| |
Sea Kayak Trips Bulletin Board
Re: What is your favorite wilderness day trip?
Posted By: Rick C. In Response To: What is your favorite wilderness day trip? (Nick Schade)
Date: Sunday, 31 January 1999, at 10:48 p.m.
Hi howdy all,
One of the first trips I took after building my boat, was around Howland Island. It is in New York, off of the Barge Canal. At one point, the Seneca River Makes a large Ox-bow. When they put the canal in, they cut the corner to save distance and time. This created an island that is about 9 1/2 miles around.
Access can be gained right on route 38 near Port Byron, N.Y. You may encounter some motor traffic on the canal itself, but once you leave it, there is a good chance you will not see another boat until you re-enter the canal.
On the backside of the island, though you are not more than five miles from civilization, it is absolutely desolate. And I believe part of this route borders the Montazuma National Wildlife Refuge. At the right time of year, you might encounter thousands of geese on thier way north or south.
On my first trip here, the first thing I saw was a snake of some kind swimming across the river. I don't know what kind it was, but it went right under my boat. Next, some kind of fish came out of the water, after a bug I suppose, and scared the bejeebers outa me. It was pretty quiet at the time.
A little further down, A muskrat came swimming out of a small channel, and did not see me til I was about 12' away. He made a hurried dive, and came up on the other side of me about 6' off the port bow. He went back down again, and that was the last I saw of him. Next in line was a Whitetail Deer off in the bushes a ways, and a few minutes later I spotted what I believe was a Bald Eagle. I know that there are some Eagles at Montazuma, so it would not surprise me at all. This was the first eagle I had ever seen in the wild, and it just made my day! Another half mile or so, and I was back on the canal. Just lazily floating with the current back to my put in. It took me about four hours to complete the trip. It's a nice little jaunt, and easy to do alone, because you end up where you started, so you don't need two vehicles.
Geez, now I can't wait for spring! Thanks a lot Nick.:^)
SYOTW,
Rick
| |
Sea Kayak Trips Bulletin Board is maintained by Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks with WebBBS 5.12.
|
Kayak Trips |
|
|
|