A non-profit club of sea kayak paddlers dedicated
to the safe and unencumbered use of our Nation's waters.

• Upcoming (Note: To be part of a Pirate event, you must realize waters in the Adirondacks can be extremely dangerous, with winds in excess of 30 mph and waves approaching 5 feet high. Even though the event might begin in mirror smooth waters, the weather can change rapidly. You must prepare for the worst, by being physically fit and carrying appropriate safety/rescue equipment (e.g. life jacket, spray skirt, pump, paddle bag). You must fully accept that you are responsible for your own safety.The Adirondack Pirates are good Samaritans and will always attempt to help those in distress (whether they are blokes, wenches, or damsels), but they cannot be liable if problems occur. (Caution- Trip reports below may be written in jest, with truths lying between the words. Our pirates have a sense of humor but water safety comes first. )
  • See bulletin board for upcoming trips.
• Recent
  • Dec. 19- Mohawk River- Low 30's and blizzard conditions did not stop Dr. Grog and crew from a raid starting at Queen Anne's Lock, Amsterdam, going downstream to the Stockade in Schectady, and a take out at Jumpin Jacks in Scotia. Low water between Scotia and Amsterdam required a gruesome portage. Two pirate ships were able to traverse about 7 miles of waterway, scouting out numerous locations for springtime pillaging.
  • Dec. 16th- Hudson River- 3pirates showed up to paddle on this sunny day. We found some good pirate hiding places in gullies off the river. Pirates paddled from Nolan Rd. to Hudson Point. It was an easy paddle back to the launchsite for we had the current and a breeze on our backsides.....the hardy ones today-and what a pleasure to paddle with--were Tom Esmond, Scott Nussbaumer, and Capt'n Dangerous....Icebreaker had a leak in his boat and had to abandon ship or else the ole' reliabe one would of been seeking hide-outs with the rest of the rogues.....Capt'n Dangerous
  • Dec. 14th- Sherman Island- 52 DEGREES SUNNY AND CALM.   IF YOU WEREN'T HERE, THERE WILL BE A GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR A  FLOGGING UNDER YOUR XMAS TREE.   MAD DOG MIKE, BAJA BILL AND DR GROG SAILED 7 MILES AT SHERMAN ISLAND.  BAJA BILL, THE MASTER OF GETTY NAVAGATION LED US UP THE GETTY LINE THRU THE CURRENT TO THE DAM.   WE LUNCHED AT THE FALLS AT THE OTHER END OF THE TRIP.  WE TRIED TO PILLAGE THE TURBINES BUT WERE REPULSED BY THE KEEPER OF THE FALLS.   BAJA FOUND SOME BOOTY WHICH REQUIRED A ROPE. TO TIE DOWN TO HIS BOAT HOWEVER BILL USED THE ROPE FOR SOME KIND OF BONDAGE CEREMONY KNOWN ONLY TO OLD PIRATES.  MAD DOG BROKE IN HIS NEW DRY SUIT.  NO LEAKAGE WHEN HE STEPPED OUT OF HIS BOAT INTO KNEE DEEP SLIME AT THE DAM.   NOON WAS INTERESTED IN THE FREE SURGERY OFFERED BY THE EVIL DR GROG...A SHAME.
    
