Central & Western NY Outdoors
 November 2005 

 ~~~ IN THIS ISSUE ~~~              

  Explorers on Cassadaga Creek

  Become a Viking on Land & Water in Greenland

  Learn About Threatened & Endangered Plants & Animals

  The Versatility of Inflatable Kayaks

  Medicinal Plants Backpackers Should Know

     Explorers on Cassadaga Creek by Sue Freeman

The map showed a squiggly blue line for Cassadaga Creek. This could either be good news, portending an intriguing paddle down a twisting waterway.  Or, it could be a sign of logjams, with trees, washed by spring floods, piled at each bend in the creek. Luckily for us, Cassadaga Creek is part of the Marden E. Cobb Waterway Trail, a paddle-way maintained as a clear passage by the Chautauqua County Parks Department.

  On a cool summer morning, we launched into the gently flowing waterway with the trepidation of explorers heading into the great unknown. We were Lewis and Clark, paddling in uncharted waters without Sacagawea or the rest of the Corps of Discovery. Of course, we weren’t carrying a year’s worth of supplies either - only enough for a single overnight. And, these waters weren’t uncharted. A map, in a plastic bag, lay secure under a bungee cord on the deck of my kayak. Still, the tingle of anticipated adventures to come was unmistakable.

  The channel was narrow and at times bushes, overhanging from the shores, reached to brush our shoulders. We pushed through easily, rounding bend after bend. Gradually sunlight began to filter through the lush forest to warm our bodies and set the trees aglow with the green of a ripe, freshly picked sweet pepper. The chirps of goldfinches filled our ears as they flitted among the bush-lined shores. Combined with the gurgle of the water moving past obstacles and the splash as our paddles cut the water surface, bird chirps were all we heard. We’d escaped the bounds of time to glide downstream in the wilds of the 1800s, away from the noise and busyness of the 2000s.

  Eventually the channel widened to 20 or 30 feet, but it never ceased to wind. We glided easier, propelled by a gentle current as we developed a rhythm to our paddle strokes. Mellowed by the undulating stream and rhythmic paddling, we were startled as we rounded a bend to find deer, standing in the creek, drinking. They were even more startled than us and they leaped to the bank and dashed into the woods.

  I placed my paddle in the water behind my kayak and used it as a rudder to steer through the turns. By letting the current carry my boat I could relax, let go of daily stresses, and focus on the sights along shore. I floated past wild iris in bloom, delicate tree roots exposed by erosion and turtles basking in the sun on partially submerged logs. We passed under a few road bridges but otherwise, no signs of civilization. A muskrat or beaver poked its slicked down, furry brown head above waterline than quickly darted to the safety of the creek bottom. We were invading his home turf. In the split second of recognition it was hard to tell which animal was eyeing us. Both are abundant along this creek.

  After 5 hours and 13 miles (and abundant breaks) we reached the lean-to along shore and gratefully beached our kayaks. Like explorers of long ago, we had earned a rest for our tired bodies. Lewis & Clark didn’t have the luxury of a 3-sided shelter to provide protection from potential rain, but we did. They also didn’t have a food bag bulging with steaks to grill over the fire, and tin foil pouches of veggies and potatoes to roast in the coals. As modern day explorers, we didn’t have to rough it.

  The next day we continued our journey downstream to find new discoveries around each bend. But this night we ate heartily and savored a warm summer evening around a campfire before snuggling into our sleeping bags inside the shelter to dream like adventurers.

___________________________________________________________________

Location: Chautauqua County, north of Jamestown, New York

Guidebook: “Take a Paddle – Western New York Quiet Water for Canoes & Kayaks” by Rich & Sue Freeman, www.footprintpress.com, 1-800-431-1579

Best Season to Visit: Late spring or early summer

Nearby Campgrounds:
A lean-to is available along the creek, 2 miles south of the Route 60 bridge.
