TRIP AT-A-GLANCE Dates: August 20 26, 2017 Location: Adirondack Park NY Cost: $1595 A 3% discount off the trip fee is available if the final balance is paid by check. Rating: 3 Activities: Kayaking Meeting Place: Albany Airport Arrive: Depart: 12:00 noon WHAT S INCLUDED Back to the Albany Airport by 12 noon. Plan to fly out anytime after 1pm Experienced guides Two nights lodging in double occupancy rooms and four nights camping. All kayaking and group camping equipment. All meals from Sunday dinner through Saturday breakfast Transportation once you arrive in the Albany, NY airport. WHAT S NOT INCLUDED Travel to/from Albany airport. Personal camping equipment (sleeping bags and pads can be rented in the Adirondacks) Alcoholic beverages Guide gratuities Items of a personal nature Kayaking the Adirondacks 8/20 8/26, 2017 Trip Highlights Kayaking 25 miles of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, likened to a water version of the Appalachian Trail. Learning about the unique private/public partnership that keeps this area Forever Wild Experience picnicking on an island sunsets over lakes and waking to the haunting call of the loon. Exploring the Fulton chain of lakes and Raquette Lake. Trip Overview The Adirondack State Park in northern New York is one of the premiere spots for kayak tripping on the East Coast, with countless lakes and streams of all sizes. We'll be kayaking the first part of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail that stretches from Old Forge all the way to Fort Kent, ME. We, however, will only kayak about 25 miles as we travel from Old Forge to Forked Lake, paddling up the Fulton Chain of Lakes and Raquette Lake. While this is not remote wilderness - summer cabins are common as are motor boats on the bigger lakes - much of it has a wilderness feel. We're likely to see beaver, martins, and deer, and moose sightings have become increasingly common. For sure we'll hear the wild and haunting call of the loon. Our Itinerary Below is our planned itinerary. As is always true on any adventure trip, we may follow it exactly or we may alter it based on weather, new opportunities, or unforeseen circumstances. Sunday, August 20: Our trip begins today at the Albany, NY airport where we'll pick you up at 12:00. After loading our gear into the vans we'll drive 2.5 hours to the west central part of the Adirondack State Park. This State Park is unique: bigger than Yellowstone and Yosemite combined, it is a mix of publicly and privately owned land which means that state owned access and campgrounds co-exist with towns, summer cottages, and motor Last Revised: 1/20/2016
PAGE 2 CANCELLATION POLICY In the unfortunate event that you must cancel your trip, your refund will be determined by the following formula: Days Prior to Trip Refund 90 + days All but $50 90 61 days 50% of deposit 60 30 days 50% of trip fee 29 days or less No refund Adventures in Good Company reserves the right to cancel or alter a trip due to unforeseen weather, unsafe conditions, low registrations or other circumstances. On the rare occasion when Adventures in Good Company must cancel a trip, all payments received to date will be refunded, including the non-refundable portion of your deposit. Adventures in Good Company is not responsible for expenses incurred in preparation for any canceled trips, including airplane tickets. TRAVEL INSURANCE We highly recommend travel insurance for your trip. If you decide to purchase insurance, you can secure a policy through your own insurance company or enroll with the company we use, Travelex Insurance. Call 1-800-228-9792 or visit www.travelexinsurance.com. The location code is 20-0016. Our Itinerary Continued boats. We'll only see a small section on our way to the town of Old Forge, NY. First Lake in Old Forge is the jumping off point of the Fulton Chain, a string of eight lakes between Old Forge and Raquette Lake that we'll be paddling. We'll spend the afternoon sorting our gear and getting packed up for an early start tomorrow. After finishing up we will go out to dinner and watch our first sunset over the lake. Overnight Old Forge D Monday, August 21: After a hearty breakfast at one of the local restaurants that are used to fueling Adirondack paddlers, we set off on our adventure. We'll start with a shorter day in terms of mileage, so that we have plenty of time to learn how to get all our gear into those kayaks. We'll then spend some time on instruction so that everyone feels comfortable on the water. Setting off we'll kayak 5 miles from Old Forge to Fourth Lake, starting at Old Forge Pond and going through First, Second, and Third to Fourth Lake, the largest of the Fulton Chain. We'll camp here on Alger Island, right in the middle of the lake, at primitive campsites with privies. We'll have time this afternoon for swimming, relaxing, and