My First Fish & A Whole Lotta Rain

June 6, 2024

Mile 57.7-78.4 (1.7 miles of portages)

Is there a better feeling than hearing it start to rain in the middle of the night and knowing you’re completely dry in a shelter? By the time we packed up this morning it had stopped. We pushed off from shore and immediately saw a mama snapping turtle laying eggs just downstream from where our shelter was. An eagle was perched in an old snag and took off as we paddled past.

It was an absolutely magical morning and today might’ve been my favorite day so far.

We paddled slowly down the river, it was overcast, cool and breeze with no bugs. I truly felt like I could’ve paddled forever and ever without stopping. Henry fished while I steered us around turns and rocks. Then we switched, Henry paddling and slowing near any fallen trees or rocks so I could cast in. We snuck up on a deer with a fawn surrounded by baby ducks and I thought I must be dreaming!! They watched us curiously before disappearing into the grass over the bank.

We reached the confluence with Stony Creek and pulled over so Henry could make some coffee while I fished. I caught a big smallmouth (my first ever! I’ve only ever been a trout fisherman) and it was so exciting to reel in, it really put up a fight.

Our first upstream paddling today up Stony Creek for about a mile. There were some tight turns which means I have to put a lot of effort into helping steer up front, combined with the fact that we are going against the current and I was beat and my arms were shaking by the time we reached Stony Pond.

I was looking at the map trying to figure out where we get out for our portage when we hit a hidden rock HARD. It scared me so much I dropped my phone (in the canoe thankfully). I turned and we silently stared at each other, thankfully we hadn’t flipped out. We both carefully crawled out of the canoe and sank into the muddy bottom of the lake while we pushed the canoe off the hidden rock. I felt like it was my fault we hit it but Henry assured me there was no way either of us could’ve seen it and this will happen occasionally.

Our first portage was 1.2 miles and 50% wheelable. We both carried everything but the canoe to Route 3 and then Henry returned for the canoe while I sat on the side of the road and called Mom and Gagoo. Wheeled the rest of the way down to the water for a quick paddle through Upper Saranac Lake - then another -0.5 mile portage, 100% wheelable which ended in a beautiful pine forest.

At this point it started raining pretty dang hard so we suited up in our rain pants and jackets and made sure everything that needed to be dry was safely in a dry bag.

It was surprisingly a lot of fun paddling in the rain, mostly because it was warm. We got to a lock that was under construction that we had to portage around and lucked out that there was a small boat garage with a roof that we took cover under just as it started absolutely dumping rain. We bailed 5 gallons of water out of the canoe and changed into some warmer layers under our rain gear as the chill began to seep in.

5 more miles to camp after we left- the rain eased up some as we crossed Lower Saranac Lake and onto the Saranac River. My elbow and shoulders were so sore and tired and I couldn’t wait to get to camp.

There was unfortunately someone set up in the shelter when we got here but there are plenty of good campsites so we chose a flat spot and set up. Henry set up the tarp so we have a big front porch we can keep dry and cook under. Except… my stove broke 🥲

The amount of denial we were in was sad/funny. The threads were stripped from 6+ years of use from my first time on the AT and we tried and tried to make it work to no avail. No hot dinner for us after hours of paddling in the rain and being soaking wet. Thankfully tomorrow is Town Day and we’re really, really hoping there is an outfitter there.

I ate some granola and a protein shake for dinner and now it’s time to fall into an exhausted sleep.