Functional Freestyle Canoeing in the Adirondacks

Text by Manon Paquet-Satrape

Photos: Manon Paquet-Satrape and Paul Meyer

A few years ago on a trip to the Adirondacks, my husband Jim and I, along with great paddling friends Tim and Paul, were delighted to be able to get to a usually inaccessible small lake in the Adirondacks in search of bog plants.  As an amateur photographer, I’m always looking for flowers, plants, and wildlife to photograph. The water level was unusually high that year allowing us to get from one small lake to another one through a narrow channel.  Having the freestyle paddling skills learned over the years made this trip not only possible but also very enjoyable.

Paul and Tim maneuvering though the marsh in their solo canoes.  

As you can see here,Tim is side slipping into position to get closer to the plants.  A side slip is accomplished by holding your paddle vertical with the blade close to the boat.  On the right, Jim and I are searching for plants.  

A small collection of Sundew on moss and other wetland plants:

Paddles are also helpful in pointing out certain plants! 

 

As a bow paddler, when paddling tandem I like the control I also have to maneuver the canoe.  In small creeks it is very helpful for the bow paddler to take a more active role.  I often use Freestyle maneuvers such as what is called a bow wedge to make a sharp turn or an axle for a more gentle turn.   

 

In such channels you can use various strokes and maneuvers:  side slips to move from one side to the other easily; axles and cross axles to make more efficient turns in tight spaces.  Above right, Paul is using a sculling stroke to get closer to shore. Tim, on the left, is in a perfect position to do a reverse stroke. Sometimes in a small creek you find yourself in a cul-de-sac and need to be able to paddle in reverse. Freestyle paddling strokes allow us to paddle effortlessly in this small, narrow channel. 

Paul paddling his beautiful canoe around this amazing lake using the J-stroke, in search of more bog plants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We found the following bog plants as we continued to paddle around the lake.

 

Above left, a beautiful collection of Pitcher Plants and upper right, some Swamp Candles.   

Lower left is a small variety of bog plants including a small Pitcher Plant and more Sundews.

We also found Marsh Cinquefoil (left), Rose Pogonia (center), and Bleu Flag Iris (right).

On our way back, Paul took a picture of us paddling back from the small channel after a wonderful day of discovery and enjoyment.