Vessel: 12' Wilderness Pungo Kayak (vs. Wenonah Minnesota II Kevlar Canoe)
Mileage: 14.4
Weather: 43ยบ at 10 a.m., a wintry mix of rain and sleet lasting all day
Portages: 2
Wore: Polarfleece long johns, rain pants, 1 wool sock under 1 waterproof sock, sleeveless tank, black paddle shirt, neoprene shirt, rain jacket, pfd, new waterproof gloves
Year Two: Repaddling the NFCT in Sections
Original Plan: Solo Paddle from Saranac Lake to Union Falls Pond Dam on first day; meet up with sectional paddlers Chris and Kalmia to hit another section of the Saranac River together the next day.
After a waterless spring with river levels running low, a week of rain turned below normal water to flood conditions. Put in at St. Regis in Saranac Lake in rain later turning into sleet. The bank sign indicated it was 43 degrees at 10 a.m. as I paddled under the Broadway Street Bridge. With only 10" or so of headroom, I had to carry around LaDuke Bridge* vs. paddle under it.
All the rapids within this stretch were smoothed out. Water was swift, but mostly filled the adjacent flood plains vs. creating any additional hazards. As usual, I worried about missing the take-outs and I ended up taking out one riverside stop too soon by Permanent Rapids. Should have reread my own blog posting first. The correct portage is past the first obvious take-out, then a riverside campsite to a second roadside take-out, identifiable by the weathered 18" cross nailed to the tree. This added maybe .25 to .4 miles to the walk--which was okay on a day such as it was. Walking brought heat and circulation back to my fingers. My rain gear and long underwear kept me dry and warm enough, but my fingers remained cold.
Passed one roadside DEC campsite while walking the 1.2 miles to the Franklin Falls put-in. This is mostly an uphill walk on level pavement until descending to Franklin Falls Pond. Wheelable until trail back down to the lake. The lakeside campsite is very pretty, but heavily used. And Franklin Falls Pond was prettier than I remembered. Got across the lake in about 1 hour with a head wind. At one point, it was sleeting. Portaged the short distance to the Union Falls Pond put-in and was just ready to launch around 4:30, when Chris spots me while he was out about about checking on water conditions for tomorrow. After scouting the Casey Road Access, we head to Baker’s Acres where Sam set up camp and had brats cooking up ready for our guests. Kalmia and his two sons arrived at the same time Chris and I showed up. Winds were howling. Cold Wisconsin beer was not heartily consumed as originally envisioned a month earlier when dreams of Memorial Weekend paddling were being planned. Sam had a fire going, but we couldn’t hang out by it. Made a few s’mores, then headed to bed. Plan is to paddle from Kent Falls to Plattsburg tomorrow, which is the section that Chris and Kalmia "need" to check off there list.
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| All bundled up for a day on the water. Behind St. Regis. |
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| *La Duke Bridge. Three days later the water was up to the bridge decking. |
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| Looking back toward Whiteface Mountain from Franklin Falls take-out. |
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| Franklin Falls take-out. |
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| Franklin Falls Hydro Plant. |
