Paddling into 2013

[mewolf1]

Yeah, but there would be no maintanance.

 

[Codger_64]

True dat. I finally located a bottle of 303 to rub down my canoes, but have to scrub a season's grime off of them first. And onstall new painters or at least grab loops to clip painters to. This for my two remaining canoes. And Louis Shaw (Two Brothers Canoes) is still sharpening his pencil to see how cheaply he can get a new/demo/blem Arkota shipped to me here in Tennessee. I'm thinking that is about as close to a true whitewater canoe as Jake and I really "need".

 

[mewolf1]

Just stay outta the class threes!! I figured early on that class 3 was just enough for me. I coulda gone farther, but I paddled with a class 5 Squirt boater that made me look like a Dog paddler. I learned from him that a class 5 had "must -make-moves"with consequences.......don't make the move you die!! Now, a strong 2 is fun with four Ibuprofin before and after.

True dat. I finally located a bottle of 303 to rub down my canoes, but have to scrub a season's grime off of them first. And onstall new painters or at least grab loops to clip painters to. This for my two remaining canoes. And Louis Shaw (Two Brothers Canoes) is still sharpening his pencil to see how cheaply he can get a new/demo/blem Arkota shipped to me here in Tennessee. I'm thinking that is about as close to a true whitewater canoe as Jake and I really "need".

 

[Codger_64]

This is about the closest I come to III water in recent years. It looks worse than it is. Though it washes out most beginners who don't know how and where to take a short drop. And it doesn't have a keeper at the base, just a foamy pool to recover in. The floaters call them falls, but they are really just ledges and have defined channels at most flows.

At most, they are good places for me to baptise a bowman with a lapfull of cold water. Unless they do something stupid. Both of my grown kids respond well to commands such as "just sit there with your paddle in your lap and enjoy the ride" and know what I mean when I tell them to draw, high brace or sweep.

Class IV-V I avoid altogether these days though I used to seek them out when I was young and bold. I would have done the Chattooga Bull Sluice without hesitation back then. And without helmet or adequate floatation or spotters with ropes.

 

[lmalterna]

Codger,
I remember seeing meeting a guy fishing the James River in a canoe- he used your rock ballast idea with a twist. He had a bucket with holes drilled near the bottom and maybe 10' of line tied to it- when we wanted to wade, he took the bucket out and sat it in the river for an anchor. Pick it up and the water drains out.

Bill

 

[Codger_64]

Rock ballast works well enough, but if there is an upset, it can sometimes overcome the canoe's floatation. So in a way, it's not the best idea for deep or moving water. Buckets of water are really safer. I use the iron scale weight on a rope as a drag anchor when I want to get out and fish. It weighs about 5-8#. The pierced bucket idea is cool though for rock ballast letting it double as an anchor.

 

[Codger_64]

Again. Just because I can.

 

[Codger_64]

Jerry Vandiver and the Morralls will be at Canoecopia this year. Madison WI. March 8th-10th.

[video=youtube;e-x7GT3rFVw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-x7GT3rFVw&feature=youtu.be[/video]

 

[Codger_64]

Another one from Jerry: Me and Molly. Am I the only one here with a dog for a canoeing partner?

Jake doen't talk much and he doesn't help me paddle at all, but everything I suggest is his favorite thing to do.

[video=youtube;cHjNFMVG77k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHjNFMVG77k[/video]

 

[Codger_64]

They went without me. One of the trips I was invited for this past weekend, Buffalo River Arkansas, the Ponca to Erbie Ford, an overnighter. They said they were the only ones on the river. Not too surprising.

 

[Codger_64]

This is a short video of the upper Buffalo River, called The Hailstone, shot in spring '09 by Mike Mills an outfitter on the river. I've only run this section once, in an open 17' Coleman when the rest of the river was closed by the NPS due to record flooding circa 1982.

[video=youtube;eBeTGoKKHVc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBeTGoKKHVc[/video]

This second video, shot the same spring, shows a bit more of the features of the upper section. You might want to turn down the volume. The rapids on the middle and lower river are almost all shoals, so much more easily negotiated by novices.

[video=youtube;wCrLg4GXemw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCrLg4GXemw[/video]

 

[Codger_64]

How about this one Kent? It doesn't need sticks, just a bit of canvas and paint. And they only want $150 for it!

