Landmark Conservation Deal Offers A First Glimpse Of New Wilderness
Warm weather has finally arrived in the Northeast. And along a wild stretch of New York state's Hudson River in the Adirondack Mountains, a section has been opened to paddlers for the first time in decades.
New landmark conservation deals in New York state have protected vast swaths of wilderness. Those deals have also opened waterways that had been closed to the public for more than a century.
I joined Phil Brown on a canoe trip along a wild stretch of the Hudson and Opalescent Rivers. After paddling a couple of hours, we reach a long stretch of golden, sun-struck water. The Hudson River is curtained here by bright green cedars. In the distance rises a sweeping line of mountains still dotted with snow.
"We can see the sheer cliffs of Wallface," Brown says. "The terrain here, even though we're surrounded by mountains, this valley we're in is pretty broad, so the river's broad and there's a lot of marshy grasses. It's very placid."
Phil and I have been paddling and hiking together for 16 years. He's written some of the definitive guidebooks for the Adirondacks and he's always showing me cool places to go.
On this day we're exploring a stretch of the Hudson River just purchased a few weeks ago by New York state. Until now visitors could paddle short sections, but couldn't go ashore, stop to fish or even camp or have a picnic.
As our paddling continues, we turn from the Hudson and paddle up one of its tributaries, a winding mountain stream called the Opalescent. What that means is that we're also sort of winding deeper up into the wilderness, birds chirping along the way.
The idea that this same wild water will eventually flow down Hudson River to New York City seems impossible. After paddling hard for an hour, we stop on a sandbar to rest our backs and eat lunch.
When asked why he makes trips like this, working really hard to reach the middle of nowhere, Phil grins and shrugs.
"I just love exploring places like this," Brown says, "I mean, it's beautiful day, it's a beautiful river...and it's just a nice way to spend some time."
We set off again and let the current take us home. It sweeps us effortlessly down through thick forests, through marshy bogs busy with spring peepers.
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Transcript
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
A section of the Hudson River in New York's Adirondack Mountains is open to people in canoes for the first time in decades. When deciding how to cover this news, North Country Public Radio's Brian Mann knew there was only one thing to do.
BRIAN MANN, BYLINE: We've been paddling a couple of hours when Phil Brown and I reach a long stretch of golden, sun-struck water. The Hudson River is curtained here by bright green cedars. In the distance rises a sweeping line of mountains still dotted with snow.
PHIL BROWN: We can see the sheer cliffs of Wallface. I mean, the terrain here, even though we're surrounded by mountains, this valley that we're in is pretty broad. And so the river's broad, and there's a lot of, you know, marshy grasses. It's very placid.
MANN: Phil and I have been paddling and hiking together for 16 years. He's written some of the definitive guide books for the Adirondacks, and he's always showing me cool places to go. On this day, we're exploring a stretch of the Hudson River just purchased a few weeks ago by New York State. Until now, you could paddle short sections, but you couldn't go ashore. You couldn't stop to fish or camp or have a picnic. We turn from the Hudson and paddle up one of its tributaries, a winding mountain stream call the Opalescent.
So I'm paddling upstream now and really working against the current of the Opalescent. And what that means is that I'm also sort of winding deeper up into the wilderness here.
The idea that this same wild water will eventually flow down the Hudson River to New York City seems impossible. After paddling hard for an hour, we stop on a sandbar to rest our backs and eat lunch.
I have a bag of figs.
BROWN: That's a lot of work for a bag of figs.
MANN: That was kind of a lot of work in that last stretch.
BROWN: Yeah, it's getting - the current is definitely - you feel it.
MANN: When I ask Phil why he makes trips like this, working really hard to reach the middle of nowhere, he grins and shrugs.
BROWN: I just love exploring places like this. I mean, it's a beautiful day. It's a beautiful river, and it's just a nice way to spend some time.
MANN: We set off again and let the current take us home. It sweeps us effortlessly down through thick forests, through marshy bogs busy with spring peepers. For NPR News, I'm Brian Mann in New York's Adirondack Mountains. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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