Blue Ridge Road to Palmer Pond

Literally off the doorstep of I-87 at EXIT 29, lies a high-quality roadside Class 4/5 bed-rock style creek with numerous drops, each with multiple options. Everey rapid is basically a 2-parter.  An upper section with bedrock drops and boofs. And a lower section that is more rapid-like.  This is on the must-do list for any paddler whose in the Boreas or Boquet neighborhood, or when everything else is dropping out.  You can scout everything on the first lap if you need to from river left.  Too steep for boat scouting.  It's typical to get 2-3 laps.  Shuttle is a 2-minute drive.  MINIMIZE your time at the putin.  Check for wood periodically.  Early spring...make sure the lake is iced-out before getting on.  The water-level might be good, but if Palmer pond is still frozen, thats a bad day. Rapids: 1\. Putin - Robert Adams 2\. Blue Ridge Falls (visible from the vista pull-off) 3\. Cable Car (immediately follows blue ridge falls) 4\. Mesh Fence 5\. Snarly (empties into Palmer Pond) Water: Holds quite well due to supply from Elk Lake and the Southern High Peaks.  Check out Blue Ridge Falls from the pull-off on the way up to the putin, if it looks like you can get down it without too much scraping....it's probably good to go. There is no gauge, and the schroon gauge is a poor indicator. Putin: BEFORE you go to the putin.  PLEASE get dressed and GEAR ON at the takeout.  Minimize your time spent doddling along the road at the putin.  The put-in spot not marked and easy to miss.  Someone whose been there before will need to show you where to park (and where not to park).  A short walk near an iron-gated path leads to Robert Adams rapid. Alternative putin options:  1.  Just downstream is Niagara brook, you probably drove over it and didn't realize it.  Park there and walk along it to the base of Robert Adams.   Or 2.  Drive a mile or so upstream to a fishing access pulloff where the Branch crosses under the road.  This is also the takeout for the Upper Branch.  Putting in here would add an unreasonable amount of flatwater to your day. Takeout: There's small dirt parking lot at the pond. Take heed: The land surrounding the putin/Robert Adams is technically privately owned, which affords a hunting lease by the Hoffman Fish & Game Club.  The rest of the land downstream is wholly owned by Woodlands ATP, a logging company that has offered a hunting lease to Hoffman club, but also supports a PUBLIC recreation management plan (RMP) to the DEC for Fishing Rights to the stream banks DOWNSTREAM of Robert Adams on both sides of the river all the way to the lake.  If you encounter hostility at the putin, be polite and putin elsewhere, or paddle something else. http://hoffmanclub.com/.