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Published: August 19th 2007
Day One on the NFCT
Photo by Melanie Kimbler-Lago, Darrin's extraordinary photojournalist sisterDarrin began his journey on Sunday, August 12th, on the Fulton Chain of Lakes near Old Forge, New York, in the heart of the Adirondacks. He had flown from Chicago to Syracuse, and his sister Melanie had brought him to his put-in on Lake One of the Fulton Chain. Melanie and her husband Tim paddled the Fulton Chain with him for a couple of hours, and then headed back home, leaving Darrin as a solo traveler.
From there, his first week on the water trail was the typical mix of ups and downs that one expects when embarking on an extended wilderness journey.
On the upside, he enjoyed quiet time, and was surrounded by the majestic high peaks of the Adirondacks. He happily navigated fun class two rapids, and camped under starry skies. His solitude was punctuated by interesting encounters with locals and other paddlers. In Long Lake Village, he found a little kosher food stand and enjoyed kosher dogs, prepared just as you'd find on the streets of NYC. On crowded Saranac Lake, he shared a campsite with interesting people - a couple from Vermont and a family from Russia. In Saranac Lake Village, he spent a night
The Stuff
All the worldly possessions needed for 50 days and 740 miles. at Hotel Saranac, and got to know the folks at St. Regis, the local paddling outfitter.
No wilderness trip is without it's discomforts, but discomforts are what make a trip feel like an accomplishment. Darrin’s first night was marked by the availability of an Adirondack shelter, an open-air roofed structure that offers a reprieve from the chore of erecting a tent. His reprieve officially ended when the fourth mouse ran across his forehead! On his second day out, Darrin completed his first two long portages, one of which brought him to the highest elevation he would reach over the whole span of the NFCT. This portage delivered not only great views, but also a couple of colorful portage-pack-strap bruises to his hips, as well as Chaco-strap burns to his feet. No one ever said this journey would be painless.
The downside of the first week was really not bad in the scheme of things. On day eight of paddling, August 18th, Darrin got to a stretch of the Saranac River where there was quite literally no water in the river. After three miles of dragging his canoe from puddle to puddle across the riverbed, it was time to
Bottle Gentian
At start of Raquette Falls Portage yield to the inevitable. He called St. Regis, the outfitter he'd met earlier, and arranged a highway shuttle to Plattsburgh, New York, on the shore of the vast Lake Champlain. He stayed in Plattsburgh for a couple of days, until the post office opened, and he could retrieve his first mail drop of supplies (sent by Eve...). The layover is a little bit of a bummer, but really, he was fine with it. In Plattsburgh, he met the staff of the Kayak Shack, who kindly shuttled him, and stored his canoe, both at no charge. Also, Plattsburgh had two restaurants listed on Wine Spectator Magazine's awards list, so you can imagine where he spent his time.
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Cat Pippitt
non-member comment
Happy Paddling!
I am so envious of your independence! Glad you're having an adventure. I'll keep watching your blog (I've linked it on mine), and look forward to hearing "war stories" in person when you return. Bon Voyage! Cat