While Dylan will always hold the record for youngest NCMC participant in the 90-Miler, the 2023 Adirondack Canoe Classic was historic for having two young people in the Wenonah Minnesota 4. Wedged between Tom in the bow and Jack in the stern, youthful Jenn and Morgan brought a new vibe to the NCMC’s entry. Jenn is also the first ever woman crew member in the 90 for the NCMC. Morgan and Jenn were tireless, handled portage duties with great dispatch, provided all the interesting conversation in the boat, and were unfazed by any hardship or dilemma, like the poor choice on Day Three to take that terrible shortcut that never seems to work out, which was no doubt Jack’s decision.

Jack recruited Morgan, who is GJ’s nephew, and Jenn, who lives next door to Kimpton. Bill didn’t race because of an Achilles injury. Tom returned for his 22nd race, and his first since 2018, which was John’s 10th and final 90, and featured a talented Paul in the bow in place of Bill. The race was Jack’s 28th, and he will probably carry on to complete 30 races. Tom retired with the 2023 race at age 70. He did his first race in 1993, thirty years previously, so the 2023 race was a good bookend to his race history. Only the future will tell if Bill has also retired.

Tom, Jack, Morgan and Jan drove to the race from Kimpton with the Minn 4 on the top of Tom’s Subaru. They had a hassle checking into their rooms at Clark’s, because the reservation was in Bill’s name and the officious and irritating desk clear was not going to give them the rooms without Bill. Thankfully, Bill was available to speak to the clerk by phone, and he ended up having to email her the registration info. Tom reflected that he has stayed there more than 20 times for the race, and usually was the first to arrive, and had never before had to wait for Bill to arrive to get the keys.

Jenn arrived the morning of the race and, of course, had trouble finding the boat at the start because Jack was the last paddler in the entire race to get to the start and Jenn only knew Jack among her paddling mates. But they got off okay in Open Touring with Tom wearing his Gold Canoe around his next for good luck. Overall, the race went well over the three days with good weather and water conditions. They even hung around on Sunday for the mileage pin presentations and Jack, as a Gold Canoe member, presented Morgan with his first pin.

P.S. NCMCer Kate Webster has paddled two Round the Mountain races, and NCMCer Kelly Webster also did one.

2023 RACE GALLERY https://ncmc.smugmug.com/Adirondack-Canoe-Classic/The-90-Miler-2023