Season Wrap Up!

Pray for Rain


I prayed for a hurricane, really I did, and then we got a tropical storm. It slammed directly into the Lehigh watershed, dropping some ten inches of rain in about a day and a half. Ironically, I was off to Maine to work at the Fryeburg Fair for a week and I missed it. Mike called me as I was driving up to New England and told me the crew had plans to go, I was bummed.

Fate works in strange ways, though. The river was up high, way higher than we'd ever run it (although I have rafted it at 4000cfs - we did 20 miles that day in the same time it usually takes to do 10!!) but I didn't give that much thought when I was on the phone with Mike. When I returned, this is the story I heard:

Well, we met at the mall parking lot as we usually do, and Keith had no boat! He was so accustomed to borrowing my old Whiplash that he just completely spaced, and I guess that was enough of a kink for them to call off their plans. It was probably for the best, as the river was high, the water was cold, and no one put themselves into a dangerous situation.

Good decision making is the key to staying alive in backcountry adventures.

A week later we tried to catch the tail end of the high water provided by the storm, but instead we got a scratchy run down Muddy Creek, PA, a tributary of the Susquehanna. Paddled with a new guy that day, John, who is an experienced paddler close to our level. We had a great time and we shot this video at a four-foot ledge known as Snap Falls.

Dropping Huge Waterfall!

Fortunately for you viewers Mike edited out the 45 seconds of me paddling back-and-forth trying to build up the nerve to go over. It's funny how anxious you get before and then look back at and see how trivial it is and how it flashes by in an instant.

Happy Halloween!


A couple weeks later we found that the Army Corps was letting a reasonable amount of water into the Lehigh and we planned a Halloween trip. John joined us again and we made a new acquaintance, Joe, when we met at Rockport. Andrea shuttled us up to White Haven so we could paddle the upper (she did not paddle, thanks again for the shuttle!), and we shivered in the 37˚ weather. We warmed up once we got moving, but I kept my moves on the conservative side, just didn't want to risk a cold swim. Here are some pics courtesy of John.

Don't I look great in a wetsuit?

Joe and I at the lunch stop.

Merrily, merrily, merrily . . .

Labor Day on the Deerfield River Massachusetts

Taking a break from the boys' club, Andrea and I got out of town for the long weekend to go camping and paddling in Massachusetts. The weather was overcast and not exactly warm but it didn't rain and was probably about what you expect from late summer in New England.

We paddled the easy section of the Deerfield, called Fife Brook. Andrea started off with some butterflies in her stomach, but soon settled down for a smooth run. I've never seen someone accidentally launch off rocks in the rapids with as much composure as my wife and I don't think I'll ever understand it. This time it was a big rock but easy to avoid but when I ask her about her choice of line through the rapid she just shrugs. Unfortunately I didn't get a pick of that amazing deflection and splashdown.

Andrea in her new Remix 59.

Shuttle was provided that day by our good friend Liam O'Brien who lives nearby in S. Deerfield, MA. He met us at the put in, helped shuttle, and we went to the famous Charlemont Inn for beers and grub afterwards. There's a lot to do in that neck of the woods and I highly recommend a weekend trip to the Berkshires and the Mohawk Trail section along Route 2.

Next season I'd like to see our group get up there during a rainy stretch and paddle some of the small but amazing creeks that you see everywhere in western Mass.

Runnin' with Newbies

Well, we finally got Paul out on the Lehigh Gorge section for his first full whitewater run. After an intro weekend back in May when we paddled at Scudders' and then the Glen Onoko to Bowmanstown section of the Lehigh busy schedules prevented us from dragging the new recruit into the gorge.

As drought clipped the paddling season I was able to convince him that the Labor Day and September releases were likely to be canceled and that the end of August would be his last opportunity. Anyone that has tried to pick up the more difficult and dynamic "X" sports (skiing, climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, etc.) knows that continuity is gold for beginners. Paddling three times in one season is much more valuable for skill building than once a season for three seasons.

From Left: Keith, Luke, Mike E, Paul

Paul took advantage of a full weekend, coming up with me on a working Saturday and tagged along with JTRA rafting group to repeat the easy section, making miles and building confidence. We had a great time out on the deck for beers and burgers with the JTRA crew and the following day our buds drove up to meet us for a Sunday run.

Great weather, great times, as I post this several months late it brings a smile to my face and gets my stoke on for next season.

