Voices from the Trail
Category: Thru-Paddling
Upwards, the story of a solo NFCT thru-paddle
Laurie Chandler daydreamed about moving to Maine for years. In 2003, she and her two children finally did, beginning a new chapter in life in a log cabin near the coast. Changing careers from forestry research to special education, she…
Why Thru-Paddle?
(Editors note: Beth Ziehl and Calvin Decker plan to thru-paddle the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, starting in mid-May. The pair are outdoor enthusiasts who both currently live in the Hudson Valley, where they enjoy paddling, hiking, and biking. The following…
Advice for a Thru-Paddle
Paddling the 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail is a challenging adventure that requires thoughtful planning and the proper gear. When planning for my trip in 2011, I sought out advice from numerous sources, including books, maps, blogs, the NFCT organization,…
Thru-paddlers of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail in 2016
Susan Storch and Mary Duk have been paddling together for two decades, including six times as a team in the 90-Miler canoe and kayak race in the Adirondacks. They’ve developed a strong bond on the water that got even stronger…
Crossing Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain can present a formidable challenge to paddlers on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. From Plattsburgh to the Missisquoi delta there are at least two significant open water crossings. This article offers some information on…
Best Time to Start a Thru-Paddle?
Prediction is very difficult, especially if it’s about the future. -Niels Bohr When Niels uttered those words he may have been contemplating how to figure out exactly where electrons might be at any given time. I find myself thinking…
Planning and Packing for a Thru-Paddle
So you’ve decided to dip your paddle into the waters of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. Maybe you’re looking to buy or build a new canoe or maybe you’ll be sticking to a trusted old kayak. However you choose to…
Planning a Thru-Paddle?
Paddling the 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail in one trip has been an exhilarating, trying, contemplative, exasperating and enlightening experience for those who have completed it. More than 80 people have made The NFCT List and each have unique stories…
The Season’s First Through Paddlers
As far as we know, Ryan and Catherine Thompson just became the first through paddlers of the 2010 season. After departing Old Forge NY on April 15 (see my blog post on their launch – Journeys on Screen, Water, and…