Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 11
  1. #1
    Senior Member Festus Hagen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Malta, NY
    Hammock
    DD Traveler + GT UL
    Tarp
    DD+HH sil UL
    Insulation
    DD UQ + CCF pad
    Suspension
    Whoopie
    Posts
    511

    Lake Champlain Valcour Island Trip Report

    The good news is, I got a water-resistant camera in time for this trip.... the bad news is, I didn't get it in time to work out a way to attach it to me so I wouldn't lose it... so unfortunately I was often afraid to get it out of my pocket (which I couldn't do with my pfd on, anyways). Thus the lack of quality on-water pics but, on to the trip report.

    I left the house at, I dunno around 6am, having packed 99% the night before. I made good time heading north with but one secondary objective: find some kind of hat with a brim to wear for the trip. I knew there was a 100% chance we'd be paddling into rain, I figured that whether I wore a hat with my goretex jacket (no hood) or under the hood on my Dri Ducks jacket, it would make life better. Stopped in 3 or 4 convenient store/gas stations, not so much as a Yankees hat... finally I found a Dollar General in Peru (very close to the boat launch for our trip) and bought a khaki baseball cap for $3... win!

    So I arrived at the stated coords about 20 minutes early but there was no boat launch there. I parked across the street at a boat shop and started digging for Jamie's phone number, before I could find it he pulled up to the spot. We reasoned that the boat launch had to be nearby, and headed south maybe a half mile to find it. Had a broken conversation with Bunsen to let him know that the coords were slightly off, he pulled in maybe 5 or at the most 10 minutes later, nice!

    By the time we got there it was raining steady and the waves were already crazy-big. Not sure if anyone got pictures, but there was a concrete wall with a floating metal dock attached to it in such a way it could rise and fall with the water... we did walk out on this but it was a challenge just keeping our footing. With the winds out of the north and west the launch was absolutely unprotected... it was just too hairy for my taste, and one could see that it wasn't just a matter of busting through breakers, the waves were all the way across the water to Valcour. What struck me was not just the height of the waves but the frequency, she was an angry lake!

    We decided to get some brunch at a nearby Dunkin Donuts and plot our next move. We ended up looking for a different launch, found a place to the south that looked like a more civilized launch, but by this time the winds were really howling and it seemed we'd be paddling into them for at least two miles. I had doubts we'd make it as did the others, so we went to look for a third option. This had us touring the grounds of Clinton Comm College, a place I remembered seeing on a road trip some twenty years ago, neat to see it again but no boat launches. Finally we went to the original launch location and after some hemming and hawing, thinking the waves had subsided some we decided "this is what we came here to do, let's give it a try."

    Well, between off-loading and loading up boats, and getting changed into immersion gear, assembling paddles, getting spray skirts attached, testing whistles and so on, some time passes and in a nor-easter the weather can really change, and boy, did it! The waves got stupidly big. Jamie was first to launch, I stayed out of my boat for a few moments in case he needed any help right away, Bunsen launched shortly after and I finally got out there. We just rode out some short distance from the shore, feeling the waves, the wind and the power in them, and gauging our chances. Finally I think Jamie shouted over the din "What do you think?" and I replied "I think it's too big! (That's what she said)." I'll admit it, I was first to tap out. When someone was in a wave trough ahead of me I'd lose sight of them behind the wave, the waves were just stupidly big, fast, and powerful, and although facing into them was kind of fun, being sideways to them either on purpose or on accident was "holy scary" and the headwind made it seem like the relatively short paddle might take hours to finish. Luckily the others agreed it was a bit much and we turned back (which was an adventure in itself, with the waves coming so fast I could not get turned around in time to get my stern to the waves... yikes!) After a very hairy, beating-intensive landing, we congratulated each other on having not died, and went on in search of "plan B".

    Plan B turned out to be a forest preserve where we could camp... it rained all night, so we set up camp, boiled water for Mt. House, and turned in around 7:30 rather than stand around in the dark and rain. We all slept until something like 8am... awesome and I thought very respectable for Bunsen who was ground-dwelling. I had my 15 bag,DD underquilt, GT ultralight hammock, and 10'x10' DD Tarp and was happy as could be. NFA hung a Warbonnet Traveler with a HH tarp... for reasons neither of us understand he didn't bring his recently purchased MollyMac insulated sock, so he felt cold from under the hammock now and then.

