ZSNY PaddleFest 2009!

A group of ZSNY members from all over the Northeast USA (and in some cases, from outside that area) will be getting together for a paddling/camping trip from August 7 to 9 of 2009 in Northern New York. This will be a good chance to meet face to face, dodge banjo playing inbred northcountry denizens while paddling the flatwaters of the Adirondacks, test out our gear, and enjoy pleasant company and cocktails in the great outdoors.

We'll camp for 2 nights, paddle for 2 days, cover enough ground to see lots of beautiful lakes and ponds and streams and woods and wildlife, have enough free time to swim and fish and lounge and drink, and make up some amazing stories to tell friends and families when we get home.

We'll meet on Friday afternoon at the launch site, which is on Floodwood Pond (44° 20.348'N, 74° 24.316'W). The meeting place is roughly: 3.5 hours from Albany, NY; 3 hours from Syracuse, NY; 2 hours from Montreal, QC; and 2.5 hours from Burlington, VT. I've attached a map with the campsites and some other useful pointers to allow some pre-planning for those who may be interested in the camping trip. The Google Map can also provide directions.


View ZSNY Paddle Fest 2009 Route in a larger map

Nitty Gritty

Sugested Clothing: while frosts are possible in any month in the Adirondacks, it will likely be mild, but people should hope for the best and plan for some cold and wet weather. Swimwear and watershoes and a hat and raingear should be among the first things that you pack.

Suggested Gear: A canoe or kayak (or space in someone's canoe/kayak, there are canoe/kayak rentals available for $24 per day), tent or hammock or space in someone else's, sleeping bag of some sort (40 degree bags should be ample), cookset, water purification/filtration capability.

Suggested Food: I like to stick with the K.I.S.S. principle and think about foods that can be cooked on an open fire or through the addition of boiling water ...alternately, you can get as tricky as a friend of mine who bakes and cooks lasagnas while camping.

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...

I'll be bringing a cookstove and a grill for cooking over fires, along with an ax for chopping wood.

Bear-bagging is the best method of keeping gear and people safe when camping in bear-country...the first night we'll be car-camping (or camping not too far from the cars), so we can lock stuff in if we want...the second night we'll likely be camping on an island in Follensby Clear Pond, so although bears will be a long shot, it's worth being careful...

Besides food, you'll need to bag any other smellies that might attract bears (or more likely, squirrels, raccoons, mice, etc.) like: toothpaste, deoderant, booze, cigars, etc.

Here are some useful links, graphics, and a video about how to bear-bag you bear-bag-ables:
bear-bagging essentials
bear-bagging video
bear-bagging with more details

Weather: Ranging from 90s to 30s, but generally in the 70's, with 50's overnight

Click for Lake Clear, New York Forecast

Important Note:

For those with concerns about their abilities/gear while camping, let me point out a couple of things: we'll be away from our cars and roads, there is some cell coverage in the area in which we will be paddling, we have lots of experience camping and with camping-related injuries, serious injury can be...well...serious when in the backcountry...how you balance these conflicting issues is up to you.

What we will be doing

Friday, August 7th, 2009 -

Saturday, August 8th, 2009 -

Sunday, August 9th, 2009 -

How much will it cost?

Nothing...we're doing this as a group of friends just hanging out...we do ask however, that everyone bring 1 or more bags of clean/unripped clothes for donation to a local charity that will get the clothes into the hands of people who needs them

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.

Fishing - New York State requires fishing licenses for anyone who wants to go fishing on this trip. You can buy an annual license as either a resident ($19) or nonresident ($40), or a 7 day license as either a resident ($12) or nonresident ($25). You can buy a license at either of the 2 stores linked to on the map above.

Medical and Emergency Information - We will ask that everyone attending the trip fill out a medical information form and emergency contact sheet (which we will send you prior to the trip), and bring that in a sealed envelope; in this way we can help to insure everyone's safety without compromising any private information .

For more information, please feel free to get in touch with me via email at: jsheffield@gmail.com, check out the ongoing thread in the ZS forums, or visit the ZSNY Facebook Group .

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