Woodside Campground, Griswald Road, Cassadaga, NY  14718, (716) 672-4402
Top-A-Rise Campground, RD1 Dean School Road, Falconer, NY  14733, (716) 287-3222

Total Paddling Distance: 20 miles (5 access sites allow for shorter distances) (or, add another 20 miles for a total of 40 miles if you continue downstream on Conewango Creek)

Estimated Time to Paddle: 8 to 9 hours

Amenities: A privy and picnic table are provided at the lean-to south of the Route 60 bridge. The take-out at Route 65 has picnic tables.

Rent a Boat: Evergreen Outfitters, 4845 Route 474, Ashville, NY  14710, (716) 763-2266, www.evergreen-outfitters.com

Halloween may be over, but your chance to take on another persona certainly hasn’t ended. Head to Greenland next summer with Pack, Paddle, Ski and transform yourself into a modern day Viking.

Greenland is the western outpost of the Nordic countries and the eastern extremity of the Inuit community along the icy shores of the Arctic Ocean. Here you come face to face with the contrast of 1,000-year-old Inuit culture and the modern world. Most of all Greenland provides an overpowering sense of the vastness of nature - magnificent and ever changing. 

Hunters in Greenland originally developed the kayak. The fjords, straits and archipelagos are ideal waters for modern day Vikings.

In the south, the largest rock faces in the world, vast pack ice, calving glaciers, fells and ice caps greet explorers. Norse ruins and sheep farms dot the area at the outer edges of the fjords. Whales, seals and the occasional polar bear make this extreme environment their home.

Mountains surrounding the great plain rise up to a height of 400 or 500 meters. The ice cap is some nine kilometers away - three to four hours on foot - and is a beautiful hike that also passes through the lush 'Flower Valley'.

Narsarsuaq offers a beautiful view of the Qassiarsuk sheep farms on the other side of the fjord. The green fields and slopes explain why Erik the Red chose the name Greenland. He settled at this very spot in Qassiarsuk with his family in 986 A.D. and named the site Brattahlid. To this very day the ruins from the Norse era are clearly visible, as are the elegant reconstructions of Erik's farmstead and Thjodhildur's Church.

Itilleq is one hour by boat from Narsarsuaq to the southeast. From here it is a six-kilometer walk to the settlement of Igaliku. The Norse named the locality Gardar, and an Episcopal residence was founded here in 1126. The ruins of the cathedral and bishop's place have been renovated in recent years, and today constitute a beautiful memorial to Greenland's Norse Era.

On this trip you will explore both the untouched lands of Greenland that have drawn the hardiest of adventurers from all over the world and the historic Norse Lands. Stay in the land where exiled Norseman, Eric the Red, made his home. 

Vikings-to-be can find all the details on this ultimate adventure trip at http://www.packpaddleski.com/260701.htm

    Learn About Threatened & Endangered Plants & Animals

At enature.com you can enter your email address, select "Threatened and Endangered" and enter your zip code and you’ll be given a list of animals and plants in your area that are threatened or endangered including ones in the following categories:

 

* Birds
* Butterflies
* Ferns Mosses and Kin
* Fishes
* Mammals
* Non-insect Invertebrates
* Reptiles and Amphibians
* Wildflowers

http://www.enature.com/zipguides/index.asp?choice=endangered

When you think of kayaks you most likely picture a kayak constructed from plastic or a composite of fiberglass and Kevlar. However, kayaks have been available in inflatable form for several decades. These kayaks are not like the simple inflatable water toys in your swimming pool. Inflatable kayaks provide durability and stay afloat easily. Plus, inflatable kayaks have superior tracking abilities compared to inflatable boats. These are just a snippet of the countless features that bring confidence and interest to many kayakers.

Inflatable kayaks have several advantages. They weigh less then their plastic and composite counter parts. They are easily mobile and can be carried by one person versus the need for several people to move a hard-hull kayak. Inflatable kayaks can be used on day tours, camping trips, and sea kayaking. If you have little storage space available, then an inflatable kayak will suit your needs. It can be quickly stored in a compact area.

Experienced kayakers may doubt the durability of inflatable kayaks, especially with regards to sea kayaking. Inflatable kayaks bode quite well on the sea. In fact, inflatable kayaks are puncture resistant. If a puncture does occur, it can be patched up quickly. A puncture will not lead to a sinking kayak because of the structure of the inflatable kayak.

