High spirits on Lows Lake
Two paddlers explore one of the Adirondacks’ largest motor-free lakes, discovering tranquility, beautiful scenery, and a few loons.
paddling
All Stories
A victory for paddlers
Judge rules that ‘Explorer’ editor did not trespass when he paddled through private property, but the landowners plan to appeal. By Kenneth Aaron The owners of a scenic, remote Adirondack waterway plan to appeal a judge’s decision declaring that the route is open to paddlers under the common-law public right of navigation. In February, State…
DEC sides with paddlers
Agency says the public has the right to travel on a disputed stretch of Shingle Shanty Brook. By Phil Brown Weighing in on a long-running controversy, the state Department of Environmental Conservation says the public has the right to paddle through private land on Shingle Shanty Brook and adjoining waterways that connect two pieces of…
Coverage of the Shingle Shanty case
By Phil Brown
After State Supreme Court Justice Richard Aulisi handed down his decision on navigation rights a few weeks ago, several media outlets wrote about the case. As the defendant in the lawsuit, I tracked the news coverage closely. Given the public interest in the case, I thought I’d share the articles that I found. The news…
Judge weighs canoer’s fate
Lawyers deliver arguments in trespassing lawsuit filed against Adirondack Explorer editor. By Kenneth Aaron Was Adirondack Explorer Editor Phil Brown trespassing in 2009 when he paddled through private land abutting state-owned wilderness? Or did he have a right to be there because the waters he canoed are navigable and provide a useful link between parcels…
A rafter’s rocky ride
Once a hero to Adirondack rafters, Pat Cunningham has become a pariah among his peers, and the state is seeking to shut down his outfitting business following the accidental drowning of a customer. By Mary Thill On March 30, 2012, Hamilton County Court gave Patrick Cunningham a second chance. It came with conditions and a…
Paddling suit advances
Judge to hear arguments in November in dispute over public’s right to paddle on privately owned waterway. By Kenneth Aaron The landowners suing Adirondack Explorer Editor Phil Brown for trespass say he’s just the latest in a long line of people who have tried to pry open closed waters for public use, and if he…
Paddling case advances
State attorney general asks judge to dismiss claims against Explorer editor in navigation-rights dispute. By Kenneth Aaron More than three years after Adirondack Explorer Editor Phil Brown paddled through private land on Shingle Shanty Brook and almost two years after he was slapped with a lawsuit accusing him of trespass, the parties in…
4 Days On The Saranacs
Starting in the village of Saranac Lake, a family paddles up the island-studded Lower Saranac Lake and the Saranac River to Middle Saranac Lake and on to Weller Pond. They picked a trek that would be child-friendly and convenient—that is, no carries.
90-Miler poses a classic challenge
Writer Sue Bibeau takes on the 90-Miler canoe and kayak race with boatbuilder Allison Warner.