It's definitely fall in Quebec

This weekend Dan Hays and I threw down a power trip to Quebec. We left New York at 4:00 on Friday and returned by 2:00 on Sunday.

We arrived in Jacques Cartier Provincial park with the intentions of meeting up with another crew to run the Teaureau. after a wet, cold, evening at "Camp 3" we met up with the other crew and found that the Teaureau was too high. Good thing for us there is not just one sweet run in the park but three. The Sataruski became the new pic of the day, and at the take-out the level looked it would not dissapoint.

After pounding some poutin we headed up to the Put-in only to find a small narrow stream, not the ranging full river we saw at the take-out. We were assured by those that had been there before we would meet up with some more tributaries before too long.

To make a long story short, after a couple of cool rapids, a bunch of flatwater, and an hour long, miserable portage we met up with the river we were supposed to be on.

It turned out to be 20 Kilometers of really fun class IV with one stout V that I decided to leave for another day.

We arrived back at the take-out just with plenty of time to hang out and eat some food before it got dark.

Dan and I stuck around to paddle the Cache' on Sunday, which was well worth it. It's only a mile but it is damn fun. We were in our gear and boating by 7:15, back in the car and rolling back to the USA by 9.

I know I just got back but I'm already thinking about heading up to quebec again next weekend.

Sprint finish to the summer

Labor Day weekend is always a fun time to be a kayaker in Northern New York. 4 quality dam releases over three days mixed in with some great mountain biking adds up to one fantastic weekend. People come from all over to be a part of the whole seen and it's really fun watching all the carnage. Unfortunately the weekend would not have been complete without offering up some carnage myself.

On Saturday we rolled deep on the Raquette. I did 4 laps and then went for a sweet mountain bike ride with Bill and Mel. I think it waso n my 2nd lap that I crashed at 50 50. I went right into the slot and pitoned hard. No damge to my boat or my body so, it's all good.

On Sunday I was part of the masses on the Moshier section of the beaver. Lots of fun was had on my three laps down the run. I got to see some amazing carnage in the last rapid. It was hilarious. I'm sure Ed will have some footage up soon. I went over to the Eagle in the evening for a few laps over there.

On Monday I finished up with 2 laps on the Raquette and some more mountain biking with some friends from the south. Hardest part about the whole weekend is knowing that on Tuesday I had re-enter the real world as a teacher.

Summer is now officially over.

Pictures courtesy of Patrick Rogers www.kayakingphotos.com