Recruits Wanted!

I already found one new recruit for next year, Chris, who has lots of rafting and inflatable experience, but has just bought a hard boat and is ready to rock. Anyone else? Here's a YouTube link put together my Mike Ein to entice you.



All you have to do is want it and show up, we'll help you with the rest.

Drought in Northeast

Dammed if you do, Dammed if you don't!

Punching Waves Saturday 8/14 Courtesy of Francis E. Walters Dam on the Lehigh

Though we've had some rain in our hometown this week, it is true that the northeast is dry. Mountain bikers in Vermont are complaining about dust! The usually mossy and damp Green Mountain state is dried up and so are all of its neighbors. Pennsylvania and West Virginia were completely missed by yesterday's storm which blessed only South Jersey and the Del-Mar-Va with its goodness but not enough to raise the gauges into the green.

Consequently our season on the Lehigh is probably coming to an end a little sooner than we hoped. Releases for the last weekend of August and Labor Day have been canceled unless significant rainfall occurs. If the rain comes in dribs and drabs the Army Corps may decide on releases at the last minute but don't hold your breath. So if you're looking for water here are a few places to find it but check before you drive in case of changes.

Scheduled Releases

Lackawaxen River (near Scranton) September 11 & 25

Farmington River (MA-CT) October 16, 17, 24, 25

Esopus Creek (Catskills, NY) September 3-5

For my part I'm heading up to Mass for Labor Day weekend and plan to paddle the Deerfield River, then meet my friends for beers and burgers at the famous (ramshackle) Charlemont Inn. I'm stoked to paddle something different after a dozen consecutive trips on the Lehigh. I promise to take photos and share them with you here.

Mid-Season Update!

Making Miles on the Lehigh


Here's a pic of me taken just below town of Jim Thorpe.

There is a long-standing debate over whether the Lehigh really has true Class III rapids or not. This is silly. The river certainly is not continuous Class III, but when you're in the middle of Bridal Veil, Pipeline, or Snaggletooth there is no question that these are Class III rapids, albeit short and well-defined. Sure, the Lower Yough and Tohickon are more difficult, but the Lehigh is harder than the Delaware and any number of the smaller Class II rivers in the region. Look up American Whitewater's description of the scale of difficulty and these rapids easily rate Class III or at least III-. Although none appear on AW's list of Benchmark Rapids I think it's mainly because rivers like the Yough are so much more widely known by all sorts of paddlers. None of the Lehigh rapids mentioned here is a straight shot down a wave train. All three require dodging significant boulders or ledges mid-rapid unless of course one has the balls (and skills) for going ballistic and launching off of them.

That said, I completed my sixth run in the Gorge this past weekend, four of them this season alone. It took the past two summers to build up to a comfort level on the Lehigh, but now this run has become a standard training ground. There is still plenty of challenge out there, some holes and ledges that I don't willingly approach, as well as some intimidating eddies I have yet to catch (when I finally have the guts to try to eddy behind Flipper Rock I will inform you right away).

With me this week were my wife Andrea, our good friend Cagno, the now-unleashed Mike Ein, and a new acquaintance of his known only as "the Boy". This guy was the most experienced paddler in the group and had pearls of wisdom to share - thanks - always good to hook up with new paddlers and learn from them. Actually, this is one of the greatest parts of whitewater kayaking: it is a group sport and we are all friends on the river. Paddlers will almost never miss an opportunity to help others on the river with tips, information, rescue, and recovery. It really is the epitome of "Do Unto Others . . ." because we have all been helped by other paddlers at some time, even if only for shuttles.

The part-time guiding continues, but there is little to report except for ushering tourists down the lower section and cleaning up the goons at the back of every group who just can't figure out how to steer. The mileage has been great for practice and conditioning though. I turned down an opportunity to guide in the Gorge two weekends ago, not feeling ready for the must-make moves and uneager to work twice as hard for the same compensation. I will be guiding the next four weekends consecutively and August will be the meat of the guiding season for me. I don't know about the rest of you, but come Labor Day I'm praying for rain.

Creeks on this fall's hit list: Muddy Creek, Nescopeck Creek, S. Branch Raritan, and the season finale, the Tohickon. See you there or, if you can't make it, I'll see you here.

Memorial Day Lehigh Gorge Run

Another Fine Run

Mike Ein and his Permanent Grin!