absorbing the beauty of our surroundings. Tonight we'll go to bed lulled by the sound of waves lapping the shore. B, L, D Tuesday, August 22: Waking up to the haunting call of the loon and the mist slowly rising off the lake, the beauty of the area seeps into our bones. After breakfast we'll load up again and set off. This morning we'll experience our first portage, traditionally called a "carry" in the Adirondacks because you need to carry your boats and gear from one lake to the next. The carry is along a road and our kayak carts make it easier. It's definitely a challenge but, working together as a team, it's totally doable. We continue through Fifth and Sixth Lakes to our destination tonight, Seventh Lake, which some would argue is the most beautiful lake of the Fulton Chain. The campsite has both lean-tos and tent sites, as well as a privy and picnic tables. Our paddling mileage is 7.5 miles. B, L, D. Wednesday, August 23: After a hearty breakfast, we start paddling for Raquette Lake. Today's mileage is 11.5 miles, and the day is more challenging as we have two carries. The first carry is a mile through the campground on a road. The second carry is along a beautiful trail through the woods with a boardwalk at the end. To make these carries easier, we'll have our gear transported ahead to Raquette Lake. We then paddle through Raquette Lake, famous for having 99 miles of shoreline with all its bays. Tonight we'll camp at Tioga Point in a campground that is accessible only by water. Originally the site of a Civilian Conservation Corp Camp it offers unparalleled views of the lake and surrounding mountains. B, L, D www.adventuresingoodcompany.com email: info@goodadventure.com Phone: 1-877-439-4042 Fax: 410-435-3084
PAGE 3 Thursday, August 24: After the last few days we will be delighted to have a layover day and a more relaxing start to the morning. There are many choices for a day paddle: down Sucker Brook over beaver dams, following the old steamship path down the Marion River to Lake Utowana, or perhaps over to Golden Beach for a walk there. We'll let the weather and our energy dictate our final choices. B, L, D Friday, August 25: After eating breakfast and packing up our kayaks, we'll have time for further exploration of Raquette Lake and a final picnic lunch. We ll then return to the small town of Raquette Lake where we can enjoy ice cream! It s also where our shuttle will pick us up and after loading up all our gear, we ll return to Old Forge. Of course we'll suffer the inevitable re-entry shock that occurs after a week of quiet without cars but we'll also appreciate hot showers and soft beds, and a dinner we didn t cook or clean up. B, L, D Saturday, August 26: The Adirondack State Park really is a unique area and we hope you have gained an appreciation of it. But unfortunately it's time to leave, and after breakfast we'll pack up for the three hour drive back to Albany. We'll have you back by noon and you can plan to fly out anytime after 1 pm. B
PAGE 4 Packing List FOOTWEAR 1 pair of comfortable athletic shoes, Crocs or Teva-like sandals for in camp. 1 pair of water shoes, sandal with heal strap like Teva or Keen, used for kayaking (Can double as camp shoes) 1-2 pairs warm socks (wool or synthetic equivalent: Smartwool, Thorlo, Ultimax) 1 pair of neoprene or synthetic water socks, optional but nice if the water temp is cool. CLOTHING 1-2 pairs of supplex/nylon shorts for kayaking (hiking zip offs can and should be one of these pairs) 3 synthetic or lightweight wool T-shirts or short-sleeved shirts 1 lightweight, long-sleeved shirt. Button up front works well. 1 pair lightweight long underwear top and bottoms: silk, wool or synthetic equivalent (Capilene, Thermastat, MTS, or polypropylene) It could be cool. 1 medium-weight top layer (fleece or wool shirt/pullover. A fleece or wool vest works for this layer as well) 1 warm lightweight jacket (fleece/wool/down) 1 rain parka and rain pants: coated nylon or a waterproof/breathable fabric like Gore-tex. Not a poncho. Underwear/nightwear 1 pair wool, Capilene, or Polartec gloves 1 warm wool or fleece hat 1 wide-brimmed hat for protection from the sun 1 swimsuit Clothing for first and last night out for dinners in town. (Casual) TOILETRIES (small everything) Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, hand sanitizer, shampoo, contact lens paraphernalia, sanitary supplies Sunscreen and lip protection with sunblock of at least SPF 15 Personal first aid/personal patch kit (see notes on packing list for details) Please note: Individuals allergic to insect stings must bring an epi-pen. Please consult your physician and tell your guide. EQUIPMENT/ESSENTIALS Sleeping bag rated to 30 F (see notes on packing list) Sleeping pad (see notes on packing list) Sunglasses (100% UV protection) w/retention strap Small headlamp or flashlight Ear plugs (for a good night s sleep!) 32 oz wide mouth water bottle for kayak days OPTIONAL (personal preference, not required) Camera (extra battery) and film/memory card Binoculars Paddling Gloves (optional) Your favorite snack 1 3 stuff sacks to stay organized. 1 2 bandanas insulated hot drink cup/mug with lid Book, notebook, journal, pencil/pen Wristwatch/travel alarm www.adventuresingoodcompany.com email: info@goodadventure.com Phone: 1-877-439-4042 Fax: 410-435-3084
