September 10-12, 2010 - Adirondack Canoe Classic 90-Miler Race.
The first day of the 90-Miler is 35 miles with 3 1/2 miles of portages. The first year I did the 90 I paddled solo in my Laser, and portaged 30 pounds by myself. The second year I thought I got smarter and got a partner to paddle in a canoe with me. I soon discovered that I wasn't all that bright since my half of the 70 pound recreational canoe we used weighed more than my solo Laser. Ah but the third time is the charm, and this year I learned how to do portage math and thus borrowed "Just Add Water," Judy Jeanes' 4x32 lightweight carbon cruiser, to do the job.
John Hazel, my intrepid AuSable and National's partner, once again agreed to paddle with me. John had never seen the Adirondacks before. I gave him the choice, paddle competitively with the other amateur boats, or paddle in the first wave to go off in the morning, the non-competitive open touring class. We agreed to go open touring. We are a slow team, we wanted to enjoy the trip, and we saw no need to push the issue on my still-healing wrist by racing to beat time limits.
The first day dawned cold and rainy with some wind. But even on a dreary day the sight of hundreds of boats lining the Fulton Chain is an amazing sight to behold. The camaraderie is incredible, and we enjoyed talking to and joking with each boat as it went by us, we even heckled a number of boats I knew well, all in good fun. I got a mini education as a young men's C4 team passed us and the guys and John exchanged really dirty jokes. They ended up doing this every day of the 90.
Fourth Lake and the canal coming off of Fourth Lake was rolling, and we heard several boats swim behind us. John designed the C4 that ended up winning the C4 race, and we looked forward to it passing us every day so he could see it in action. When we started paddling Brown's Tract, John said in an astonished voice, "No wonder they asked me to design a boat that turned easily." I tried to explain sections of the 90 to John, but some things Like Brown's Tract just have to be seen and experienced to be believed.
Raquette Lake was unusually quiet, but Blue Mountain Lake made up for it, Blue Mountain was rockin' in the wind by the time we got there. Just Add Water stayed steady, and we were happy to be finished with what we thought was the longest day.
Day two dawned beautiful, sunny, blue sky, warm, and no wind. 33 miles with the mile and a quarter Raquette Falls Carry. The line of boats up and down Long Lake was so pretty and so captivating to me. We had fun, with no wind we could really practice our drafting skills. We drafted anything and everything we could, voyager canoes, guideboats, C4s, anything that came our way.
Everything we do is geared toward making our attempt at AuSable next year fast and smooth, so drafting was the word of the day. Raquette Falls Carry was everything I remembered it to be, and once again I used all my cusswords in compound form frequently as I climbed up the mountain. Being a family event, I said them only in my head, I promise.
Day three dawned windy. Really windy. It was to be a short 22 miles and a mere 6/10 of a mile in portages. It sure doesn't feel so short when waves are crashing into your boat, a few up to your chest, and the wind makes it so you can barely hear your sternman calling instructions. When we turned into the full force of it on Upper Saranac Lake we saw several teams turning around and calling it a day. We decided to continue.
"Just Add Water" is a really cool boat name, and we got lots of comments on it, but we also discovered that there is a limit as to just how much water you can add to a cruiser. We never were unstable in the waves, but twice we filled the boat bow to stern with 3-4" of water and had to quickly take refuge on a private dock to empty out. We couldn't go fast enough against the wind for the bailer to work, and even if it did, water came in too fast to empty out with a bailer.
The rescue crews were very busy. Many, many people swam, including a C4 and 7, yes 7, proboats. Middle Saranac Lake was not any better, but thankfully it was shorter. The piper was out on the portage, and I have to say I always enjoy seeing him. Once the worst was over, we ended up enjoying the day and the Adirondacks scenery, and were genuinely happy to have the experience of the high winds and waves under our belts. The hot chicken broth at the end of the race tasted so good!
The 90 is one of my favorite races. I'll never portage fast, I bet at least a dozen boats passed us on nearly every portage, but it really doesn't matter because it gives me an opportunity to talk to everyone as they go by. I love the camaraderie of this race and I love to see all the different boats.
Having done it solo, I have to say I still admire the solo paddlers the most, it's a completely different mental game when you're solo. But no matter how you do it, the 90-Miler is always a spectacular race.
It was a good three days.