NFCT Map 1: Eighth Lake to Long Lake

Date(s): Sept 29th - 30th, 2007
Paddlers: Deb and JR

Campsites:
Sept 29th - Raquette Lake

Trail Info:
(1) Take caution on the floating bridge on the way out to Brown's Tract. Some sections sink when you step on them and they are slippery! I caught my toe between 2 boards when I slid on one.
(2) We found it hard to spot the carry from Raquette Lake to Forked Lake. It looks like someone's gravel driveway but there is a sign there.

Paddle Report:
After squashing my toe between the boards in the walkway to Browns Tract, I enjoyed the winding stream and the beaver dams we got to paddle over. We had a lot of fun paddling as hard as we could to get on top of the dam and then slide our way over. The best one was very close to Raquette Lake. That one had about a foot drop on the other side. Good thing we didn't try to do this section the other way!

Raquette Lake was amazing. I have been out there before in a motor boat - what a difference! The lake started out pretty calm as we paddled to the northern end where we would camp. It is a big lake so sometimes it doesn't feel like you're making any progress even when the lake is calm. We got about 2/3rds of the way up the lake and there is land on either side jutting into the water making a narrower channel. As we went through that, the wind picked up and the lake on the other side of that channel was not calm at all! There were some decent white caps that made the paddling quite exciting. The only problem is that the wind was against us (surprise, surprise) and then we really didn't feel like we made any progress. You couldn't stop paddling for an instant or you would get pushed backward. It was exciting and exhilarating for a little while and then it just got tiring. We hadn't really eaten anything all day and we couldn't wait to get to camp. It was right there, we could see it. But we just kept paddling and we still weren't there. Eventually we made it and boy was I glad to get out of that kayak and stop paddling for a minute!!

The next day we paddled just a short distance to the carry. We were looking around trying to spot the take out location when a man out on his dock pointed us in the right direction. We got out next to someone's camp on what looked like a gravel driveway, got our wheels on and headed over to Forked Lake. That's where one of my wheels started coming loose. JR found a rock for a hammer and we had to periodically stop and tap the wheel back into place. We made it to Forked lake and it was beautiful and secluded. That was my favorite spot of this trip. Then JR discovered that it echoed really well there too!

Next came all the carries on the Raquette River. Not my favorite part. The water level was pretty low so even when we were in the water, we were scraping bottom quite a lot. Especially JR since he has all the heavy gear. The carry around Buttermilk falls was quite an interesting one. It's pretty short but took us a decent amount of time. A short walk uphill and then I looked down...way down. Hmmm...I see the river down there so I think we have to go all the way down there! So JR was the anchor and held the back of my kayak as I went ahead and "steered" the nose down the hill. We just slid it along the ground and got it down to the shore. Then we went back up the hill and did the same with his boat. We got back in the river and were trying to decide on the last carry. The map said to carry around or to scout the class II rapids. We were both tired on carries for the day and decided to run it. Again the water level was low so JR scratched bottom more than he floated. I had a couple good runs where I got enough speed to scoot my way over the scratchy parts. I was having a blast! I stopped to wait for JR to catch up. When he arrived, he went past and then I followed up behind him. Almost immediately he got stuck again. There were rocks across the river on either side and he had gotten himself stuck sideways, blocking the only possible route. As I back paddled to give him time to get free, the current grabbed my tail and pushed me over into a log where then I got stuck!! Since the log was sticking out into the river there was actually more water than a couple inches right here. As I pushed my weight down on the cockpit to get out, the water started rushing in. Ah! Thank goodness for the bilge pump! The water came in quicker than I could get out and the whole thing filled up. JR and I ended up taking turns on the bilge pump to empty it out. The water in that spot was still only about a foot deep so we were in no real danger but it sure was fun and I'll never forget it! Next time I'll remember not to wait for JR and if he gets stuck in front of me, I'll just have to ram him! Ha Ha!

Then we got out to Long Lake and had a relaxing paddle back to the boat launch.

NFCT Map 1: First Lake to Eighth Lake

Date(s): July 27th - 29th, 2007
Paddlers: Deb, JR, Rich B., Jeff F., Loretta G.

Campsites:
July 27th - Bald Mountain Colony (Third Lake) at a friend's camp
July 28th - Seventh Lake across from the Boat Launch

Trail Info: Good condition, no updates.

Paddle Report:

Click here for pictures from Rich's disposable waterproof camera.

Our first overnight trip with our kayaks. As we were trying to get our gear together and start off, it begain to pour rain as hard as you can imagine. Jeff, Loretta and Rich took cover under a nearby covered pedestrian bridge while JR and I continued to get everything ready to go. Finally the rain subsided and we set off. The whole trip was a mix of rain and sun but we enjoyed it none the less.

Jeff, Loretta and Rich all had smaller recreational boats so they had to paddle almost constantly to make progress. However, JR and I had 14' kayaks and we found the pace to be bit slow since our boats but through the water much faster with less effort. So we just stopped for lots of snack breaks! JR's infamous cracker, summer sausage, ring of yellow mustard and then Tabasco in the middle. Kind of weird but very yummy!

JR's homemade wheels worked well and came in very handy on the carries. While the others grumbled, we just wheeled our boats along! The second night we stayed on Seventh Lake. As we got set up it started to rain again. That's when we figured out another peice of gear to bring, a tarp! Being used to backpacking, JR and I had all this space left in out kayaks, so why not bring a tarp to put up in case it rained? (Although we have brought one since and not used it yet!!)

Later, after a wonderful dinner made by our gourmet chef (Jeff) we went out on the lake for an evening paddle. The saw a few loons and Rich almost got attacked by one as he unintentionally got between the mother and baby. We could hear the water still dripping in the trees onto our camp but it was not raining on the lake anymore.

The next morning Jeff, Loretta and Rich paddled over to the Seventh Lake boat launch and got out there to avoid a 1 mile carry without wheels. Rich met us back at Eighth Lake where he paddled around for a while with us. Jeff and Loretta started home. It was a great trip where we learned what ourselves and our boats could do as well as what "fun extras" to pack. Next time will be even better!