What type of inflatable kayak will best suit your kayaking needs? There are several brands and models of inflatable kayaks to choose from. Do you want speed or stability in your kayak? If you desire speed then a long, slender kayak will be a good option. If stability weighs on your decision, then a short, wide kayak will be an effective match. There are more detailed factors to consider such as payload capacity. Consult an inflatable kayak specialist before purchasing your kayak.

Do kayaking techniques differ for inflatable kayaks? Since inflatable kayaks are lightweight they can fall prey to windy conditions and rough waters. One way to remedy this situation
is to sit forward and paddle close to the kayak. Additional equipment can also alleviate adverse side effects of rough waters. Confer with a kayaking professional before using an inflatable kayak. They can tailor their advice to your kayaking experience level.

How much does an inflatable kayak cost? You may have local brick-and-mortar kayaking and hiking stores in your town where you can buy a kayak. However, the Internet offers a bevy of choices. Many inflatable kayak manufacturers have company websites where you can order your kayak. You can also do comparison price research by going to such websites as www.nexttag.com. Prices can range from twenty dollars to several hundred dollars. With a little research you can find an inflatable kayak that has the features you want at a price you
can afford.

Visit http://kayakingisfun.com/ for a free directory and information on Kayaking.

Why learn about medicinal plants? Certainly, backpackers shouldn't leave the first aid kit home, but it can be useful and interesting to know a few plant medicines too. Whether you are someday in a survival situation, or you just lost your first aid kit and have a terrible headache, wouldn't it be nice to find relief nearby?

You can. There are many effective medicinal plants. Some are also dangerous, of course, just like synthetic medicines can be. I won't discuss those here. This is a quick guide to a few safe plant medicines.

Plants For Pain Relief
Fill the bottom of a cup with shredded willow bark, and make a cup of tea with it. Let it steep for a few minutes before you drink it. The active ingredient is salicin, closely related to salacylic acid, which is used to make aspirin. You can also try chewing on a few balsam poplar buds.

Antiseptic Plants
Sap from "blisters" on balsam firs is a strong antiseptic. Pop the blisters on the trunks of young trees, and the sap will ooze out. You can spread it over cuts and small wounds to prevent infection. It is very sticky, however, and it will be difficult to wash off (at least it smells nice).

The crushed leaves of Saint John's Wort can be used as an antiseptic dressing as well. I once put a wad of the mashed leaves on a nasty gash in my foot, replacing it occasionally, and the cut healed faster than I've ever seen a cut heal. St. Johnswort has anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties.

Medicinal Plants For Diarrhea
You can drink tea made from the roots of blackberries and their relatives to stop diarrhea. Just fill the bottom of the cup with the cleaned and shredded roots and pour boiling water over them. Let the mix steep for five minutes before drinking.

Oak bark and other barks containing tannin are also effective. I have also used the twigs to stop diarrhea when I was backpacking in Mexico. Make tea with a spoonful of the bark or chopped-up twigs. Tannins can be hard on the kidneys, so drink just one cup of tea, or use oak only if you don't have other options.

Skin Medications
You can relieve the itch from insect bites, sunburn, or plant poisoning rashes by applying a poultice of jewelweed (Impatiens biflora). I have seen a poison ivy rash cleared up overnight using the juice from jewelweed. It is also said to work on sunburn as well as aloe vera.

Make a tea of witch hazel leaves (Hamamelis virginiana), and you can use it for relief from insect bites, and sunburn. Witch Hazel used to be a common astringent that women used as a "tightening" face wash.

There are hundreds of wild medicinal plants that could be useful to hikers and backpackers. You don't need to become an expert to benefit from them. Just learn to identify and use a few of the most widespread and safest ones.

About The Author
Steve Gillman is a long-time advocate of lightweight backpacking. For more on medicinal plants, plus tips, photos, stories and a new Wilderness Survival Guide, visit The Ultralight Backpacking Site 

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