    
  • Dec. 6th- Saratoga Lake- 32-35 DEGREES....WIND 10-20 MPH    THREE HEARTY PIRATES [MAD DOG MIKE, BAJA BILL, & DR GROG]  ESCAPED AGAIN FROM THE OLD PIRATES HOME ON A WENCH RESUPPLY RAID TO FISH CREEK.   THE ONLY WENCH FOUND WAS TOO LARGE TO FIT IN OUR HATCHES [EVEN DISMEMBERED]   SO IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WILL ONLY BE A LUMP OF COAL UNDER OUR XMAS TREES THIS YEAR.  WHILE ON THE WATER WE WERE STRIAFED BY A HERD OF WATER FOWL INTENT OF FERTILIZING OUR BOATS...  UPON SEEING THE SKULL AND BONES FLYING ON DR GROG AND BAJA BILL'S AFT DECKS THEY WERE TOO FRIGHTENED TO HIT THEIR TARGETS.   COLD FINGERS AND TOES WERE THE ORDER OF THE DAY BUT WE COMPLETED 8 MILES AND LAUGHED AT THE PERILS OF A COLD WINTER PADDLE.   ALL THOSE PIRATES NOT IN ATTENDENCE TODAY WILL BE FLOGGED AT A FUTURE DATE.      
  • Nov. 29th- Spier Falls - FUELED BY PENSION CHECKS AND A HUNGER FOR BLUE HAIRED WENCHES THE SENIOR PIRATES ESCAPED AGAIN FROM THE OLD PIRATES HOME TO RAID AND PILLAGE THE SPIER FALLS REGION OF THE HUDSON RIVER   BLUE BILL BROUGHT HALF OF TWO DIFFERENT PADDLES BUT WAS RESCUED BY DR GROG WITH AN EXTRA MATCHED SET OF PADDLES   MAD DOG MIKE, BAJA BILL, AND MIGHTY MARTY [TO BE RENAMED SOON] MADE UP THE REST OF THE FLOTILLA  THE POWER PLANT WAS RAIDED AND LEFT WITH SMOKE BILLOWING UP TO THE SKY   NO BIRDS OR ANIMALS WERE SEEN- OBVIOUSLY HIDING IN FEAR   MAD DOG AND BAJA RETURNED TO THE RIVER AFTER 7 MILES FOR AN EXTRA TRIP TO THE DAM--NO DOUBT  TO LOOK FOR MORE BLUE HAIRED WENCHES   55 DEGREES AND A CALM SEA LED  OUR BAND OF EVIL   TO REJOICE IN THE PIRATE LIFE
  • Nov. 26th- Lake George- Came back Saturday Afternoon (11/27/06) from Massachusetts after celebrating Turkey Day with family and paddling the traditional FAT (Friday After Thanksgiving) paddle(12 miles) with pirate friend, Al, and Smellie Ellie on the Sudbury River (11/28/06).  I was going to go paddling at Saratoga Lake with our A.P.P. group after reading about their trip.  However, Icebreaker called Saturday night and talked me into a Lake George paddle on Sunday.  By then it was too late to contact the others.....We launched from Huddle beach at 10:30 AM, paddled behind the Islands and headed south.  The wind was coming from the south so we turned around and rode the wind and waves back to the Sagamore.  We got out at the Bolton Landing Beach for a rest before we paddled back to the launch site at 2:00 PM.  No other kayaks on the lake were seen.  The lake was our's to conquer.  It was a great paddle on a great day.   The Capt'n.
  • Nov. 26th- Saratoga Lake- Eight pirates on Saratoga Lake- Baja Bill, Dr Grog, Greenbeard, Boo Boo, DeMack, Bluebill, Mad Dog Mike, and BlackJenny. BlackJenny was able to outwit the police who had heard of the upcoming raid. Baja Bill and Boo Boo broke ice so the remainder of the crew could pass through. There was a line of ducks which froze in fright as the crew approached and passed them. The sea remained calm and the sky blue throughout the pilfraging. -
    
