Friday, July 24, 2015

I Love New York

Ready to race in the Third Annual Adirondack Challenge, Sunday July 19th
North Creek Rafting's support team, Nate (above) and the Howards (below). Photos by Nate Pelton
The rafts line up on the path down to the water.
Raft guides await rafters from all over New York State.


Governor Andrew Cuomo arrives on a school bus.
The Governor greets guides and fellow racers on his way down to the water.

The Governor introduces his daughter.

He adjusts his helmet.
Reporters receive last second safety tips.
And we're off to paddle the Indian River!
Mark Erler also races for North Creek Rafting.

Governor Cuomo: “Tourism is serious business”

by Pete DeMola

"North Creek-area river guides said they’ve seen upticks in business since the state launched a sustained tourism push four years ago, including large investments in advertising, the development of new mobile apps and massive publicity events like the Adirondack Challenge, which always comes with a wave of publicity for a region that had historically complained about being overlooked.

Becky Pelton, of North Creek Rafting Company, said it was huge for someone like New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to take a trip down the river three years ago.

That inspired a wave of new adventure seekers.

“These were women in their 60s who never thought about getting on a raft before,” she said.

Business is now booming, she said, including clients from India and China who book trips.

According to figures provided by the governor’s office, the Adirondack Park generated $1.29 billion in direct spending and $159 million in state and local taxes last year. The industry supports 21,203 jobs, or 17.9 percent of all employment in the region, and $590 million in labor income.

Sen. Little said the growth in tourism is spurring the creation of new businesses, which are then fed and sustained by returning tourists.


“We’re seeing new economic life here, not just in the tourism business, but interest in people coming here to start new businesses,” she said.


Crucial to this are the regional economic development council funds that are handed down each year.


The North Country has landed $338 million in state investment dollars since the initiative was launched four years ago.

Read entire article at: 

http://www.newsenterprise.org/news/2015/jul/19/gov-cuomo-tourism-serious-business/

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Hear Ye, Hear Ye ....

Artwork by Noah Howard
 Listen to Thunder Body's (http://www.thunderbody.com/) "Come What May" and watch North Creek Rafting in Grand Canyon (photo above) at: 


Celebrating Nine Successful Years Thanks to Outstanding Guides !!! 
Sunday July 12, 2015 - "Becky's photo illustrates her sparkling personality and terrific sense of fun on the river. Her and her guides were simply lovely. The scenery is fantastic - the gorge itself is a sight to behold and even after a year is tucked away in my memory"    - Michelle - NJ
Photo by Jim Swedberg
North Creek Rafting Testimonials - 2007 to present:

Monday, July 13, 2015

Colors of North Creek

New eggplant-purple 18 ft Maravia cataraft tubes


Sunflowers of all shapes and sizes begin to open last week.
A crimson Clematis and indigo Morning Glory vine grow intertwined.

The first and only Monarch Butterfly I've seen all year. The butterfly is on a phlox-like flower who's name is unbeknownst to me. The flower was here when we moved in and spreads each year. Note: I did see another Monarch fluttering around a Milkweed and Raspberry patch in North River a week later, July 20th. Milkweed is essential to Monarch reproduction in the Adirondacks. Check out www.adkaction.org for more information about helping Monarchs.

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Independence Day


At North Creek Rafting Company, I'm running the show with help from friends and guides. Nate drove to see the remaining original members of the Grateful Dead perform together for three nights at Chicago's Soldier Field. The band will be joined by Trey Anastasio (guitar), Jeff Chimenti (keyboards), and Bruce Hornsby (piano).
"Jerry Garcia was a great American master and the Grateful Dead are not just a genuine piece of musical history, but also an important part of American history. This is a band, born right at the beginning of electric rock, that took the American tradition and moved it forward. They really embodied the American concept of freedom, rolling around the country with a ginormous gang of people and the mindset that ‘you can come if you want, you can leave if you want. We don’t know what’s going to happen. All we know is we’re not looking back.’ What could be more American?”
- Trey Anastasio 

Betsy Ross, July 4th 2015
Backstage pass



The band's cake !