Tony G starting things off right on the West branch of the Sacandaga
I won’t sugar coat it. Â It’s been a tough spring here in the northeastern United States. Â A low snow year this winter combined with a significant lack of precipitation this spring have left us with flows in the rivers that are far from desirable. Â We’ve all been doing what we can to make do. Â This weekend we resorted to enduring a really long shuttle and rough portage for the chance to run some real whitewater in a real wilderness. Â The West Branch of the Sacandaga is a short, remote run, with fairly reliable flows, but forces you to earn it with a 40-mile one way shuttle, hike-in, and stout portage. Â Embracing the opportunity to run this stretch of river may be the only positive aspect of such a low water spring.
Bill Frazer enjoying another nice drop on the West Branch
The team finishing up the portage
Bill Frazer happy to be paddling away from the portage
We’re loving the Shiva, and the way it effortlessly sails downstream. Â We’ve gotten a chance to put it through it’s paces many Adirondack classics.
Chris Koll giving it off of Agers Falls on the Moose at a juicy flow
Tom Vickery getting a face full
Ryan Mooney put together a really nice edit of his experience in Vermont and Massachussetes dealing with unseasonably low flows. Â His video includes one of the finest runs in New England, The Middlebury gorge, which continues to change and challenge us.