 

[Ballenxj]

More nice footage Codger.
-Bruce

 

[Codger_64]

Glad you liked them Bruce. Here is another (stolen/borrowed) picture. The Mulberry River in Arkansas from last March. The 31st annual Jungle Boater Race at Turner Bend is coming up soon. Again, I wanna go.

 

[mewolf1]

...and a sail, and some caning. Maybe the little guy with the blue hat can help. In all seriousness, wood n canvas boats are beautiful, but that one would be all Navy. Maybe we could get some younger guys to carry it.

How about this one Kent? It doesn't need sticks, just a bit of canvas and paint. And they only want $150 for it!

 

[Codger_64]

Heck, I like it refinished with a glass top for a new coffee table!

 

[Codger_64]

Bear with me friends as I am trying to contain my interests (and lusts) for paddlesports in this one ongoing thread rather than start a few dozen.

Spring Paddlesport Training Clinics

Spring is nearly here in most of the nation and paddling enthusiasts all over are ramping up their activities. I've already mentioned "Canoecopia" comeing up in Madison Wisconsin March 8-10th. But I thought I might also mention a schedule of clinics being offered by a paddling club I am most familiar with, the Arkansas Canoe Club. These guys and gals are more active than many clubs and go to great lengths to do volunteer work in promoting the sport in a safe manner, in addition to their relentless efforts at keeping the State's rivers clean and getting involved in State legislation affecting river access, water quality and State and National Park issues. I am sure there are such clubs all over the U.S. and Europe, and likely other countries as well. I know they are quite active in Canada and the UK. But I thought to give a sampling of the calendar of training activities being sponsored by the ACC club since it is the one I am most familiar with. Members here from adjacent States may want to attend and learn, improve their own skills and learn new ones. Most fees are nominal since ACC is a non-profit club.

Swiftwater Rescue Clinic - March 8,9 & 10

Well, it is time to begin the spring SWR clinics.
Our first one is planned for March 8,9 & 10.
This will be a clinic for folks that have never taken a clinic,
but have some boating/swimming skills.
This workshop deals with what to do when you are out of your boat and things aren't going well.
Everyone who travels the river finds themselves needing help on the river from time to time. Whether you’re the one rescuing or being rescued, the skills you learn in a swiftwater rescue clinic are invaluable in situations when time is of the essence.

It is a weekend full of workshops and hands on exercises.
Friday evening is a non mandatory Meet n' Greet session to get paperwork looked over,
gear checked and answer any questions you may have about the weekend.
Starting 8 am sharp on Saturday dry land workshops will start, ending somewhere around 5 pm.
Sunday will again start and 8 am and finish around 5. The last hour or so is what I consider
the best part of the weekend, it is when we run scenarios. Drills that use everything we have learned
during the weekend. If you need to leave early on Sunday that's fine, but you will miss out on the good stuff.

This one will be held in Fayetteville and at Siloam Springs on the Illinois RIver. Cost for the clinic is $125.00. Camping is available.

Paddler's Wilderness First Aid Course April 13-14 2013

Due to the needs of our ACA instructors and interest from many ACC members, Ozark Safety and Rescue Educators will be offering the Wilderness First Aid for Paddlers course again.

This program is designed to be specific to the needs of paddlers in remote environments (i.e. most of our state) and in two days will focus on stabilization, treatment and evacuation procedures for many different types of trauma and medical emergencies in those times when "911" is not a ready option.

The program is 20+ hours of fast paced training that includes a good mix of classroom and hands on/scenario based learning. We will be doing after dark scenario work as well on Saturday evening after dinner, so be sure to bring headlamps and clothing appropriate for the weather, whatever it might be.

With successful completion of the course, participants receive a 2 year nationally recognized certification. The program and curriculum are accredited though the Wilderness Medical Society and concurrent with all national protocols. The program is also recognized by the BSA and meets requirements for scout leaders as well as requirements for ACA instructors.

This one will be held on a farm adjacent to the Mulberry River. The cost for the weekend is 125.00 and includes textbook and all materials. Camping is available onsite.

Intro To Paddling Clinic

The Introduction to Paddling Clinic is a one-day clinic held during the summer in late July or early August, usually at Lake Catherine or Lake Ouachita. More details will be added later for the 2013 clinic...

The Introduction to Paddling Clinic is designed to introduce basic paddling techniques and paddling safety. You can take instruction in either kayak or canoe. This is an American Canoe Association-sanctioned event.