  • Nov. 15th- Cossayuna Lake- Courage was limited to Dr. Grog and Mad Dog Mike who approached Cossayuna Lake, which was being blown by hurricane winds, with caution and stealth. Upon entering the frigid waters, the winds immediately stopped and the lake became mirror smooth. Circumnavigating the lake, all homesteads were boarded up, with a large and ferrocisous black cat watching our every move. Coming upon the one and only castle, the Doctor and Mad Dog could hear the screaming of a wench in distress. The castle was attacked, the gold within pilfered, and the wench saved. Tired from the battle, Dr. Grog and Mad Dog were rejuvanated as the sun peaked through the clouds. After a total of about eight miles, Doctor and Mad Dog vowed to return another day with armaments to take care of the black cat
  • Nov. 11th- Lake George- Raid and pillage the pirates did. Launched from Million Dollar beach at 10AM on a warm clear sunny day. Pirates headed north toward Diamond Island. Winds at about 15Knots pushed us easily to the island. The four pirates then decided to paddle further north to Speaker Heck/Long Island. Once reaching Long Island Baja Bill found an easy landing spot on the island for lunch and grog. After eating we then walked the trail on this large island to bury treasures from the days raids. When we got back into our boats the winds subsided making for an easy paddle back to the launchsite.A great day on the lake and a wonderful time had by all pirates. Raiders were: Icebreaker, Baja Bill, Nancy Finley, Capt'n Dangerous
  • Nov. 7th- Loon Lake - Flying the Jolly Roger, the despicable Dr. Grog and his crew (Blue Bill, Baja Bill, Mad Dog Mike, and Mighty Marty(new recruit)) went on a raid looking for new wenches. One wench was found, who offered lunch to all in lieu of being dragged by the hair. The crew passed on lunch and the wench, who was too old, had no teeth, as well as having bad breath. Residents stayed locked in their homes, after seeing the Jolly Roger atop Dr. Grog's vessel. Half way, the Pirates were nearly attacked by a large mammel estimated to be about 18 feet long with large piercing teeth, and covered with a thick layer of brown hair. No injuries were sustained, although the stress required Mighty Marty to be medicated with aspirin at the nearby Stewart's store.
  • Nov. 2nd - Hudson River - Mad Dog Mike and Baja Bill spent the afternoon searching for gold. We found gold in the glint of sun off the water and in the flash of red and yellow along the river which fed our spirits, but alas, we did not find any which we could use for grog and vittles. On returning to the beach we found one doubloon dropped by some scalaiwag who had found the bootie. We then sought our wenches to wine and dine them.
  • Oct. 29th- Prospect Mountain- Led by Captain V. Dangerous, a limited crew (Red Ear Slider, Ethan the Young, Mad Dog Mike, the Captain, and two vicious hounds for protection) ascended Prospect Mountain, where there was a blinding snow storm.
  • Oct. 24th - Brant Lake - The despicable Dr. Grog, Blue Bill and Mad Dog Mike braved the brutal conditions to fly the Jolly Roger and succeed in an 11 mile raid of the lake. Made a great day out of a cloudy and chilly one.
  • Oct. 15th- Hudson River- Nine pirates met at the Schuylerville launch and traveled south for 3 or 4 miles until reaching a crocodile infested swamp.
  • Oct. 13th- Million Dollar Beach- No report
  • Oct. 8th- Forked Lake - (Picture packages I, II, III by Smellie Ellie) )A beautiful sunny day for paddling - The pirates paddled from the Forked Lake Campground (10:30 AM) down to the Whitney Estate area of the lake.  It was a bit past peak with mostly yellows and oranges, but a few reds still around and alot of the trees already lost their leaves, however, the sun was so bright all the colors came out in their glory with the blue sky as its canvas.  The water was calm with a little breeze, just perfect for a fall paddle.  We then crossed the lake at 12:15 PM and had lunch at the northern (Raquette Lake Portage') launchsite.  After lunch we paddled left to the end of the lake to an outlet we explored before a beaver dam impeded our progress.  We then returned down the lake in the blazing summer (I mean "fall") sun meeting up with some loons who did not seem too afraid of us scary-looking pirates, Arrrrgh!  We arrived back at the campsite for a 4:00 PM takeout.  Unfortunately, there were no scullywags around to pillage or raid.  However, a great 13.8 mile (according to Scott's GPS) paddle was had with great conversation and lots of fun on a gorgeous day:  14 paddlers = Pete and Rosie Schmidt (Sweetie? & Cozy?),  Sheri Shevy (Voodoo), Dave Naylor (Icebreaker), Bob and Lise Fuller (Corsair Monsier Pisseur and his 1st wench), Karen Fraser, Kathy Colarusso (Kalico Kate), Scott Nussbaumer, Nancy Finley, Jim Reed, Bill Klaus (Blue Bill), Paul and Ellen Martin (Cap't. Dangerous and his 1st wench, Smelly Ellie)
  • Oct. 7th and 8th - Camping on Indian Lake - Pirate Pete Squared and Will-The morning was a cold 34 degrees and the ride up to the lake was dense fog most of the way (it did warm up into the high 60’s during the day).  The fog lifted to reveal a clear, blue, cloudless, sun-filled day just as Pirate Pete Two, Pirate Will and I (Pirate Pete One) started out from the boat launch at the south end of the lake.  Will was camping all weekend on Long Island and paddled in to meet us for the day’s trip.

    We paddled the east side of the main part of the lake, up to the dam at the opposite end and back down the west side, dropping Will off at his campsite and then returning to the boat launch.  The 19 mile trip gliding across the calm, placid water took us approximately 5 ½ hours with a maximum speed of 7 miles per hour (which had to be a short sprint) averaging about 3.5 miles per hour.  It was a great day to be on the water!

    Lessons Learned

    Every paddle poses the opportunity to have a real life experience of a common sense rule of paddling.  I wanted to enjoy the full glory of the dappled color majesty of Autumn, so I purposefully left my sunglasses in the Jeep.  I figured I had a hat that had a non-reflective brim which allowed me to see the yellows, reds and browns of the Adirondack foliage without being filtered through tinted glasses…and I was right all the way up the lake.  However, it was late afternoon when we began our return trip right into the low setting south west blaze of the Autumn Sun.  The sun bounced off the mirrored surface of the water under the brim of my hat and literally blinded me…and it was HOT.  The sun was so strong I could not focus ahead to see down the lake.  I had to follow the ripples of Pete’s Explorer to stay on course.  Pete and Will wore their sunglasses but the sun had a blistering effect on all of us.  We rafted up for a short break on the water and remarked we all had sun block…back in our cars.  As a result, we all had very red unexpected sunburns to take home with us at the end of the trip.

  • Sept. 27th - Lake George - Raid from Veteran's Beach in Bolton Landing to Black Mountain Point was conducted. No prisoners or jewels were taken because of four foot waves and 25+ knot winds from the South.
  • Sept. 17th - Lake George -Hague to Anthony's Nose and Roger's Rock
    • Treasure Map (.pdf file, requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
    • Pirates at Work (requires your computer to accept ActiveX. Pirates should take risks!)