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Outdoor Recreation

Testing the legal waters

By Phil Brown

June 15, 2009

Explore More: ADK, canoeing, kayaking, Lake Lila, Lila Traverse, Little Tupper Lake, Navigation rights

In an earlier blog, I mentioned that I did a two-day canoe trip from Little Tupper Lake to Lake Lila in May. A story about the trip will appear in the July-August issue of the Explorer. It’s more than just another account of Adirondack adventure, for I took a route that has been posted for years.

Essentially, I avoided a mile-long portage by paddling from Mud Pond down the outlet to Shingle Shanty Brook, which flows into Lake Lila. Despite no-trespassing signs and a cable across the brook, I believe what I did was legal. I explain my rationale in an op-ed piece published by the Albany Times Union. A fuller airing of the legal issues will appear in the next Explorer.

Incidentally, Susan Bibeau’s photo will grace our next cover.

 

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Phil Brown

Phil Brown edited the Adirondack Explorer from 1999 until his retirement in 2018. He continues to explore the park and to write for the publication and website.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. tourpro says

    June 16, 2009 at 7:21 am

    I can’t tell you how many times I’ve paddled up to the signs and turned around. It’s so weird to see those signs kind of in the middle of nowhere.

    (Phil, Blog-on! This is the perfect outlet for you, More, more, more!)

    Reply
    • Phil says

      June 16, 2009 at 11:28 am

      Glad you like the blog. Thanks for the encouragement. I hope the article will lead to a resolution of the Shingle Shanty situation. Naturally, I think it should be resolved in the public’s right to paddle this magnificent waterway.

      Reply

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