Paddling Beaver River from Lake Lila to Stillwater
The Beaver River starts at Lake Lila and flows for eight miles through largely wild country to Stillwater Reservoir
Outdoor Recreation
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Whiteface lures bikers
In winter, this place would be crawling with skiers. But on a weekday morning in August, I’m nearly alone, or so it seems. By Alan Wechsler
DEC: Don’t climb Stillwater tower
By Phil Brown
In the July/August issue of the Explorer, I describe a short hike to the Stillwater Mountain fire tower. Once the tower is rehabilitated, this will be a nice outing for the general public, but the state Department of Environmental Conservation warns that the tower should not be climbed in the meantime. DEC spokesman Stephen Litwhiler…
Ausable paddlers in hot water
By Phil Brown
Whitewater enthusiasts now have the right to paddle through Ausable Chasm, but they better be sure to obey the letter of the law. Ausable Chasm Co. called the state police on Friday—the first day the run was open—to complain that kayakers were trespassing. State Police Captain Brent Gillam said troopers filed criminal summonses against three…
A twenty year standstill
State legislators tried to clarify paddlers’ rights as far back as 1989—and they’re still trying.. By PHIL BROWN The Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said, “You cannot step into the same river twice.” His idea was that everything is always in flux, nothing stays the same. Heraclitus never set foot in Albany. More than twenty years…
Let the good times flow
Deer River’s scenic stillwater By Phil Brown Every time I drive past the Deer River Flow on Red Tavern Road, I slow down to admire the stunning view southeast toward Debar Mountain. On a few occasions, I have stopped to take pictures. Finally, I decided to paddle the thing last summer. My friend Phil Blanchard…
A broken ankle, forest fires
By Phil Brown
The state Department of Environmental Conservation released today a forest-ranger report for Memorial Day weekend. Nothing too exciting. A broken ankle. A missing hiker who turned up OK. And several small forest fires. The full text of the report follows. DEC FOREST RANGER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND ACTIVITY REPORT High Peaks Search & Rescue…
A beautiful surprise
By Phil Brown
I went missing for five days recently. I was out canoeing on various waterways in the western Adirondacks. One day I took two trips on the West Branch of the Oswegatchie. On the second of those trips, I paddled through several ponds owned, largely or entirely, by the Oswegatchie Educational Center, a nonprofit institution in…
Paddling the Middle Moose
By Phil Brown
In the March/April issue of the Explorer, Mal Provost wrote about a long whitewater trip on the Middle Branch of the Moose River. Not being much of a whitewater paddler, I opted for a long flatwater trip on the same river earlier this week. From Thendara, outside Old Forge, you can paddle down the Middle…
Paddle to Nelson Lake
By Phil Brown
The Middle Branch of the Moose River is not the wildest river in the Park, but try telling that to the American bittern, the osprey, the various ducks, and the kingfishers I saw when I explored the Middle Moose on Monday. Starting in Old Forge, the Middle Branch more or less parallels Route 28 and…