Back to the Roots and Blue Sky at Moose Festival 2008

This post was put together by Werner TEAM paddlers Bryan Hartman and Matt Young.  Check these guys out anywhere the creeks are running in the North Country.

For the first weekend in five years it did not snow once! Blue, sunny skies presided over Old Forge, NY for this past weekend’s Moose River Festival.  The festival, which celebrates one of the Right Coast’s most classic rivers, and gives old friends a chance to celebrate another stellar season of paddling, usually marks the North Country’s first snow accumulation of the year.  However we are happy to report the only ice we saw was keeping drinks cold at the Moose Fest party, hosted by Slickers and our favorite bartender Shannon. 

Rob Yager and the staff at Mountain Man Outdoors paddlers in with hot apple cider and a keg for some post river relaxing.  We met up with our Werner brothers from TEAM Demshitz, Jared and Graham Seiler and Dave Fussilli, helped Rob and the staff sort eager paddlers out with some new gear and then headed out for a casual cruise for the Class 5 bottom Moose.  

With three primary sections, Middle, Lower and Bottom, the Moose really has something for every paddler.  Bottom is pool-drop river with plenty of sizeable drops.  Although there are plenty of easier lines to get entry level creekers excited, there are still plenty of lines out there to challenge even the most seasoned boaters. It truly is really a great training ground for the gobs of creek boating the Adirondacks have to offer.  We were stoked to get out there and see old and new friends and have some laughs when some of had less than stellar lines.

On the river and at the party this years Moose Fest seamed to be one of the better turnouts we have seen in five years if not the best. Although it was still pretty cold at night we enjoyed sunny days reaching into the 50's and enough action to keep us plenty warm.  Thanks go out to Slickers, Mountain Man Outdoors and of course American White Water, without there support we would not have this amazing river to celebrate.