Yet Another Upstate NY'er

[Canoe Trip]

Hello All

From Central New York here. Just got back into paddling when I found a deal I couldn't look away from. While Searching the Craig's list out of the blue last spring of 2021- I spotted an Old town Canoe with no other info. just a really faraway picture. Upon going to investigate this possible find - Sure as Chit sitting on saw horses (in a barn along a large pond) was a pristine hardly touched 16' Royalex Old Town Camper. - the seller said it was always kept in the barn and never left the pond. - Asking price 400 bucks. Yep.... 4 hundred bucks - Naturally I got that money out of my pocket and that canoe loaded up so fast that poor guy must thought I worked for NASCAR.

Sooooo. those rare finds do still exist. Never told the poor seller what he actually had.
here she is



Ever since the purchase I've been out paddling. I've paddled the Erie Canel, Susquehanna River, Sections of the Black River, Several Upstate NY lakes, and this past July a week-long trip down the Delaware River. Actually came on this site to possibly find people who are looking for partners for canoe trips and canoe trip ideas.

Happy Paddling Everyone
Aaron C
Cooperstown NY

 

[LanceR]

Hi, Aaron

Welcome to the site. We had a farm outside Auburn for many years and retired to our North Carolina place in 2017 so we've paddled a lot of the same waters. You're in a great area for paddling. Not to mention a post paddle recovery stop at Ommegang Brewery.....

Lance

 

[billconner]

Welcome! Grew up in finger lakes and now returned and retired to 1000 islands.

Great find! Congrats.

 

[Robin]

Nice find, that Camper is a great all around canoe.

 

[Boatman53]

Welcome Aaron. Pull up a stump and share the fire.
Beautiful canoe, I have a wood canvas canoe painted a very similar blue and love the color.
You got a great deal.
Jim

 

[snapper]

Aaron -

First off, welcome to the site! I'm down Rt. 28 from you outside Milford. I spend a lot of time paddling sections of the Susquehanna and travel up to parts of the Erie Canal quite often during the paddling season. Spent my summers along the Delaware River so I know that river a bit as well. If you'd ever like to meet up and paddle, just let me know.

That's all for now. Take care and until our paths should cross....be well.

snapper

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Aaron, welcome to site membership! Feel free to ask any questions and to post messages, photos and videos in our many forums. Please read Welcome to CanoeTripping and Site Rules! We look forward to your participation in our canoe community.

Nice canoe find in an uncommon and pretty color.

 

[DuctTape]

Welcome! Nice looking canoe, what a deal.

 

[coldfeet]

Twins! I bought mine from a nice guy in CT, Robin! First time I took it out with Waterspyder we got a great view of the river going backwards! Yep, that sucker spun around and Robin watched us float away downstream backwards. Of course he got paid BEFORE I tested it out.
Giving it to our daughter next summer in Denver.
Enjoy.
Downstate here Long Island.

 

[lowangle al]

Hi and welcome. I had an OT Pathfinder that I believe was rebranded as the camper. It's a nice looking boat. I live south of you in Pa., close to both the Susq and the Delaware and would also be interested in a paddle.

 

[coldfeet]

Haha, just looked at the picture I posted.
I have a mouthful.

 

[Canoe Trip]

Thanks All for the welcome.... Snapper, we live so close to each other that it would be a shame if we didn't paddle something together. Coldfeet, Nice canoe Man - "that's It." the last two digits on the hull number are the year - mine is a1988. I reached out to Old Town about the hull number and one of the reps sent me this original catalog page for the year it came out. What ya got there your Cell Phone - thats one way to keep it dry.

 

[Crazy Trout Craft (CTC)]

Congrats Aaron… good to have company here in NY… hope see you out there… I’ll be looking for that nice blue canoe! Cheers!

 

[Tsuga8]

Welcome and congrats on the boat! I'm in the Hudson Valley so a bit away...maybe I'll see you in the Daks some time!

