UPPER ST. REGIS, SPITFIRE, & LOWER ST. REGIS LAKES paddling

 

Sep 14, 2003 - LOWER ST. REGIS, SPITFIRE, UPPER ST. REGIS LAKES kayaking. Put-in above outlet dam on Keese Mill Rd opposite parking area for Jones & Black Ponds. Despite threat of showers in the forecast, we got ourselves a mostly sunny & warm late summer day. Paddled up the 2 mile long W arm (Main Branch of St. Regis River) of Lower St. Regis Lake & soon see an osprey & a deer - this is a very scenic section to start & end the trip. Out on the main lake Paul Smiths College stands out to the NE. A wide channel with boggy shores leads into Spitfire Lake. St. Regis Mtn stands clearly to the W. Passing Rabbit Island (site of a Trudeau TB experiment) a short channel leads into Upper St. Regis Lake. We go to the E of Birch Island to stay out of the wind. Stop at the carry to Bog Pond for lunch - not many places to rest on this trip because much of the shoreline is private. Many fancy camps are passed - most are reasonably tastefull & blend into the woods well. The boathouses are full of old wooden motorboats, guideboats, wood & canvas canoes & wood sailboats - interestingly enough, any kayaks seen were small cheapo plastic rec boats - guess it will take a number of years before kayaks develop a "classic" status in the Adirondacks. At the W end of Upper St. Regis is Camp Topridge with its 2 boathouses & Adirondack-style bent branch architecture - a must see. Whiteface Mtn can be seen to the E, Jenkins Mtn can often be seen to the N. Returned by going the long way around Spitfire. Saw 7 loons (3 juveniles) on Upper & 3 on Spitfire (1 juvenile). Some light motorboat traffic - most camps are water access only. 15 miles, 6.5 hours. Dagger Tybee, a 14'10" composite touring kayak, does not track too well & most beginners will need the rudder, turns easily without edging, has very good speed, seems to handle better when things get a bit rough, very good primary & secondary stability, extremely well-constructed.

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