Ninety Miles
Three days
Thousands of calories burned
As the morning sun slices through the mist above Fish Creek Pond, Norah Pease ’24 and Kelly Bloom '25 ease their canoe into the cold water. It’s the final day of the Adirondack Canoe Classic—better known as the 90-Miler—a grueling three-day race that winds through the original “highways” of the Adirondacks: interconnected lakes, rivers, and portage trails once traveled by Indigenous peoples and early settlers.
“I’m pretty new to racing, but since I did this last year, I’m more familiar with the route and how to paddle at race speed,” said Pease, a 2024 SUNY Potsdam graduate with a degree in history and a minor in wilderness education. “It’s not some leisurely paddle on a sunny day—you get sore and tired fast. But it’s a lot of fun, type 2 fun. I trained by running, lifting weights, and paddling. The 90-Miler is, as someone called it, a ‘sufferfest,’ haha. It’s hard—but it’s fun.”
For Pease and the 600+ other paddlers (in more than 250 boats), the physical and mental challenge of the race mirrors many elements of SUNY Potsdam’s Wilderness Education program—only with an added competitive edge.
“Students took on leadership roles, navigated unpredictable group dynamics, and operated in a challenging wilderness environment. The 90-Miler encouraged active problem-solving, peer accountability, and self-reflection—aligning closely with SUNY’s vision for high-impact educational practices,” said Adam Wheeler ’98, the coordinator for SUNY Potsdam’s beloved wilderness education program.
Over the course of three days, students and alumni paddled through approximately 16 different lakes and ponds and traversed three rivers, from Old Forge to Saranac Lake. They also completed eight portages—totaling more than 8 miles—hauling their boats and gear overland to reach the next waterway.
Hailey Gomez '27 runs between Upper Saranac Lake and Middle Saranac Lake, a portage known as Bartlett's Carry.
More than 20 students, alumni, and staff represented SUNY Potsdam in this year’s event, drawn together by the shared adventure and the unique sense of community the race fosters. The journey was as much about enjoying the beauty of the Adirondack Park—the largest publicly protected area in the continental U.S.—as it was about making new friendships and reconnecting with fellow alumni.
“It brings together such an amazing community of people,” said Sarah Carney ’09 & ’14. “I look forward to seeing former professors, classmates and current students each year. There is also something special about the people who canoe race. While we may be competing against each other, the camaraderie shown on the water is like nothing I've ever experienced.”
The route is no small feat: from Old Forge Pond through the Fulton Chain of Lakes, Raquette Lake, Blue Mountain Lake, Long Lake, Tupper Lake, Fish Creek Ponds, the Saranac Lakes (Upper, Middle, and Lower), and finally to Lake Flower. It’s a test of endurance and spirit.
“I would say it’s THE Adirondack event. The 90-Miler is to the ADK what the Olympics are to the world.”
Creative Writing major, with minors in Wilderness Education and Journalism
For some participants, the race is more than just a challenge—it’s a tradition. Chris Dyer ’84 completed his 12th 90-Miler this year, rowing a handcrafted guide boat alongside fellow alumnus Andy Doherty ’84. Dyer grew up watching his grandfather build and repair guide boats at Hathaway’s Boat Shop—an experience that inspired him to learn the craft himself and race in a boat of his own making.
Adam Wheeler, who’s finished the race 29 times since its inception in 1983, is a proud member of the “Golden Canoe” club (earned after 20 completions). This year, he paddled alongside his wife, alumna Heather Wheeler ’98 (who herself has completed the race 19 times) and fellow alumna Han Nugent ’07 (11 times).
“It is more of a happening than a race,” said Adam Wheeler. “It is a time to gather with friends, family, students and alumni from our program and share a special experience on the water.”
Since the College’s first student boat entered the event in 2009, the race has evolved into a dynamic, real-world extension of the Wilderness Education program. This year’s student paddlers—Danny Neri, Jacob Knapp, Jason Donovan, Dan Daly, Hailey Gomez, and Garrett O’Hara—were joined by a dedicated student Pit Crew: Trevor Rheaume, Zachariah Morehouse, Aila Bishop, and Chelsea Wright. Behind the scenes, these students managed the complex logistics that were essential to the team’s success.
Throughout the course, the Pit Crew played a critical support role—cheering from bridges and checkpoints, assisting with gear swaps, resupplying paddlers with food and water, and hauling their boats ashore at the end of the race. Their coordination, adaptability, and teamwork reflected the advanced planning and leadership skills emphasized in SUNY Potsdam’s Wilderness Education curriculum.
“Participation in the 90-Miler allowed students to apply what they’ve learned—in wilderness leadership, expedition planning, group dynamics, and outdoor risk management—in a real-world setting,” Wheeler said. “The opportunity was transformative not only for individual students but for the Wilderness Education program as a whole.”
This year's SUNY Potsdam teams were sponsored by the Lougheed Applied Learning Endowment.
For more information about the Wilderness Education program visit:
www.potsdam.edu/academics/programs-study/wilderness-education
Article and photos by Jason Hunter