A fun summer on the Housatonic

SHARON — Clarke Outdoors is a recreation fixture on Route 7, just south of the West Cornwall Covered Bridge. Water conditions change from year to year, sometimes the weather cooperates and sometimes it doesn’t, but there always seems to be a demand for trips on the Housatonic River.“The funny thing about our business — typically we rent canoes, kayaks and rafts on the West Cornwall section of the Housatonic River — it seems the demand for that has only grown over the years,” said owner Jenifer Clarke. “However, now that we no longer have dam releases, the water supply has decreased. Other than that, I don’t see a lot of change.” This year has presented its own unique challenges, but Clarke said business has been good. “It has been a very funny year in that it started very late due to the cold wet spring,” she said. “June and July were very busy, but in August business slowed down because most of the big storms missed us and the river has been very low. Despite the late start and low river in August it has still been a good year.”Clarke said the majority of their customers come from southern Connecticut and New York.“Our customer base is not the typical 18- to 27-year-old demographic,” she said. “Our customer base ranges from families with 7-year-olds on up. In fact, we recently had a group including a grandmother and her children and grandchildren all out together on a canoe trip. We get a lot of three-generation families with different age groups, which is kind of cool.”Clarke Outdoors usually opens for the season in early April of each year and closes in mid-October. Exact opening and closing dates are never predetermined; they are variable based on water levels and air temperatures.“During the off season I have a nonrecreation job at The Hotchkiss School,” Clarke said, “and most of my staff goes back to college. They usually begin calling me in March to find out when we will open again.”One year Clarke Outdoors tried renting cross-country skis in the winter but it did not become a viable business due to the lack of regular snow falls.Clarke said she has not seen many changes over the years in the outdoor recreation business. She said people seem more concerned about the weather than in decades past, which she attributed to the influence of The Weather Channel.“People realize it is a great river,” she said. “It’s a great way to get out and feel like you are in the wilderness even though you’re not. Ninety-five percent of our clients come back happy and that’s the way it’s always been.”Clarke added that the Northwest Corner is attractive to those looking for outdoor recreation.“The main thing is people love this area and some come in if they are just driving by,” she said. “Many love the Appalachian trail. Some rent bikes in Kent. They come and see the beauty of the area and they just want to be outside. That will never change as long as we don’t let the area change. It is just a great spot.” Clarke Outdoors is located at 163 Route 7, West Cornwall. For information, call 860-672-6365 or visit www.clarkeoutdoors.com.