One of the most satisfying things in my life is turning people on to the outdoor sports that I love. Over the years this has mostly been alpine skiing with a bit of backpacking and mountaineering and now includes whitewater paddling. My last post described how I got two of my friends gear up for their first whitewater experiences. All they needed was for some water to fill up the gorge and take them to the next level.

On May 30th Mike, Keith, and I all met at the Rockport put-in. It was the first time when we all arrived separately at the put-in - interesting how everyone starts finding new reasons to be near the river on their own. The weather was absolutely perfect: bluebird, temps in the low 80s, water approaching 60 degrees, and only a handful of rafting groups to clog the lines.

I've been on the river a lot lately, but many of my runs have been below the Glen, so this was only my second gorge run of the season and my fourth overall. The hours of practice paid off. I didn't have the butterflies that often occur when I first glimpse the swift water at Rockport. Of course I avoid letting others know that I have any misgivings, unwilling to show any cracks in my "river guide" facade, especially with my protege Mike on the scene. By the time we got to White Falls, the first class III rapid of the trip, I was feeling very comfortable. I realized mid-rapid that I was very mellow, my body loose, absorbing the rock-n-roll of the river, smooth and languid paddle strokes replacing the old "paddle or else" fury of last year.

I'm really going to have to get a waterproof camera because it's getting to be such a nuisance protecting the device from the water that I just leave it in the case. I also have to review the manual because the slow shutter speeds make for a lot of blurry pics. Ironically, two of my paddle buddies, Mike and Mike, are both professional photographers. Note to Mikes: take more pictures and email them to me!

Keith getting his Moment in the Sun!

I know that this blog is mostly my private diary, but if one person is motivated by it to get out and try some whitewater, even if it's only a rafting trip, it will have been worth the while.

The river is a powerful metaphor for life and the lessons we learn there, and the feelings we have for it, are not left behind. Rather, they accompany us on the journey home and sustain us through all the ups-and-downs of this life, slowly building up to levels that make our lives deeper and richer whether we are on the water or not.

Until next time, amigos!

Livin' the Dream!

May 2010 "Mini-Camp" at Scudder Falls and Lehigh

It's no secret that I'm a paddling evangelist, spreading the good news and eagerly baptizing new converts. So when I heard Paul say, "why didn't you email me about the Octoraro trip?" (see older posts) I began looking for an opportunity for him. As it happens, Mike, another adept, had vacation time in the third week of May and had told me he was looking to get a first, bona-fide whitewater experience. And voilà: the May 2010 "mini-camp" was born.

Not everyone is equally patient with longer learning curves - probably the number one reason that kayak schools and outfitters have so much trouble convincing paddlers that their first day of "whitewater" ought to be spent on flat water. Since these were my bros and were moderately willing to undergo instruction I decided on Scudder's. This park-n-play spot offers flat water for practice and the five-foot drop that makes up the famous surfing hole. That "drop" is sufficiently intimidating and I knew it would instill the right amount of fear and respect in these new paddlers as it had done to me a couple seasons back.

We spent an hour just tooling around, giving Mike and Paul time to feel out their rented whitewater kayaks: a Liquidlogic Remix 69 for Mike and a Dagger Mamba 8.0 for Paul. We did some stroke practice, balance exercises, learned the ferrying concept, and just tried to get comfortable. When I sensed a bit of tedium creeping in I suggested it was time to run the rapid.

Yours truly flipped the first time through. Having become accustomed to setting a solid boat tilt to bust through the foam pile I overdid it and the diagonal wave just pushed me over. Later I managed a second, clean run, but you can still see two distinct glitches in my balance. Thanks to Mike for the video:

See the whole video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqKAM9-9iP8

Mike had to be at home Monday night but Paul and I headed for Jim Thorpe. The next day Mike and Keith were to drive up an meet us for a gorge run. The day dawned heavy and rainy and at 7:30 I had Mike on the phone, attempting to bail. I peer pressured him into it: "you already rented the boat and you have a wetsuit for cryin' out loud." I prevailed and Mike and Keith arrived about 11:30.

Although many weekdays find the dam allowing enough water through for a gorge run it was a measly 366cfs so we were forced to paddle Section 3, Glen Oko to Bowmanstown. This was, in fact, the much better call for the two rookies.

From Left: Paul (seated), Keith, and Mike

I didn't pull the camera out again, unfortunately, as I was mostly at the back as the sweep boater, although no one swam during the run. In spite of the rain we enjoyed the lush foliage, the mist clinging to the tops of the ridges, and enough water to comfortably run the rapids.

