After hearing rumors of what the paddling status is at West Point I contacted the place and got a reply from the Harbor Master via a phone message. The gist is the following: "That boat ramp was never officially open to the public although it was never enforced." (Very lenient. I know because we would come in with boats on car roofs and when launching or landing would nod at passing MP patrols and happy cadets.) They are currently having all visitors through the gates go through an extensive/intense security check of vehicles, IDs, etc. (I visited my son down in Ft. Hood TX last fall and the security is strenuous, typical of any military base, which West Point is.). Unfortunately once a boat is launched they have no way of checking it when it returns, or for that matter any boat pulling up, to see what it might be carrying. Therefore that launch/landing ramp is permanently closed for security reasons. Too bad. It was a great launch site right on the Hudson right in the middle of the gorge of the Hudson Highlands. Convenient bathrooms and water. And after a day's paddle, nice cheap beer and pizza in the local town right at the main gate. Many of us had quite memorable trips out of that site and nice get-togethers afterwards. It is all a vivid reminder that we are effectively operating at a near war footing as far as marine facilities and military bases are concerned. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Aug 27 2002 - 17:40:10 PDT
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