Boot-n-Paddle: A Trip To Lampson Falls On Sept. 9
As we round the corner to autumn months, warm showers and seemingly infinite sunlit days give way to the inevitable dark, dry, and cold times ahead. The motivation to extend this fleeting energy comes alive in many St. Lawrence folks—sparking adventure, outdoor relaxation, and a myriad of daytime hijinks. Never the sun forgets to rise, and never the Outing Club’s wish to trip, waivers. On Sept. 9, the OC led a five-person scout party to Lampson Falls to survey the surrounding lands with the hope of being able to lead student participants on the next excursion. The mastermind behind the plan, scouting party leader Reid Wilson ’26, set out with the goal of exploring a tall cliff behind the falls—one that would give the scouts and future participants a glorious view of the sunrise over the North Country.
Wilson contacted Ben Cabot ’26, navigator and recruitment extraordinaire, to collaborate in the grand plan. Cabot proposed bringing a fly rod in case monster trout were in the vicinity, and recruited Matt Serrano ’26, an avid fly tier and NASA-certified Trout Scout, to join the field mission. From here, Cabot found Commons’ Olivia (Bat) May(n) ’26, known for her nocturnal night vision and echo location abilities. Finally, operator Cody Dickenson—codenamed Alpha Striker Fire Runner—rounded out the scouting squad.
As the sun reached its final descent over the St. Lawrence Valley, the five set out, weaving down dirt roads following GPS coordinates and finding themselves face-to-face with a Private Property sign and a maximum-security iron gate. The mission’s first hurdle. “Fret not, fellow scouts!” uttered Cabot, “for we will tramp around the gate!” And so, they went… The scouting team walked the property line, careful not to trespass. It descended hundreds of feet, off-trail, towards the Grasse River’s babbling features. For what felt like an eternity, the team jumped logs, slid rock faces and found treasures along the unbeaten path, surveying the natural environment in search of the cliff face. The Alpha Striker Fire Runner’s white Adidas shoes proved to be a tactical chameleon-like camouflaged play as they quickly and conveniently turned dark brown, the exact color of the surrounding mud and muck.
Just as the team became weary, the light shone upon their sweat-covered faces to reveal Wilson, atop the sought-after cliff, proudly proclaiming in valiant fashion, “Yup, this is it.” His words, many are sure, are to be remembered for generations to come. Their tired thighs, like the worn pistons of a veteran automobile, trudged the few remaining feet upward to uncover a spectacular view, suitable for Outing Club participants, far and wide. The grins upon the faces of the five scouting personnel—who had proved not only to Kate Morris, but to the whole planet, that this would be a fine location for a sunrise hike later this week—were also far and wide. As they looked east, and the sun lay to rest behind them, they couldn’t help but think, “I wonder what Dana is serving…”
Your phriendly neighborhood Outing Club correspondent,
Ben Cabot