ours who ran it last year for what we all believe is that first time calls Margaritaville (not that Margaritaville). Now we were unable to determine how he arrived at this name, but at least for lower water the paddling was good. Basically, you put in at the foot of Kent Falls dam and bump and grind your kayak all the way down to the first significant drop. The water just pours over a triple set of shelfs and funnels straight into a rock slab shoot and out into a pool. At higher flows this triple drop has a nasty hole at the bottom of it, but it was fine to play in today. From the pool you cruise up to a 30foot slide bounce down that and you are home free. At higher flows this section though short has some nasty spots that you can get caught up in, but today it was just a sweet little ride.

The First part of the Triple Drop (The landing was softer than expected)

About to go over the third and final drop sideways and land on my head
(saved it though)

Alex moving down smoothly

Alex finishing up on the final drop (just going over the ledge here)

Really must have been Margaritaville, we found these crazy boats in hiding from us in the woods

Cheers,
~Jason

Canoe Camping --First Time Impressions

So I had to laugh when at my BCU Level 1 Coaching course Phil Hadley made it a point to mention that the United States especially the Adirondacks are know as the Canoe Capitol. All we are supposed to do is Canoe really, (British side humor). Anyways finally caught a break from the graduate work and managed to take my girlfriend canoe camping with me. It was her first time camping and canoeing ever and aside from a some steering issues, a unplanned four mile hike, busted stove pump, dinner in the dark and very wet firewood, she had a great time. I told her she got the full wilderness experience, at least it was nice and warm at night.

Leaving Valcour Conference Center (Getting Used to the Steering)

Campsite on Valcour Island (Luxury Camping if you ask me, picnic table, fire pit and all)

Unplanned four mile hike as the sun was going down to bring water and fuel to some friends also staying on the island (so much for them coming to us)

Busted Stove Fuel Pump (bummer)

Warmth, light, and a good replacement when your stove pump cracks and leaks

Worlds Finest, Idohoan Loaded Baked Instant Potatoes and Price Chopper Brand Stuffing

View from our tent vestibule in the morning

Leaving the next morinng after an amazingly warm night

Cheers,
~Jason

Discouraging Day on a Low River

Finally caught a break from my Grad school work and was able to get into a boat today, unfortunately everything in my area was running to low so I decided to float the (not so mighty) Saranac River behind our campus. Low water or not paddling is paddling, I was hoping with the day of rain we had yesterday it would have risen a bit so I put on behind my dorm and just went with the flow so to speak. Quickly, I became discouraged at the level of carelessness that this river was being treated with. The amount of trash I found (and what it was) was appalling.

The Saranac is a huge way point for those traveling the Northern Forest Canoe Trail and its disheartening that this river seems to continually be a dumping ground for anything from old bikes to daily trash. My plan is to grab my creeker and some rope with some buddies and collect some of this trash hopefully before the winter hits, which in Plattsburgh its already coming.



SIDE NOTE: Bliss-Stick-USA.com is officially launched, check it out.

Cheers,
~Jason