    So we finally got back to the boat launch and it was a different lake. Still not exactly a pushover when you got out there, but there was an older gentleman rowing around at the launch in an aluminum rowboat so I said "if we can't launch into this we should sell our boats". The waves seemed to be in the 1 foot+ range, in what seemed like no time we were at the island, landing and setting up camp there.

    Before the trip I had asked Jamie if there would be bears on the island. Well, we never saw a bear, but there were loads of bear scat in our site! The site was great... I've used better outhouses, but there was a firepit and picnic table, and a great view... awesome!

    NFA and Bunsen at camp


    Self-portrait with hammock rig in background


    Campsite


    Firepit


    After snack time we headed out towards Crab Island. The waves kept picking up steam as we went and at one point Jamie was having trouble keeping the spray skirt secure on the large cockpit of his Old Town kayak, so as a group we decided to spend time exploring the coast line of the Valcour and leave Crab Island for another day. It was a nice and fun paddle with some surf-able waves on the way back. Returning to camp, Jamie and I walked out to the lighthouse (built in 1874, recently the interior was restored but there was no access this day), took some pictures, we all gathered some firewood and eventually got a fire going. Nice campout with much less rain.





    Fossil rock near campsite


    Old steps from shore


    Ancient pier?


    Boats at Valcour Landing


    Bay


    Dreary


    But the sun tried to poke through


    Cloudy, but still pretty.


    Sunday morning we got up and packed up camp. When we got out on the water the general consensus was to head straight back to the boat launch. Again the waves seemed to pick up as we went, but Jamie asked "should we head south some and check out some of the McMansions?". Well, what a ride. The wind had shifted 180 deg overnight and was out of the south, and we were riding over swells that exceeded 3 ft at times. It was a whole different experience from Friday though, the frequency of the waves was less intense and they weren't breaking waves. You'd slow down a little going uphill on the face of the wave, speed up going back down, even into the wind we were making decent time, and being sideways to these swells was not too scary. Finally we turned back towards home and were rewarded with some fun surfing and wave action. Nothing left to do but one last landing, pack up, dry clothes (yay!), one last visit to Dunkin Donuts, and head home.

    A few closing thoughts...

    None of us seemed to regret trying the lake on Friday night, but at the same time none of us seemed to regret turning back. It was an adventure for sure, but I think it was over my head (figuratively and literally) at my current experience and fitness level. Maybe someday. I'd definitely want to upgrade from my nylon spray-skirt to neoprene though. Having a bomb-proof roll would be nice too, not to mention some warmer weather!

    In closing, a great, memorable trip. Big thanks to Jamie for organizing it, and to Bunsen for making the road trip from distant Buffalo!

  2. #2
    Senior Member Buffalo Skipper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Pensacola
    Hammock
    WB Traveler 1.7 single
    Tarp
    HG Cuben
    Insulation
    Incubator & Burrow
    Suspension
    Whoopies/MSH/strap
    Posts
    812
    Images
    97
    Great report! Glad to see you kept it safe.
    “Indian builds small fire and stays warm, white man builds big fire and stays warm collecting firewood”—unknown

    “The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea”—Karen Blixen

  3. #3
    Senior Member gargoyle's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Muskegon MI
    Hammock
    G-Bird II/Bridge
    Tarp
    Ogee tarp
    Insulation
    DIY TQ DIY Down UQ
    Suspension
    whoopies
    Posts
    6,686
    Images
    45
    Nice, Looks like a good time.

    @NFA I like the desert camo coat!, you need a matching tarp!
    desert camo ogee 009.JPG
    Ambulo tua ambulo.

  4. #4
    Senior Member slackmacker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Omaha, NE
    Hammock
    Grand Trunk Travel, Parachute
    Tarp
    Noah 12
    Insulation
    A work in progress
    Suspension
    noose
    Posts
    108
    two thumbs up!