PAGE 5 Notes on the Packing List Please note: If you are not familiar with any of the terms used as explanation regarding the equipment or clothing required for this trip or would like help with any item listed please let us know. We are available to answer your questions and/or send more information to assist in determining appropriate equipment and clothing for your trip. Provided Dry Bags: Dry bags will be provided. Each person will be given two dry bags, a 30L bag and a smaller 5L or 10L bag. This is the bag you will pack all your clothes and personal items in. Camping gear will go in separate dry bags. As the name implies these bags are specially designed to be used for such trips and to keep things dry. Footwear: The right shoes are very important to your safety and enjoyment. You will need to have a water shoe that has straps or laces and will stay on your foot (not flip flops) The shoe should also have a good sole for use during our portages. Examples: Keen H2O, Teva, Chaco, Salomon Tech Amphibian, NRS with hard sole. You will also need a comfortable camp shoe (these might be the same). Crocs work well as camp shoes. Personal First Aid Kit: We recommend bringing a small first aid kit with the following items: blister and/or foot remedies for blisters, hot spots, etc. (band aids/compeed/moleskin/personal choice), personal prescription medications, over the counter medications for common ailments (respiratory/colds, stomach issues, sore muscles/joints). Your AGC guide will have a first aid kit as well but if you already know what works for you it s best to have that with you. Please Note: The Adventures in Good Company's packing list covers what we have found to be essential for your safety and comfort for this particular trip. Because it s August, you may be tempted to skimp on the warm clothes. Please don t. It is essential that you have the warm clothing and the rain gear to stay warm in case of inclement weather You may not use everything you bring;; however, you need to come prepared for all possible weather conditions. August is typically a great mnth for weater. There is a good chance of having warm temps and sun throughout the day but always the possibility of rain and clouds with cooler temps. The average temperature is around 70. Do try to follow the packing list as closely as possible to avoid excessive luggage. Clothing: All clothing for active wear should be made from synthetic/synthetic blends, down/down blends or wool/wool blends. NO COTTON for your active wear. The clothing listed on the packing list has been chosen for your specific trip conditions and for its versatility for layering. Layering is the most practical and efficient method of insulating the body. Several layers of varied weight materials provide better insulation than one thick Layer of clothing. Also, adding or subtracting layers allows you to adjust to the temperature at your particular level of activity. Rain Gear: You will need a parka or jacket made of a coated nylon or a waterproof/breathable fabric like Gore-tex, HellyTech, Membrane, H2No, or Ultrex. Be sure it keeps water out. Before making this important purchase, be sure that it fits you properly. It should be large enough to fit over all your layers. In particular, the hood needs to be effective. It should shield your face from the rain and turn with your head. Movement of your arms must not interfere with the hood. Lastly, the wind/rain pants. They should be comfortable, allow enough room for your layers, and permit free movement of your legs (for example, can you crouch comfortably?). Partial or full-length leg zippers are useful for easily putting your pants on over your boots. Hydration: It is very important to your safety and enjoyment to have an independent ability for accessing your water to facilitate drinking frequently. For kayaking, the easier method is to use a water bottle that can be positioned for easy access while paddling. Large mouth water bottles are also much easier to refill. Nalgene makes a great water bottle for such a trip. Sleeping bag and Sleeping pad: Since this is a camping trip, both a sleeping bag and a sleeping pad are required equipment. If you do not have these items and would like to rent them upon arrival in the Adirondacks, additional information will be sent with the pre-departure document you will receive 4 months before the trip.