Morning on Forked Lake
Our first paddle strokes today
18 miles / 29 km - Lean-to on Forked Lake - Lost Channel campsite on the Raquette River
Sunny
A day of mixed fortunes. This evening as I write my diary I am now going CRAZY standing in the middle of a cloud of black flies.
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Morning on Forked Lake |
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Our first paddle strokes today |
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The day did not start too well, the bearing on our canoe cart melted on the portage on the road from Forked Lake to Raquette River.
At least it was a warm and sunny start to the day. The portage around Buttermilk falls went easily and was more the type of portaging we are accustomed to; short portages around rapids or waterfalls on forest paths.
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Buttermilk Falls |
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Finishing the portage at Buttermilk Falls |
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After a short paddle, we approached the section of class II rapids which we shot. The rapids are in 3 sections. We first ferried over River L, got out, inspected and planned a route. After the first drop we ferried out R, inspected and short ferrying out R yet again.
The last drop we only inspected from the boat; most of the water was on river R and we picked our way down. We did not hit a single rock, so we were quite chuffed when we got to the bottom.
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Approaching the rapids below Buttermilk Falls |
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The Class II rapid after the falls |
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We arrived in Long Lake around 1 pm and got out for some lunch. Hurray, we have done our first section
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Lunch at Long Lake town beach |
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Signing the register |
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In Long Lake we rang Regis Canoe outfitters and asked if they had a canoe cart in stock. They have a cart and will reserve it for us until we get to Saranac Lake. We will just have to carry everything over the portages between here and Saranac Lake.
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