 

[stripperguy]

Welcome aaron
Hope you’ll get that boat on some Adirondack waters
Are you gonna do family trips or manly trips?
Maybe your family trips will be manly?
I bet you can’t wait for warmer softer water.
Enjoy that canoe, and if you need any suggestions for ADK trips just ask

 

[Canoe Trip]

Hello Hello - thanks for all these virtual handshakes...
I sure will be in the ADK's - kind of hard for me not to be since I live about 40 minutes south of the big blue line.
Growing up we had a family camp (two-room shack) in Brantingham.
This past September I was up north for a mid-week 3-day paddle from Lake Flower to Lower Saranac Lake, took out at Ampersand Bay.
I Have a solo trip planned for this June to paddle from Raquette Lake (south inlet) to Axton Landing. Hoping to get good weather just before the crowd shows up.

But most of my trips will be solo as my Girlfriend won't go unless there is running hot water. Aside from that she's in. As I have gotten older, friends just aren't into paddling and sleeping on the ground with their vacation time. I don't mind paddling the 16' solo thou as I am 6'4" I feel that it fits well flipped around paddling backward. with no gear, I use a 20L dry bag filled with water in the bow.

Stripperguy I appreciate the shoutout on suggestions - I think all canoe trippers inquire about good trip suggestions! Soooo Yeah Lay them on me... Really would like to talk to someone who runs the Permanent Rapids section on the Saranac River. This Past September my trip plan was to go from Lower Saranac Lake to Flower Lake into Permanent Rapids. The water was so low I ended up doing the trip in reverse without that section. I'd like to go back and paddle that loop again with the last day of the trip being the Permanent Rapids. Really like to find someone from that area that knows the best flows. I've been there twice, 1st time it was flooding in early April and it was Defcon 5 nobody was near it. Then went again this past fall and it was bony.

thanks for the welcome!

 

[stripperguy]

While I've paddled portions of the Saranac River, I've never done permanent rapids.
I do know it is aptly named, navigable through most of the paddling season.

As far as potential route suggestions, you would need to give a quick description of your desires for a trip.
I have my preferences, and I'm sure you do as well.
I happen to like remote, some would say obscure, destinations. Small water and carries, the more the better.
My favorites might not suit you, carrying a boat like that. But, you are a bigger guy, so maybe longer carries are fine, I dunno.

You might want to look at sections of the Jessup, with a side trip to Dug Mountain Brook falls, with camping and take out at Indian Lake.
Sand Lake (off Powley-Piseco Rd) to Clockmill Pond is an interesting day trip, with plenty of opportunity for camping too.
Long Pond to Pink Pond to Ledge Pond is one of my favorites.
And my as yet unfulfilled goal of Rock Lake to Rock River to Cedar River to Pine Lake, with a return through the Chain Drain and the Essex Chain Lakes.
These are but a few, there's not enough room here for me to list all of my favs.

Maybe you want to start a new thread asking for ADK trip suggestions...just be sure to describe the sort of experience you would hope to have.

 

[Canoe Trip]

Stripperguy -- all pretty good routes man. Thank you for the share!

The Worst thing " I " could do is start an ADK suggestions thread lol.

I'm the kind of person who could go on and on for hours and days with trip routes and plans. Being in NY we sure are lucky for that! I likewise have a list too long to post here. As of right now, it looks like my entire 2023 season is booked; unless I wanna find a new job and get someone to mow my lawn. It's just that when someone says -

and if you need any suggestions for ADK trips just ask

Well I gotta ask. So thanks for the share. Good Stuff!

As far as my preferences - I'm all over the map. I think every trip has its pros and cons from BWCA to the Erie Canal.
Try to keep my portages less than 1 mile per portage. Otherwise, I just feel like you are taking your canoe for a hike.

How many days are you going to give yourself for that Rock Lake to the chains trip?

 

[WilluCanoe]

Thanks for joining the site and sharing your find. $400, what a steal in this time of inflation! Plus I love the color!

I am not anywhere near you, but if you ever get up to the great north woods/ BWCA, reach out we can set up a fun trip.

 

[stripperguy]

Rock Lake to Pine Lake and out through the chain could be a quick two day trip or a leisurely four day trip.
I’ve already paddled all of it except for a section of the Rock River between Rock Lake and the Chain Drain.
The car shuttle is cumbersome though, and my best paddling buddy has been gone for three years now, so that trip may remain an unfulfilled wish.
Maybe I’ll see you out there this season.