Narrows of Lake George, NY

[adkjoe]

On the weekend of October 18th 2025 myself, friends Tim Goodrich and Patrick Dolan set off on the Queen of Lakes, Lake George, NY for an overnight. This would be my first adventure of 2025 and most likely my last as well. Life has been hectic "In a good Way" and I've barely paddled. We headed for the Narrows on Lake George and the many islands. After Columbus Day the island campsites revert back to first come, first serve, we wound up making camp on "Mohican Island". We then paddled further north to Black Mountain Point, explored Paradise Bay and other stunning coves. That next day was calling for 20 MPH+ winds after 10AM. So we broke camp and were back on the water by 9AM and off the water just as the rollers started. Although short the adventure and company were spectacular as was the weather. Overnight temps were in the low 40's which I felt was pretty wonderful for sleeping.

Video from our trip

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Joe, thanks for posting those lovely photos and video.

Lake George has been one of my favorite places of all time because the entire setting is so striking, and because I spent three summers there during my college years in the 60s. I've paddled day trips in the Bolton Landing area, Narrows section and into beautiful Paradise Bay.

I identified your new purple Hemlock Eaglet and the Bell Rock Star, but I'm curious what model Millbrook the red canoe is.

 

[Gamma1214]

Pretty country for sure. I really like the shot at 2:24 of the video

 

[adkjoe]

Joe, thanks for posting those lovely photos and video.

Lake George has been one of my favorite places of all time because the entire setting is so striking, and because I spent three summers there during my college years in the 60s. I've paddled day trips in the Bolton Landing area, Narrows section and into beautiful Paradise Bay.

I identified your new purple Hemlock Eaglet and the Bell Rock Star, but I'm curious what model Millbrook the red canoe is.

Good morning Glenn! My friend Tim who was on this trip "Millbrook" spent most every summer on LG as he grew up in Queensbury, he is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to Lake George. Here is his response about the Millbrook: "It has had a few names. It was called the Ashuelot when mine was made, but formerly called the Patriot, and it was the AC/DC solo before that. It is no longer made and mine was the last one to have the Ashuelot name, I believe."

 

[adkjoe]

Pretty country for sure. I really like the shot at 2:24 of the video

Thank you that shot was taken my my friend Tim Goodrich, I'm on the left.

 

[Erica]

I loved the pictures. I spent many summers in the area north of Lake George. It sure is beautiful.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Good morning Glenn! My friend Tim who was on this trip "Millbrook" spent most every summer on LG as he grew up in Queensbury, he is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to Lake George. Here is his response about the Millbrook: "It has had a few names. It was called the Ashuelot when mine was made, but formerly called the Patriot, and it was the AC/DC solo before that. It is no longer made and mine was the last one to have the Ashuelot name, I believe."

I had good friends in Queensbury in the 1960s.

As for Tim's Millbrook, here's some info about the Millbrook AC/DC that he may or may not know.

I was friends with the founder of Millbrook, John Berry, in the 80s and 90s. He lived and made canoes and taught canoeing in the Adirondacks then, in Riparius on the Hudson River. This was before he sold Millbrook to Kaz in 1988.

He designed the AC/DC to paddle tandem with his girlfriend, Jan Palmer, in combined class whitewater racing, which combines the times in a slalom race with a downriver race. John named lots of his canoes with puns and sexual references. The AC/DC was originally named that because it was intended to "go both ways." That is, it had differential rocker, and you would paddle it with the more highly rockered end as the bow in the slalom race and with the less rockered end as the bow in the downriver race.

John and Jan paddled many combined class races in the AC/DC, and I'm sure won many of them in the senior mixed class of competitors.

It could also be set up solo, and I recall paddling it that way in the mid-80s. It was stable and I can see how it would be a pretty good flat water and tripping canoe.

I guess Kaz made some name changes to that particular hull after he bought the Millbrook business and moved it to New Hampshire.

 

[adkjoe]

I loved the pictures. I spent many summers in the area north of Lake George. It sure is beautiful.

Thank you and Lake George is truly beautiful.

 

[adkjoe]

I had good friends in Queensbury in the 1960s.

As for Tim's Millbrook, here's some info about the Millbrook AC/DC that he may or may not know.

I was friends with the founder of Millbrook, John Berry, in the 80s and 90s. He lived and made canoes and taught canoeing in the Adirondacks then, in Riparius on the Hudson River. This was before he sold Millbrook to Kaz in 1988.

He designed the AC/DC to paddle tandem with his girlfriend, Jan Palmer, in combined class whitewater racing, which combines the times in a slalom race with a downriver race. John named lots of his canoes with puns and sexual references. The AC/DC was originally named that because it was intended to "go both ways." That is, it had differential rocker, and you would paddle it with the more highly rockered end as the bow in the slalom race and with the less rockered end as the bow in the downriver race.

John and Jan paddled many combined class races in the AC/DC, and I'm sure won many of them in the senior mixed class of competitors.

It could also be set up solo, and I recall paddling it that way in the mid-80s. It was stable and I can see how it would be a pretty good flat water and tripping canoe.

I guess Kaz made some name changes to that particular hull after he bought the Millbrook business and moved it to New Hampshire.

Interesting history Glenn thank you. I will most definitely pass it on. I have not paddled that boat but from what I am told it is pretty stable tripper as well as whitewater.

 

[snapper]

Thanks for the photos. They bring back a lot of great memories. For years I'd spend a week on Lake George beginning the Sunday of Columbus Day weekend doing an 18th century event called "the Lake." I portrayed a French milice and traveled with my Abenaki friends, looking for the Brits and their Native allies. We would paddle down from Huelett's Landing while the Brits would put in at Shelving Rock. Always a good time but honestly, there were days where the wind driven waves would keep me on whatever island we were camping on. That lake can get spooky very quickly.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

 

[adkjoe]

Thanks for the photos. They bring back a lot of great memories. For years I'd spend a week on Lake George beginning the Sunday of Columbus Day weekend doing an 18th century event called "the Lake." I portrayed a French milice and traveled with my Abenaki friends, looking for the Brits and their Native allies. We would paddle down from Huelett's Landing while the Brits would put in at Shelving Rock. Always a good time but honestly, there were days where the wind driven waves would keep me on whatever island we were camping on. That lake can get spooky very quickly.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

Great story, thank you for sharing! I've always been intimidated by the heavy waves on LG. Just as we got off the water that Sunday morning the wind came whipping up the lake and the rollers started.