The clinic will cover basic paddling safety, types of boats, personal equipment and gear, strokes, maneuvers, and basic rescue techniques. It is for any beginning paddler in any type of canoe or kayak.

It is perfect for those who might have recently purchased a canoe or kayak, but we will also make arrangements to provide boats and gear for those who need them. Boats of all types are welcome – touring, recreational, or even whitewater. In fact, if you have just bought a whitewater boat or intend to paddle Arkansas rivers, learning good stroke techniques and drills to practice on flat water is an excellent way to start preparing for Arkansas Canoe Club’s School of Whitewater Paddling or for the School of Recreational Paddling next Spring!

Additionally, they organize and sponsor a "Whitewater School" clinic and a "Recreational paddler" clinic each spring. Dates for those have not been set yet, but they tend to do these more than once a year if the demand is there. Also, there is a regular schedule of roll sessions held in heated indoor swimming poole in the Little Rock, Fort Smith and Fayetteville areas. These are for both kayakers and open canoeists and normally no fees, instructors provided.

ETA: The Central Chapter (there are seven chapters) just announced CPR classes for April, signup beginning now, no fee, exact date to be determined. This class(s) will be in Little Rock.

 

[taldesta]

Kudos and many thanks. This forum is so very rich in depth and variety of knowledge. Mostly I learn here and want to say thanks for the generosity of information. ID'ing my dad's old fixed blade brought me here. My respect goes to Bernard Levine for helping me out. Here he gave his valuable professional time to assist a stranger.

Please, may I tell you how much I enjoy this particular thread. Although I am new to this forum, I am not new to water access camping, basic canoeing, woodburning (100% home and camp), wilderness, fire, shelter, useful relevant tools such as knives, hatchets, break-down buck saws ... or to learning survival readiness in the enjoyment of our natural environment.

Laugh, but I have camped since all tents leaked and no airmattress held air.

I have learned over the years by doing with what I had. Embarassingly humble but useful gear. This forum has opened a whole new level of expertise to me with regard to tools such as knives and hatchets and camping & carrying gear plus. I am not acquiring more at this time, more downscaling the packed 'camp wall' in the basement stored here - but man this forum is tempting!

Always my goal was keeping safe, sheltered, dry, warm and fed ... and PLEASE most often comfortable. I simply have always been drawn to the simplicity of water, rock, elements and whatever equipment that gets me there and keeps me there. Definitely not by way of state of the art equipment (if budget - would have), I have covered more than a few miles over many years camping solo throughout the US and Canada - What some on the forum refer to as slam-door (Ha!) but mostly water access, pack-in, here in the Crown Lands in Canada. I sure did appreciate the US National Forests when traversing the North 48.

Although White water is not in my experience or capability, I respect that that others are so capable and honestly have enjoyed seeing pictures of water that is moving. Here just now it is mostly frozen and makes for great skiing, and unobstructed snowshoeing ... of course snowmobiling but that is not my way.

I am limited here in that I am so in the bush that I am still on dialup ... and cannot view videos ... but the opening shots do look inviting and the stills are worth the download time.

My thanks goes to the experience and knowledge shared by the BF community.

Susan, Muskoka, Ontario


... and because there are thoughts of dogs and moving water and water access camping ... I dream and remember while I enjoy my winter frozen riverway without paddle (only for now ... paddling soon to come)

 

[Codger_64]

Beautiful paddlemates Susan! Glad you are enjoying the thread and some of the pictures. I certainly like the two you have shared with us!

One upcoming event I forgot to mention is "Ain't Louiefest" in Northeast Tennessee. It is a spring whitewater festival, mostly for open boaters.

[video=youtube;yfqznTGKweA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfqznTGKweA&feature=share&list=UUWd1MxAR7_YAkzty7UcrXQg[/video]

Susan, I am old enough to remember when there were no mattresses at all, and I do tend to gather new gear, slightly upgrading old stuff and adding a few new "comfort" items. I love whitewater, but as I've said, I just cannot physically do it any more. It doesn't keep me from watching and enjoying the young guns though. Just for you, here is a photo of a place near and dear to my heart, again, the Buffalo National River. This one by Tim Ernst, local photographer.

 

[taldesta]

in awe ... personally cannot get to a shore where I do not want to push off .. thanks