Despite the cold conditions, Northwood’s adventure sports program had the opportunity to get back in the water earlier this week on Wednesday, March 11. With the warmer weather, the snow has started to melt, giving with it the chance for the trip to be possible.
Photo by Jacob Slagel ’26.
The group traveled to Saranac Lake, where rising water levels from the early March melt created good conditions for whitewater. Although temperatures hovered around 40 degrees, students were eager to return to the river after the winter months.
Marley Tracy-Deuss ‘27, who participates in the adventure sports program, said the outing marked an exciting start to the season.
Photo by Jacob Slagel ’26.
“It’s early March, and we had our first big melt of the season, and conditions were good enough to go whitewater. It was pretty cold, though. The waters were beautiful and super high. It was great to be back on the water.”
Tracy-Deuss explained that the rapids in Saranac Lake are relatively short but convenient because they are located right in town. He also mentioned that the town plans to expand the whitewater area below the dam in the future, which could create more opportunities for paddlers in the area.
Photo by Jacob Slagel ’26.
During the outing, students worked with Bobby O’Connor to practice their skills for the upcoming season. Tracy-Deuss said that whitewater kayaking can be challenging at first but becomes more rewarding with time on the water. “It’s a sport with a high learning curve,” he said. “If you want to get into it, you should spend as much time on the water as possible.”
While a cold start to the season, it marked a sign that spring activities are right around the corner for Northwood students.
All photos by Jacob Slagel ’26.
