By Tim Keyes, Joe Dadey, Greg Morrissey, John Barnhardt
The concept:
A chance encounter at Saranac Lake incubated the expedition. Joe Dadey From Adirondack hamlets to cabins (AHH) was running the Trails Center when people close to Greg Morrissey of the Mountain Goat Movement (MGM) arrived. AHH facilitates guided and self-guided tours throughout the Adirondack Park. New Jersey's MGM takes local high school students on epic adventures: climbing Kilimanjaro, skiing in Greece, surfing in Costa Rica, and more. AHH and MGM, allied and with student input, have agreed to partner on a large regional project in July 2023. Connecticut-based Evergreen Business Analytics (EGBANA) supports nonprofit community science and became the third leg.
An experiential learning expedition was born: 8 high school students were invited to hike Mount Marcy, the highest point in New York, to sail along the Hudson River from its source at Tear of the Clouds Lake to its mouth in New York York. uniquely under human power (perhaps a “first” for such a team). Students also participated in a study of Hudson's disease. water quality – for general pollution levels and microplastics. They discovered themselves and their outdoor abilities, while simultaneously learning about the history, culture, and ecology of the United States. First of all river. Filming was directed by Explorers Club member and Emmy Award-winning cinematographer John Barnhardt. Flycatcher productions.
The expedition was intended to be a source of inspiration for all young people, encouraging them to take on challenges outside their comfort zone and the digital world, engaging them in outdoor activities and science outside the laboratory . In particular, microplastics and their impact on the environment and human health constitute a relevant story, the ending of which perhaps depends on today's young people.
The team:
We sought diversity in teams – socio-economically, geographically and culturally. However, practical considerations were taken into account: our “pilot” expedition would welcome young men, juniors and seniors on the rise. Ideally, geographic representation would include the entire Hudson River watershed, from the Adirondacks to the greater city of New York. Ultimately, 2 students were selected from the Adirondacks, 4 from greater New York, and 2 from California. The students were mostly strangers to each other. All were selected for their character, physical abilities and outdoor experience. Three of the eight were Eagle Scouts. Four had never visited the Adirondacks before and two had never hiked the mountains! The overall expedition included 3 leaders, 5 support guides and 4 documentary film crew members, for a crew of 20, with a mix of gender, age and ethnicity. Most of us had no experience in film production but were eager to learn. Guides included Bhima Gaddy, a veteran educator and dedicated resource for MGM, and Kari “Safari” Fitzgerald who provided logistical support, ensuring equipment and provisions were provided.
The plan:
The plan was ambitious and challenging. Long, hard days of mixed transport, interspersed with periods of rushing and waiting, await us. No one was 100% sure that a large group would avoid accidents or injuries, although many preparations were made to reduce the risks. A cultivated team esprit de corps and mutual support was crucial.
The Hudson is 315 miles long and extends all the way to Albany. The salt front varies, reaching the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. The river emanates from Tear Lake in the Adirondacks, flowing downward through a succession of creeks and streams until it becomes navigable by whitewater raft, canoe, and kayak. The trip was scheduled to last two weeks, which required cycling the Empire State Trail (EST) from Troy, New York to Edgewater, New Jersey. The final leg was sea kayaking along Manhattan to New York Harbor.
Science:
The science objectives were developed to be practical yet meaningful. They included data collection using handheld devices: weather observations, total dissolved solids/electrical conductivity, pH (acidity level), chloride levels and for microplastics (samples were sent to a laboratory) . on the way). There was an unspoken assumption, and hope, that the High Peaks region of the upper Hudson would be the purest in the watershed, potentially free of pollution and microplastics – particularly at Tear Lake. The data was recorded in waterproof logs and analyzed after the trip. There were 20 river sampling sites, including 10 for microplastics.
The trip:
The expedition began inauspiciously but ended gloriously. The first day was an 18-mile hiking odyssey, with 3,600 feet of elevation gain (and more descent), as we took care of filming and water sampling needs. The “day hike” ended up being a 20+ hour ordeal for the team, but we were now ready to take on the challenges that lay ahead. With the hiking portion largely complete (aside from the “portages” or canoe carries), the padding and pedaling portion has begun, with another 350 miles to go…150 on the water! See Figure 1.
The Upper Hudson features Class III-IV rapids in the Indian River-North River section, which were traveled on whitewater rafts. Below North Creek, where we enjoyed our first hotel stay of the trip, we used inflatable kayaks (“ducks”) to descend a challenging 20-mile, rock-strewn stretch under bluebird skies the day 5. As difficult as it was to collect water samples, we continued to rise to the challenge.
Heavy, bulky canoes were deployed below Warrensburg, where the waters were calmer and the weather remained favorable. Significant obstacles awaited – the crew made their first canoe portage around a dam – hoisting heavy canoes along a mile-long trail with an elevation gain of 300 feet.
Severe thunderstorms and strong headwinds added to the challenges of portaging around dams, rapids and feeder channels. Strong headwinds and a threat of storm forced the expedition to end its voyage at Stillwater, 16 miles (north) of Troy, New York. We reversed course the next day to continue “under human power alone” and rode the EST on gravel bikes from Stillwater to Edgewater, New Jersey over the next four days, taking more samples of water approaching the river. Our planned 50 mile drive to Hudson, NY became 70 miles due to a heat advisory. By the time we biked past Troy, where the Hudson is about sea level, we had descended over a mile from the summit of Mount Marcy! At that time, we had collected 16 samples, 6 of which included microplastics.
Leaving EAST briefly, we followed the Rip Van Winkle Bridge into Catskill, where we enjoyed a self-guided tour of Thomas Cole's residence/studio. Severe storms thwarted progress again after crossing the Kingston/Rhinecliff Bridge, so we hid the bikes to retrieve them later. To continue traveling “under human power alone”, on day 12 we returned to bikes again, which required a 70 mile bike ride from the bridge to Brewster NY, crossing the bridge several times. Walkway Over the Hudson to get good video footage.
Our final bike ride of Day 13 ended in Edgewater, covering 60 miles of road, but also navigating the Bronx and passing the George Washington Bridge.
On our final day we were driven north along the Hudson to Bloomer Beach, where we launched sit-in kayaks, guided by Urban paddle, and rode the final 12 miles to Jersey City, through choppy waters but under beautiful skies with stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. We were there!
The voice of the river:
Despite the challenges and uncertainty, the expedition's goals were successfully and gloriously achieved! We were greeted on the docks of the Manhattan Yacht Club by joyful friends and family, and a well-deserved celebration and awards ceremony ensued. Everyone was happy and sad that the trip was over; new experiences were shared, new lifelong friends were made, but new discoveries about the region and ourselves were made, and the memories of a lifetime were etched into everyone's psyche. We would all become ambassadors of the Hudson. All that remained were the scientific results of the expedition. Should we be relieved or troubled?
We finally took all the planned samples. The pollution data delivered what we imagined: pH higher in the Adirondack Park section of the river than below, and dissolved solids – indicative of overall pollution levels – increased a mile south, influenced around New York by salt water.
Unfortunately, microplastics have been observed in each sample taken. The surprising result is that microplastics have been More widespread in the Upper Hudson than towards the south. This could be due to dilution of precipitation outside the Adirondacks and/or additional volume of tributaries. Additional research over a longer period of time is needed to verify these results… but we have made a dent.
The epilogue:
THE From the Hudson River to the sea The expedition was perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. The time has come to seize another unique opportunity for voice of the river to be spread across the region…the country…the world – that this waterway, and indeed all waterways, should be managed more carefully.
The documentary film is expected to be released in April 2024.
All photos provided by Tim Keyes.