  5. #5
    Senior Member mbiraman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    West Kootenays,BC,Canada
    Hammock
    Warbonnet BB DL 1.1 & Lite Owl
    Tarp
    Black MacCat Del.
    Insulation
    Yeti 3,4 & HRQ/HGB
    Suspension
    webbing/whoopie
    Posts
    4,244
    Images
    7
    Always nice to get on the water and paddle.Glad to see things worked out. About the camera thing. I use a pelican case clipped to the shock cord right in front of me , that way i can open the case , slip the camera on my wrist and take a few shots then back in the case . Works out most of the time except in big water. Rolling. Check your local pool for evening kayak classes in rolling. Over the winter is a good time. Thanks for sharing.
    PS , apparently Dubside has a great rolling video.
    " The mind creates the abyss, the heart crosses it."

    “The measure of your life will not be in what you accumulate, but in what you give away.” ~Wayne Dyer

    www.birchsidecustomwoodwork.com

  6. #6
    all secure in sector 7 Shug's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Minnesota
    Hammock
    I have many so....
    Tarp
    Blackcrow DIY Tarp
    Insulation
    FrankenquiltUQ/Pod
    Suspension
    Whoopie Slings
    Posts
    23,394
    Images
    62
    Nice .... a bit of adversity heightens a trip sometimes!
    Way to go....
    The kayak thing looks fun.
    I enjoy a rainy trip at times ... and reading about them.
    Shug
    Whooooo Buddy)))) All Secure in Sector Seven

  7. #7
    Senior Member Bradley's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    West Kootenay, BC
    Hammock
    NX-150 TX-150
    Tarp
    Vertex-Camo
    Insulation
    Z-Liner & DIY Pads
    Suspension
    Clark
    Posts
    1,557
    Quote Originally Posted by Shug View Post
    I enjoy a rainy trip at times ... and reading about them.
    Shug
    I prefer to read about them
    Bradley SaintJohn
    Flat Bottom Canoe
    Start A Biz

    The Transition from Ground Sleeping to Hammocks
    is the Conversion from Agony To Ecstasy,
    and Curing Ground-In-somnia.

    "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show you great and mighty things . . ." Jeremiah 33:3
    ΙΧΘΥΣ

  8. #8
    Senior Member Festus Hagen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Malta, NY
    Hammock
    DD Traveler + GT UL
    Tarp
    DD+HH sil UL
    Insulation
    DD UQ + CCF pad
    Suspension
    Whoopie
    Posts
    511
    A couple of NFA's pics... mine's the yellow boat.






    Commence being jealous of that view

  9. #9
    Senior Member Poppabear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Lexington Park, MD
    Hammock
    Warbonnet Blackbird 1.7
    Tarp
    Zpacks Cuben Fiber
    Insulation
    Leigh's UQ
    Suspension
    Whoopies/Treestrap
    Posts
    1,392
    Very nice report and pictures.
    Terry

  10. #10
    Senior Member Veto 65's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Cohoes, New York
    Hammock
    WBBB 1.7 DL
    Tarp
    Chinook 9.6x9.6
    Insulation
    AH New River UQ
    Suspension
    Came with the BB
    Posts
    704
    Images
    6
    Thanks for the report and the pictures. I need to learn to roll too before I even attempt to think about a trip like that. Thanks for sharing.
    I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. - E. B. White (1899 - 1985)

  • + New Posts
  • Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

    Similar Threads

    1. Goat Island 2014 Trip Report
      By chickenwing in forum Trip Reports
      Replies: 26
      Last Post: 07-05-2014, 10:00
    2. Replies: 40
      Last Post: 05-01-2014, 13:20
    3. Trip Report: Manitou Island Sept. 2011 (pic heavy)
      By gargoyle in forum Trip Reports
      Replies: 65
      Last Post: 09-26-2011, 05:50
    4. Trip Report - Goose Island State Park Rockport Texas
      By babelfish5 in forum Trip Reports
      Replies: 13
      Last Post: 09-05-2010, 22:11
    5. kayak camp trip report on ponderosa island
      By neo in forum Hangouts, Campouts, and Trip Planning
      Replies: 2
      Last Post: 05-26-2009, 09:33

    Tags for this Thread

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •