Genesee Valley Chapter
Adirondack Mountain Club

Trip Leaders - Liability release forms are available here. Return the completed forms to Charlie. You can file your trip report on-line here for the Geneseean and the web. Thanks.

Let's have some pictures!

July 1
Tuesday

Tuesday at the Beach - Photos by Sally

   

July 21
Monday

Daytrippers on Irondequoit Creek - Photos by Rebecca

   

Clouds, sun, mild currents and an array of wild flowers, families of ducks, geese and swans, marked the morning paddle today. We paddled from the dock across from Baycreek to Ellison Park. The cattails are over 10 feet high. A soft breeze, good water level, and gently flowing current contributed to a relaxed and pleasureable paddle, especially going back with the current. The group stopped briefly at Ellison Park to stretch, snack and share in stories about the history of the park from captain of the black pearl canoe, Dennis, member of the Penfield trails group.
As we approached the half-way point heading back, some dark clouds and thunder loomed overhead. We picked up the pace trying to avoid being caught in any down pours. Well ... we were in the home stretch when the clouds opened and we were drenched. Seeking cover under the overpass, we found a safe spot to wait until the rain subsided. Everyone got wet, but our spirits were not dampened - in fact, it was fun. A few of us went to Abbots for an ice cream treat before heading home to dry out. Another great start to the week.
Trip leader - Rebecca Ledwin

July 19
Saturday

Honeoye Lake - Photos by Sue Green

   

Trip leader - Karen & Bill Pakulski

July 17
Thursday

Canal from Ayrault to Fairport - Photos by Steve

   

Trip leader - Peg Warrick

July 7
Monday

Daytrippers on Sterling Creek - Photos by Rebecca

   

The Daytrippers explored new territory today, July 14th. Sterling Creek is a beautiful, meandering waterway teaming with birds, flowers and bass ending at Fairhaven State Park on Lake Ontario. It was a gorgeous day with a nice breeze, sunshine and low humidity. Along the way we paddled under scenic bridges, saw many birds, including king fishers and blue heron, and turtles basking on logs. Two parent swans were swimming gracefully with several younglings as we paddled by.
At the state park we ate lunch overlooking the beach and got wet in the lake. I can't say we swam but we had a good time walking on the sandy beach that stretched out into the lake for quite a ways. On the return paddle we took a slight detour. The big tree in the attached pictures became an important landmark.
A less than graceful exit ended a most enjoyable day (we won't say who slipped). We will definitely do this paddle again with a few modifications. It was so much fun.! Thanks to our elite group of adventurous paddlers!
Trip leader - Rebecca Ledwin

July 10
Thursday

Erie Canal in Spencerport
Thirteen kayaks and one canoe enjoyed two hours on this beautiful section of the canal. There were enough clouds to keep the setting sun from blinding us and the mosquitoes were not out when we returned. Can't ask for a better evening.
Trip leader - Peg Warrick

July 7
Monday

Daytrippers on Irondequoit Bay - Photos by Rebecca

   

The Daytripper group enjoyed a beautiful paddle on Irondeqoit Bay Monday morning. A mild breeze, calm water and a sunny day contributed to a peaceful and enjoyable morning. We paddled from the boat launch off Irondeqoit Park past the bridge exploring a small cove along the way. We saw several great blue herons, swallows that live in the side of the bank, swans, ducks, a cormorant and king fisher. In the cove there is a small house for sale. Someone could purchase their very own island. A few tire swings dotted the shoreline.
The group indulged in ice cream cones, sundaes and lunch at Bill Gray's after a magnificent start to the week.
Trip leader - Rebecca Ledwin

July 5
Saturday

Erie canal - Fairport to Macedon - Photos by Stina

   

What a wonderful day for a paddle! Today we had 10 boats from Rochester meet up with the three paddlers from the Mid-Hudson Chapter who were paddling in our local waterways for a nice day of paddling. They had spent Thursday thru Saturday paddling and camping along the canal from the Black creek put in on the Genesee River before we met up with them in Fairport. Once we met up we paddled along the canal until we got to Lock 30 in Macedon where a number of paddlers ended their adventure only to watch as four paddlers continued into the lock and the adventure of going thru the lock. It was the first time thru for two of the paddlers so it added to the fun.
Trip leader - Charlie Helman

July 1
Tuesday

Lake Ontario from Durand Beach - Photos by Sally

   

The lake was almost like glass except for the occasional powerboat wake. Blue skies,minimal wind and 80 degree temps. made for a relaxing evening paddle on the lake. After a 21/2 hour paddle most of the group headed to Bill Gray's for a well deserved ice cream . . . cookies and cream with oreo chunks yum, yum. Not a bad way to end an evening paddle.
Trip leader - Peter Latham

June 30
Monday

Daytrippers on Canadice
Leisurely 2 hour paddle on Canadice Lake.....weather was perfect!!! Nice puffy clouds and a bit of a breeze but not enough to be a nuisance!!! Two newcomers to our Monday Paddle.....welcome Nancy and Betsy!
Trip leaders - Peg Jacobs and Pat Powers

June 29
Sunday

Erie Canal in Lockport
Today we had a joint paddle with the Niagara Frontier Chapter on the Erie Canal in Lockport. We had 25 boats enjoy a day of paddling through two large locks on the canal. It was impressive seeing that many boats in a lock all to ourselves. We even had time to create a flotilla for a afternoon snack on the canal . . . as people were pulling out all sorts of food from their boat hatches.
We were fortunate as the big storm that hit did not start until our ride back towards Rochester.
Trip leaders - Charlie Helman & Carol from the N.F. Chapter

June 28
Saturday

Baycreek Kayak Race - Photos by Bill Lawton

   

Says Charlie: I know this was not considered a ADK event today but there was ADK participation. Frank Cabron was a paddler in the race event and did quite well, 1st finisher in a sea kayak and 1st in his age group. Pete Latham and I were safety boaters all day.

June 24
Tuesday

Lake Ontario from Durand Beach - Photos by Sally

   

A blue sky with two foot waves and a medium chop greeted nine paddlers in eight boats. We kicked off the first summer season Tuesday night paddle with a good turnout of particapants. We paddled west into the wind and made for the west side of Charlotte Beach. With the wind and the waves at our backs on the return leg we made double time. Hugging the shore on the way back we observed varying styles of arhitecture of the beach-side houses(mansions).
The group decided to hang off shore to watch as the sun set in the westwern sky, the picture perfect way to end a paddle.
Trip leader - Peter Latham

June 22
Sunday

Erie Canal Paddle
This was truly an enjoyable paddle with five ADKers - Marshall, Chris, Pete, Betsy, and Sherry. We had everything from a short wide kayak to the sleek eddyline that really caught my eye!!!
We launched from the boat launch off Clover Street at 2:00. The weather forecast had been threatening but the day turned out perfect for paddling. It was fun riding the wake from small motorboats up to the Colonial Belle. We paddled to the other side of Bushnell's Basin and back and along the way enjoyed good conversation. We saw ducklings following their mother, people enjoying all kinds of outdoor activities from bicycling, walking, boating, feeding the ducks, and fishing and caught the wonderful aroma from restaurants in the Schoen Place area.
All in all, a wonderful day.
Trip leader - Sherry Bennett

June 19
Thursday

Irondequoit Bay
Four of us had a great paddle under darkening skies. We started out with a very leisure paddle up the east side of the bay, keeping an eye on an eagle. Chris and Dave then went a little faster up to the bridge and back, while the other Chris and Peg took our time crossing the bay can checking out the west side on our way back. We were rained on a bit, but not enough to matter. The bay was very quiet and ther were a lot of birds out.
Trip leader - Peg Warrick

June 17
Tuesday

Turf and Surf - Photos by Sally

   

The Waterways crew does know how to conduct a meeting!

June 14
Saturday

One rainy Outdoor Expo!   [All about Expo 2008]

   

Photos by Steve

   

Photos by Sally

   

Photos by Karin

June 9
Monday

Red Creek
On a very very hot Monday morning 10 of us set out from the Genesse Waterways and paddled down Red Creek. It truly was a lovely paddle and the shade was very welcome. The creek is filling in with a lot of "green" but still paddlable and quite colorful at this point. on the return we were met with a large barge at the junction into the canal. Lots of friendly waves as we waited patiently for it to pass by. We ended out trip at noon . . . that was enough sun and heat for most of us!!!
Next week we'll be at the south end of Hemlock lake . . . looking forward to another great paddle with great people!!!
Trip leader - Peg Jacobs

June 8
Sunday

Rubber Duck Race - Fairport

   

Six people in five boats paddled from the Fairport Crew dock (nice launch site) into downtown Fairport. After paddling around and checking out all the activity we put on our volunteer hats and acted as the guides for the 1000 yellow rubber ducks that were dropped into the canal. With strong winds from the west we ran into some technical difficulties but over all had a wonderful day on the canal. I was also able to leave flyers to promote our EXPO around so hopefully it will attract some interest for us.
Trip leader - Charlie Helman

June 5
Thursday

Salmon Creek
With threating skies we had 13 paddlers set out for an adventure on Salmon Creek. with calm waters, some noticable wildlife, lots of shoreline flowers and good conversation the two hours went by extremely fast. Mother nature was kind to us as we only had a few sprinkles of rain . . . after heading for home I relized that most of Greece and Irondequoit had gotten hit by a thunderstorm.
Trip leader - Charlie Helman

June 2
Monday

Honeoye Lake and Channel
What a great day to be on the water!!! 10 of us paddled through the channel at the south end of Honeoye Lake. Lot\'s of beaver activity thoughout the area!! And a few very green areas to paddle through!! It was just lovely!!! We are thinking of lengthening out Monday paddles to 3 hours - from the current 2. We are just enjoying the time and finding that we\'d like to spend a little more time on the water - in proportion to the driving time to the water (considering the neverending upward trend in gas prices!!). So - our paddles will begin at 10:00 and end at 1:00 unless otherwise noted. Pictures will follow...
Trip leaders - Peg Jacobs and Pat Powers

June 1
Sunday

Genesee River from Route 251
Four paddlers started out from the DEC site on RT251 on the Genesee River on an overcast day. This trip was supposed to be a shuttle from Rush veterans park down Honeoye Creek to the take-out on the Genesee River at Rt. 251, but low water on the Creek changed our itinarery. We paddled about 31/2 miles south on the Genesee and met up with a group of seven paddlers in canoes and kayaks heading from Avon to the Rt. 251 take-out. We observed many forms of wildlife on the shores and in the sky, including some young eagles darting around the tree-lined shore.
We had lunch at the outlet of Honeoye Creek to the Genesee under clearing skies before heading back to the Rt 251 take-out point.
A intresting and satisfing paddle was had by all.
Trip leader - Peter Latham

May 27
Tuesday

Canandaigua Lake
Evening paddle. Four paddlers had a lovely evening on the lake. Nice temperatures and low boat traffic made for a relaxing 2 hours on the water.
Trip leader - Karen Pakulski

May 27
Tuesday

Durand Beach Paddle
Sunny and breezy with light chop, 1-2 foot waves. The water is still very cold so we hugged the shoreline towards the west. When we returned to the beach area we spent another 45 minutes or so just going in out trying to catch waves. Ginger's boat was a bit short and wide for the lake and she didn't have a skirt. Peter happened to have an extra that she used and she wound up doing quite well.
Trip leader - Mark Rakestraw

May 22
Thursday

Black Creek Paddle
Four of us had a beautiful paddle up Black Creek from Ballantyne Road. We started in a strong wind but once we rounded the first bend the trees protected us. The water height was plenty for canoes and kayaks. There were two downed trees, but both had room around the end to pass easily.
Trip leader - Peg Warrick

May 20
Tuesday

Canandaigua Lake
Evening paddle 6:30 - 8:30. Open water. Sunshine and low 60's and no boat traffic on the lake made this paddle great.
Trip leader - Karen Pakulski

May 15
Saturday

Black Creek/Genesee River/Erie Canal/Red Creek
The morning started out grey and cold I was hoping rhe rain would hold off until our paddle was completed. Eight paddlers in seven boats put-in at the Black Creek boat launch. Before we launched the Gates Fire Department launched their Fire Rescue Zodiac inflatable for a training spin on the Genesee. A couple of new faces joined us on our paddle and a couple that we havn't seen in a while also made their presence.
Alas the feared rain started to sprinkle as we were halfway down the Genesee. We headed dowm Red Creek at a leisurly pace and were stopped about a mile and a half down by shallow water. No sightings of the resident beavers were to be had must have been hiding from the rain.
We stopped for lunch across from the Genesee Waterways docks before heading down the Genesee to the put-in on Black Creek. The weather may have been grey and cold but the company was bright and sunny.
Trip leader - Peter Latham

May 15
Thursday

Red Creek Paddle - Photos by Elizabeth Hane

   

Five us in canoes and kayaks had a very nice paddle up Red Creek. There was no wind and few other boats. The creek was a little low for this time of year; hopefully this weekend's rains will help it out.
Trip leader - Peg Warrick

May 13
Tuesday

Canoe Workshop at Mendon Ponds - Photos by Sue Green

   

Workshop leader - Marc Ornstein

May 10
Saturday

Howland Island
Photos by Sue Green

   

Photos by Sally and John

   

10 people in 9 boats headed out for our annual trip around Howland Island. Almost immediately after heading out we witnessed our first sighting of a young eagle. This turned out to be the theme of the trip as we either saw a couple of eagles many times or multiple eagles a few times! In between we enjoyed a paddle with beautiful conditions. By after noon we had clear sunny skies and perfect temps for paddling. We saw a number of other birds, enjoyed each others company, had a great paddle and topped it off with an imprompt-to visit to a local ice cream shop in Port Byron before the return trip to home.
Trip leader - Charlie Helman

May 5
Monday

West River - Naples
This was the first of the weekly "monday morning paddles" for folks who enjoy a leisurely flatwater paddle, and that it was!! The seven participants paddled across the end of Canandaiguq Lake up into Naples creek...then back out to the river down to the bridge and back. It was a perfect day - perfect weather, wonderful company, and even a pair of eagles to watch on our way out. We plan all our Mondays to be this wonderful!!!
Trip leaders - Peg Jacobs and Pat Powers

May 3
Saturday

Hemlock Lake - Photos by Sally

   

A group of seven of us started from the northern boat launch and paddled into the sunny/overcast skies along the eastern shoreline. We paddled into a brisk southernly wind that caused whitecaps on the lake. Upon reaching the southern boat launch we came across a Pack-paddle-ski group that was going up the inlet. After lunch we headed accross the lake and the return trip down the western side of the lake. Of course the wind died down so we could not take advantage of any surfing.....we did see some bird life but the eagles were not to be seen.
Trip leader - Charlie Helman

April 26
Saturday

Black Creek to Bergen Swamp - Photos by Sally

   

Sunshine, blue skies, and warm temperatures provided the backdrop for an 8 mile and 4 hr plus paddle up Black Creek into the Bergen Swamp. Ten of us paddled up the creek amid the squawking of the nesting geese. The water level was not as high as in recent years due to the absence of spring rains. Turtles were sunning on nearly every log and swarms of flying insects buzzed around our heads and boats as Charlie and Pete pulled and pushed our boats over and around several piles of downed trees and branch debris.
Distant thunder sounded as we were continuing our trek further into the swamp. Needless to say, we paddled back to our cars in half the time it took us to get to where we heard the first sound of thunder. The winds, thunder, lightening, and golf ball sized hail held off until we were safely back home.
Trip leader - Luann Mongelli

April 19
Saturday

Irondequoit Creek from Panorama Plaza to the Bay - Photos by Steve

   

We launched the season with twenty nine paddlers in a variety of canoes and kayaks on a perfectly beautiful Saturday afternoon. We shared the creek with the geese, swans, and herons. A fine time was had by all.
Trip leader - Steve Tryon

January 12
Saturday

Waterways Winter Party - Photos by Steve

   

Hosts - Karen and Bill Pakulski.

The Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) is dedicated to the protection and responsible recreational use of the New York State Forest Preserve, and other parks, wild lands, and waters vital to our members and chapters. The Club, founded in 1922, is a member-directed organization committed to public service and stewardship. ADK employs a balanced approach to outdoor recreation, advocacy, environmental education, and natural resource conservation.

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