Need to paddle.

[IndianChris]

So, if you had to pick a time of year when the lakes open up for paddling (let's say Long Lake to the Raquette, past the Cold), when would you say?

Mid April?
Late April?
Early May?

Varies each year, I know, but I'm in the ballpark, right?

Thanks,
Anxious.

 

[1ADAM12]

Late April! Once you get into May the Black Flies come out YUCK

 

[adktyler]

My guess is mid to early April. Usually the ice goes out on the bigger lakes in late March/early April. Here's a thread that might give you some clues: http://www.adkforum.com/showthread.p...hlight=ice+out

 

[ALGonquin Bob]

I've paddled and camped on the Raquette in late April when the Fish Creek Ponds and Cranberry Lake were still iced over. The Raquette River is navigable before the lakes open up because of the moving water, but watch out for ice floes! I've also driven past Indian Lake in early May and observed large areas of partially submerged ice.

 

[IndianChris]

Aside from ourselves reporting back from the field (kooooo) to provide updates, does anyone know of any marine websites that might provide this type of information? Best bet is probobly to talk to a local.
I doubt it's available for waterways like the Oswegatchie but for waterways that motor boats navigate through (like Long Lake, the Raquette, Stillwater Resevior, etc...) maybe?

I know, it's a long shot.

Thanks.

 

[daxs]

This post reminds me that I better order the feet for my roof rack so I can transport my kayak. Theres no ice on the intracoastal waterway if you want to paddle south jersey

 

[adktyler]

Aside from ourselves reporting back from the field (kooooo) to provide updates, does anyone know of any marine websites that might provide this type of information? Best bet is probobly to talk to a local.
I doubt it's available for waterways like the Oswegatchie but for waterways that motor boats navigate through (like Long Lake, the Raquette, Stillwater Resevior, etc...) maybe?

I know, it's a long shot.

Thanks.

I've look around, and never seen a website like this. I still think your best resource would be the adkforum.com Every year they seem to have ice-out reports, so it should be the most updated way to gather current info.

 

[MikeT]

Agree with ADK88

Each year ADK Forum has an "Ice-Out" Thread:

http://www.adkforum.com/showthread.php?t=11063&highlight=Ice+Out

And each year conditions vary. Using my first paddle on Cranberry Lake as an example: 2007 - mid April; 2008 - 1st week of May; and in 2009 - 1st week of April.

I live close to the Blue Line (Hannawa Falls, NY) and this weekend was about to put my Rapidfire back into the open water between Higley Flow dam and and Colton dam.

However, as we speak, there's a lake effect snow warning for our area, with an artic air mass also moving in: 8 to 12 in. of snow by tomorrow afternoon.

Go figure. Guess that's why there's X-Country skiing until spring ice-out and paddling can begin again.

 

[ALGonquin Bob]

Tyler is right. This forum has many members who live in or near the lake country, as well as those of us who frequent the Adirondacks year-round who can give up-to-date lake ice condition reports, better than any website could do... but you could monitor the Stillwater webcam.
http://www.stillwaterreservoir.com/lvf.cgi

 

[IndianChris]

Thanks Bob! I forgot all about that webcam. I've seen that before. Good looking out!

I'll check out the forum too MikeT. Thanks.

Thanks all for the info and advice!

 

[Jay H]

Have you contacted that Sorority at Rutger's University..

jay

 

[IndianChris]

Have you contacted that Sorority at Rutger's University..

Not yet but could you please provide that number as soon as possible?

 

[Remix]

There are alot of paddle groups on www.meetup.com. An inquiry on the message boards might get you some information. I would like to do some paddling on the Hudson (in my dry suit), but someone pointed out that the launch area I wanted to use was completely unsuitable due to a buildup of large broken ice floes.

 

[Trudy]

Remix, where do you want to launch from?
I can let you know when the ice is gone from the river in the vicinity of the city of Hudson.
From my house I can check out conditions on the river and I usually swing by the Hudson boat launch at least once a week.

Your friend is right, still too much ice. Just a week ago the Coast Guard ice breakers could hardly keep up with keeping the channel open, but this week there is some open water. Not a lot, though.

I think conditions are probably much better south of here.

 

[Remix]

I was hoping to go into the marshes at Tivoli so I was going to launch from the railroad parking area just north of there. Come to think of it, I wonder if the tides are enough to keep a reasonable area of the marshes open, or even the channel between the island and entrance to North Bay.

 

[Trudy]

Yes, it still frozen over entirely in most marshes and estuaries.
Tivoli Bays is only 14 miles south of me.
While there is some open water mid-channel, the shores still have a lot of ice.

It's been a long cold winter on the river. Much more ice than usual.
In two of the last 10 years there was no ice at all!

I don't go out until the ice is gone. Ice can really mess you up.
Here is a story of a close call I had:

http://www.paddling.net/message/showThread.html?fid=advice&tid=1227343#1228476

In case the link doesn't deliver you to the exact post, the post is called 'Close calls? Only once.'

 

[Nessmuk]

I spent the past week (Feb 5-12) in Canberra Australia on a business trip.
Near my hotel I noticed a large collection of dragon boats. Not really the same as a voyageur canoe that I usually paddle, but close enough considering where I was. These things have a crew of up to 20 paddlers. I wandered down to the beach and happened to find the coach of the Australian team, and after a brief chat he invited me to join them in one of the boats for a 2 hour practice training run. Lots of work and very regimented, but tremendous fun. They race in events taking place all over the South Pacific region and up into China. Wish I was on the team.

 

[Remix]

Thanks for the great story Trudy. I have seen 3-4 mph tides in different places on the Hudson and up until now did not appreciate how moving ice or ramp access could suddenly change. I'm thinking that will plenty of time for cold water/dry suit paddling in the spring without the risks created by big moving ice.