LOCALadk Magazine

Chris Koll, "The General" on his home river, The Moose. Photo by: Matt Young anywhere in the state make this stretch of river truly world class. The sections of river both above and below "Bryant's Bridge" are usually combined to create the finest day of paddling in the park. The final rapid called "Sluice Falls" is a sight to behold. The entire river chokes down to not much wider than a paddle length, requiring paddlers to charge high on the left hand wall, avoiding what looks to be a rock capable of (but not actually) decapitating a paddler's head on the right. The Old Forge Area The Old Forge area is what most out of the area paddlers think of when a mission to the Adirondacks is discussed and where you'll find The Adirondack's most well known paddling character, Chris Koll. The popularity of the annual frat party style rager known as The Moose River Festival, combined with the history of a major success story between paddlers and a hydropower company, lures paddlers to this area every year. While many paddlers only know this area as a fall destination for the Bottom section, high flows on the Moose in the spring season bring the lower section into its glory as a classic big-water run. In addition to the Moose, there 18 LOCALadk Magazine Spring 2013 is paddling to be done on the Independence River and Otter Creek, as well as the recently popular Old Forge local after-work run called Woodhull Creek. All of these rivers contain the smooth bedrock slides that paddling in the Old Forge area has become famous for. If you are around the Old Forge Area on a weekend in the spring you will most likely run into Chris and Karen Koll. They are New York's original paddling couple. The two of them began paddling together in the Adirondacks in the 80's. Chris and his friend Pete Skinner are responsible for many of the favorite summer dam releases on rivers throughout New York. Chris organized the Moose River Festival through the height of its popularity and is the undisputed patriarch of Adirondack paddling. Thirty years later you can still often find Chris and Karen paddling together on the Moose. If "The General" is in a good mood or fond of you, it is likely he will poke fun at you with some kind of sarcastic remark. His comments will probably leave you with feelings of uncertainty, the likes of which you have never felt before. His good-natured jabs are reminiscent of the stern wrestling coach you never had, or wanted. Luckily, Karen is usually there also to offer kind words of encouragement that are likely to build your confidence

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