Moose-Fest Whitewater Paddling in Old Forge, NY

Moose-Fest is always the first weekend after Thanksgiving. For those who are curious about the Moose, after the exciting video footage featured in "This Is Canoeing" -- here is a trip report from a YCCC member who caught this festival!

Four YCCC friends from Kingston went down to Moose-fest in Old Forge , NY last weekend to check out Moose fest and the rivers in the area.  The main event, primarily for kayakers is the Class 5 Bottom Moose section with lots of long waterfalls.  Moose River levels were 5.1 ‘ to 5.8’ on the gauge which is tons of water aided by a dam release which contributed about a foot of water to the level.  Even without the release there was lots of water.

Besides the Class 5 section there were other Class 2 or Class 3 sections:

·         Upper Moose: (Singing waters to McKeevor) Cl 2-3 with long continuous sections and an optional runnable Cl 4 waterfall   , 8 km to put-in

·         Middle Moose: (McKeevor to Rock Island) Cl 3  higher volume, pool and drop, like Ottawa Middle Channel, 20 min to put-in

·         Black River near Hawkinsville, Cl 2-3 long continuous sections, half hour to put-in, had lots of water

·         Fish Creek, Miracle Mile – no water at this time

A step up to the Cl 3-4 rivers we didn’t get to:

·         Independence River   Cl 3-4 , Canadian group with Martin Talbot ran Saturday ,

·         Lower Moose: (Rock Island to Fowlersville)  Cl 3-4 and higher volume

·         Black River – more sections of  Cl 3-4

·         Otter Creek  - Cl 3-4

The festival part was minimal organization this year: no arena, no bands, mainly lots of boats in town going to different rivers, but there are river sections for all levels. Lots of motels starting at $65, and camping available at Singing Waters, 8km outside town. Driving time would be 3.5 – 4 hr from Ottawa via Thousand Island bridge and I-81.