Hundreds of canoe and kayak paddlers from near and far will make their annual pilgrimage to the Adirondack waterways for the 28th annual Adirondack Canoe Classic starting at 8 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 10.

The event draws numerous local paddlers from the towns along the route including Old Forge, Inlet, Raquette Lake, Tupper Lake, and the greater Saranac Lake region.

Participants will also be coming in from Florida, Texas, California, Colorado, Alaska, three Canadian provinces and everywhere in between.

The 90-Miler is a three-day paddling extravaganza. The course follows some of the “original highways of the Adirondacks” once traveled by Native Americans, guides, early settlers and sportsmen out to enjoy the woods and waters.

Along the way, paddlers will make their way through the Fulton Chain, the Eckford Chain, Long Lake, the Raquette River, and the Saranac Lakes.

There are also several miles of portages, including those at Brown’s Tract, Raquette Falls and Bartlett Carry.  

The event is full with a maximum field of 250 boats and more than 500 paddlers entered into 14 classes. The 90-Miler is for both competitive and noncompetitive paddlers.

This year, about 95 boats are entered in the open touring division; a broad cross section of tandem and solo canoes and kayaks will race for the handcrafted wooden plaques; 15 guideboats are entered, nine Voyageur canoe teams are signed up, and 50 four-person teams are scheduled to ply the waters along the 90 mile route.

Over one hundred volunteers from organizations like the Green Circle, the Kiwanis, the Rotary, the Boy Scouts and other community organizations  help to shuttle boats, feed paddlers, keep time, provide for participant safety, and assist at pit stops each day. Local volunteers are welcome.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation provides invaluable boat safety support; Amateur ham radio operators led by Saranac Lake resident Roland Patnode of the Adirondack Amateur Radio Association will handle on-course communications; Search and Rescue of the Northern Adirondacks (SARNAK) coordinates with the ambulance services along the route to provide first aid assistance.

For more information, visit the Adirondack Watershed Alliance pages at www.macscanoe.com or call the canoe race hot line at (518) 891-2744.