If you’re considering participating in the 90-Miler, read on for some helpful tips and advice.
Be prepared, mentally and physically. The 90-Miler is a backcountry race — when on the course, you are often miles away from immediate medical care or rescue. The weather can be very hot or very cold, and wind is almost always a factor. There are mile-long portages, big open lakes, twisty beaver-dammed streams and shallow rivers with so many twists and turns it is hard to keep track of where you are.
Do some research on the course. Come up for a weekend in the summer to paddle a couple of sections of the course. Know your equipment and make sure it is in great condition. Nothing replaces time in the seat. No matter what class you enter, your successful completion of the 90-Miler will be more likely if you and your team have spent some time paddling. You do not have to be a professional paddler or have years of experience to participate, but the more preparation you put in, the better your results will be.
Your food and water. Find out what food you can tolerate and what will make you happy in the second half of the day. Hydration is essential. Most people use a bladder system, like a Camelbak, and some have a sugary electrolyte drink, but these are decisions you need to make before race day. Test and repeat!
Your boat. The type of boat you choose is up to you. Check out the boat classifications and specifications. If you are not sure, ask. For most first-timers, a solo recreational boat, stock boat or touring kayak are popular choices. You want a craft you can be comfortable in for up to seven hours on the water, yet light enough to portage across the carries.
Your gear. You will need an extra paddle and some extra clothing. Make sure your life jacket is comfortable and Coast Guard approved. Some people use wheels on the portages. They can help a lot on Day 1 as the carries are long, relatively wide and mostly level. Know how your wheels work and how to repair them. Make sure the tires are in good shape and connections work. Please note: For all competitive classes, if you start with wheels on Day 1 you must carry them with you all three days. The touring classes are not required to keep their wheels throughout.
Practice your paddling and your portages. Do not show up having never paddled or carried your vessel. Have a plan and practice carrying your canoe or kayak with the gear you will have with you during the 90-Miler.
Pit crews. At a minimum you will need someone to drive your car from the start to the finish line each day. A pit crew can also assist with replenishing supplies, providing moral support, setting up camp gear, equipment repairs, cooking and more.
Cut-off times. These are designed to make sure all participants and volunteers are off of the water before dark. At predetermined times there will be a Cut-Off Ambassador meeting participants at designated locations on the course. On rare occasions event organizers will also need to pull people off course to ensure that the event does not get so stretched out that we are compromising our volunteer resources.
Safety. Your safety is our number one priority. Race organizers attempt to plan for most contingencies, and we take your safety seriously. We partner with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, search and rescue groups and volunteers to provide a safety net of boats and personnel out on the course. Nevertheless, there will be times when you are by yourself, and you are ultimately responsible for your own safety. You should know where you are going and be prepared for emergency situations. Paddlers in the 90-Miler are a tight-knit community, and most will come to the aid of fellow paddlers.
We rely on NYSDEC personnel along with search and rescue teams and interested volunteers to stretch a chain of safety boats along the course. Should it get rough: use your head, follow directions and stay close to shore. In the unlikely event that the wrong side of your boat points to the sky: attempt a self-rescue, get to shore or accept assistance from other paddlers or the nearest safety boat. Make sure you know how to right your canoe and have practiced self-rescue.
Be prepared, mentally and physically. The 90-Miler is a backcountry race — when on the course, you are often miles away from immediate medical care or rescue. The weather can be very hot or very cold, and wind is almost always a factor. There are mile-long portages, big open lakes, twisty beaver-dammed streams and shallow rivers with so many twists and turns it is hard to keep track of where you are.
Do some research on the course. Come up for a weekend in the summer to paddle a couple of sections of the course. Know your equipment and make sure it is in great condition. Nothing replaces time in the seat. No matter what class you enter, your successful completion of the 90-Miler will be more likely if you and your team have spent some time paddling. You do not have to be a professional paddler or have years of experience to participate, but the more preparation you put in, the better your results will be.
Your food and water. Find out what food you can tolerate and what will make you happy in the second half of the day. Hydration is essential. Most people use a bladder system, like a Camelbak, and some have a sugary electrolyte drink, but these are decisions you need to make before race day. Test and repeat!
Your boat. The type of boat you choose is up to you. Check out the boat classifications and specifications. If you are not sure, ask. For most first-timers, a solo recreational boat, stock boat or touring kayak are popular choices. You want a craft you can be comfortable in for up to seven hours on the water, yet light enough to portage across the carries.
Your gear. You will need an extra paddle and some extra clothing. Make sure your life jacket is comfortable and Coast Guard approved. Some people use wheels on the portages. They can help a lot on Day 1 as the carries are long, relatively wide and mostly level. Know how your wheels work and how to repair them. Make sure the tires are in good shape and connections work. Please note: For all competitive classes, if you start with wheels on Day 1 you must carry them with you all three days. The touring classes are not required to keep their wheels throughout.
Practice your paddling and your portages. Do not show up having never paddled or carried your vessel. Have a plan and practice carrying your canoe or kayak with the gear you will have with you during the 90-Miler.
Pit crews. At a minimum you will need someone to drive your car from the start to the finish line each day. A pit crew can also assist with replenishing supplies, providing moral support, setting up camp gear, equipment repairs, cooking and more.
Cut-off times. These are designed to make sure all participants and volunteers are off of the water before dark. At predetermined times there will be a Cut-Off Ambassador meeting participants at designated locations on the course. On rare occasions event organizers will also need to pull people off course to ensure that the event does not get so stretched out that we are compromising our volunteer resources.
Safety. Your safety is our number one priority. Race organizers attempt to plan for most contingencies, and we take your safety seriously. We partner with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, search and rescue groups and volunteers to provide a safety net of boats and personnel out on the course. Nevertheless, there will be times when you are by yourself, and you are ultimately responsible for your own safety. You should know where you are going and be prepared for emergency situations. Paddlers in the 90-Miler are a tight-knit community, and most will come to the aid of fellow paddlers.
We rely on NYSDEC personnel along with search and rescue teams and interested volunteers to stretch a chain of safety boats along the course. Should it get rough: use your head, follow directions and stay close to shore. In the unlikely event that the wrong side of your boat points to the sky: attempt a self-rescue, get to shore or accept assistance from other paddlers or the nearest safety boat. Make sure you know how to right your canoe and have practiced self-rescue.
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831 Mill Brook Rd
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