18 bodies of water, 15 portages...this trip is only for the brave of heart and light of gear!
The trip will be 4 days and 3 nights of arduous paddling and portaging through some wild and wonderful backcountry, the likes of which most people will never see in their lives. There are no motors (not even electric ones) allowed in the St. Regis Canoe Area; neither are there trails, besides the numerous portages which we will use to traverse this wilderness which seems as much water as woodlands. Once we get past the first portage or two, we likely won't see or hear any other humans for the next few days. Lots of the trips that ZSNY puts together are fun for people of all ages and experience levels...this trip is not (although we'll be hosting plenty of those in Spring/Summer 2010 as well).
In order to participate in this trip, you must be in good physical shape, experienced both paddling and portaging canoes/kayaks, able to paddle and/or carry your gear and boat for miles each day, and willing to rely on your gear/skills/experience/friends for days at a time in one of the wildest places left in the Northeast.
Nitty Gritty
Location: We'll be meeting on the afternoon/evening of Thursday, May 20th, at Hoel Pond., and shuttle a few cars to the endpoint of the trip to wait for us (probably on Friday morning). The boat launch has some wonderful campsites by the water, which will allow us to enjoy the place and get and early start the next morning. The coordinates for the parking area are approximately N 44 20.822 W 074 20.669. We'll have a relaxed morning of prep and planning before a "Paddles Wet" time of 10am on Friday, May 21st. We'll paddle the route as indicated in the map above, and end up at the far end of Lower Saint Regis Lake 3 days, 15 portages, and 18 bodies of water later.
Required Clothes: Warm clothes (fleece and poly-pro a plus), wind/water resistant/proof outer layer, hats/gloves/socks...we'll need to pack light, but also with the possiblity of below-freezing nights in mind, water-shoes, quick-drying shorts.
Required Paddling Gear: A boat (or space in a boat) that you will be willing/able to carry for 15 portages, varying in length from 50 feet to just under 2 miles; also: PFD, paddle, dry-bags, boatline.
Required Other Gear: Tent or hammock or space in someone else's , sleeping bag (rated down to 30-ish degrees, it could get down into the 20s), cookset (everything needed to cook your food and purify water)
Required Food: lots of calories, lots of fat, lot of protein...done light...this likely means dehydrated food, as you will have to carry everything we eat for the whole trip on your back (along with your boat) (we can talk about this more as the dates get closer)
Any other gear and clothes and food (and drink) that you are able to bring and/or interested in testing out will be great and add to the fun and learning...
Weather: Ranging from warm to cold, sunny to rainy...maybe in the air (sometimes freezing rain)...historically, we can expect average temperatures to range from the mid 30s to the mid 60s (with records temperatures both higher and lower by a considerable amount)...below you will find the current weather in the PortageFest Area...
Useful Weblinks:
Bear-Bagging Information
St. Regis Canoe Outfitters - Lots of good info and gear/canoe for rent or sale
Zombie Squad Forums Thread - an ongoing thread on the ZS forums
Important Note:
For those with concerns about their abilities/gear in paddling/portaging, let me point out a couple of things: we'll leave our vehicles and likely cell service once we're "Paddles Wet" on Friday morning until Sunday around Lunchtime, when we get in range of the cell-tower at Paul Smiths College on Lower Saint Regis Lake; ZSNY has historically done a good job of taking care of our own on these sort of trips; I'm familiar enough with the area that if someone is injured, I can head out with one other paddler, and leave the rest of the party with the injured person to wait for the life-flight to land on the nearest pond.
What we will be doing
Thursday, May 20th, 2010 -
- Arrive in the Afternoon/Evening
- Set up camp
- Enjoy the actual company of people you previously only know through the internet in a beautiful setting by Hoel Pond
- Watch Zombie movies
Friday, May 21st, 2010 -
- Headcount
- Breakfast and break Camp
- Shuttle some cars to Lower Saint Regis
- "Paddles Wet" by 10am
- Paddle into the St. Regis Canoe Area
- Lunch/paddling/portages
- Set up camp at the end of Long Pond, next to the long portage
Saturday , May 22nd, 2010 -
- Headcount
- Breakfast and break camp
- Portage and paddling
- Set up camp in the back of beyond
- Headcount
- Breakfast and break camp
- Portage and paddling
- Lunch at the end of Lower Saint Regis Lake, and tearful farewells
How much will it cost?
Nothing
How do I sign up?
It's easy!...send an email to me jsheffield@gmail.com expressing your interest in attending, and post in the thread on ZS.
Other points of interest:
Alcohol - The legal drinking age will be observed. If you drink we ask that you drink responsibly.
Drugs - We will not be able to hold/administer/supply any form of medication, including anything as minor as aspirin, so be sure to bring your own. We will not tolerate any illegal drug use on the camping trip.
Medical and Emergency Information - We will ask that everyone attending the trip fill out a medical information form and emergency contact sheet (HERE!), and bring that in a sealed envelope; in this way we can help to insure everyone's safety without compromising any private information .
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