Everybody had a good time out on the river and our appetites are now even "whetter" for that gorge run. When we finally get out there under the sun with nice flows the early season experience will pay off. I'm sure that Mike and Paul will be rippin' it in no time.

May 15 Dam Release Opens Official Lehigh Season

Guide Training Complete!

This past Saturday I completed the final training run and it was a real confidence booster.  I was in my own kayak with a group of 63 customers in 12 rafts in the Lower Lehigh Gorge.

A young woman fell out of her raft right in front of me at one point, not even in the rapids, and she quickly panicked.  Her poorly adjusted life vest immediately rode up into her armpits and around her neck.  I don't think she knew how to swim.  Then her head went below the surface.  One of her raft mates jumped in to help, neither of them were listening to me as she tried to remove the life jacket.

  "Grab the handle on the back of my kayak!" I repeated.

With her friends help she was now out of the vest, or almost out, the straps snagging on her wrist.  Then the friend realized he could stand, another danger, potentially trapping feet on the bottom.  Thankfully the remaining people in the raft paddled back up and the two were quickly back in the raft.

  "I'm not leaving until I see that jacket back on you," I announced.  When the PFD was back on I snugged up the straps, "that's how it's supposed to fit," I concluded.

It was a momentary scare and my trip leader later agreed, but all's well that ends well.

The following day I finished CPR training and at the end of the class I was handed a small, thick envelop.  I opened it to find that JTRA had printed up these business cards.

Now I will begin working on kayak instruction certification with the American Canoe Association.  There are four levels and I imagine I won't even be able to pass Level I (out of four) until the end of the season or maybe early next spring.  Stay tuned . . .

Octoraro, Maryland, 4.0 feet on the Richardsmere Gauge

Perfect Post-Storm Paddle on the Octo!

Another day on the water, better than a day at work . . .

I had planned a friendship paddle for this particular paddle after some arguments about how to handle river safety erupted the previous week.  But, as there are "no friends on a powder day" in skiing, the inch of rain we received Sunday-Monday led to a decision to paddle where water and gradient come together.

Mike playing on the Octo (only pic not blurred, sorry)

It was a well-executed trip.  We met in V-town and we're headed north by 2pm.  The ninety-minute drive went quickly and by 4pm we were suited up and on the water in Maryland.  Breaking storm clouds gave us mostly sunny conditions and a very nice 4.0 on the gauge, the highest level we've been able to catch on this stream.

Keith on his way in . . .

We took our time going downstream, playing and practicing in some nice class II rapids.  We used a taxi for our shuttle, but we timed it poorly, causing a half-hour wait at the take out.  All in all we were out by dark, grabbed some quick grub, and were back in V-town by 10pm, not bad for a school night.

 . . . and on his way out.

More photos and video available at Mike Cagno's blog:  http://jerseypaddler.blogspot.com/

Guide Training Resumes May 15-16, stay tuned.

Interested in whitewater paddling?  Contact me at lgcluke@yahoo.com.

And finally, pray for rain!

Making the Most of Guide Training

With a half-inch of rain in the forecast and an expected high temperature of only 52 I hesitated as I walked towards the Jeep in the 6am darkness.  I could just turn around and walk right back inside, I thought.  It would be easy to log another training run another day, I thought.

In my years training and working as a ski instructor I learned that the trainers and bosses never canceled because it was snowing.  So this morning it never occurred to me that these veteran guides would cancel because of rain.  I aimed the car at Pennsylvania and resolved to willingly accept my fate.

This is the scene that greeted me as I pulled in.

Notice the low, low clouds.

And as fate would have it - it wasn't so bad after all.  I had been invited by the trainers to bring my "hard" boat, that is, in contrast to the rafts and other inflatables.  I was stoked that sight-unseen they had enough faith to make this suggestion.  I knew we were slated to do the "easy" section, but this still included one class III rapid.  Fate, again, stepped in to outsmart me, and instead of putting-in at Glen Oko we put-in two miles lower in town and skipped the class III.

Putting-in at Jim Thorpe.  That's my orange kayak in the middle of the photo.

It drizzled a bit during the first twenty minutes but mercifully the skies lifted a bit for the duration of the trip.  We had a pleasant and fairly chatty, social paddle, pausing only occasionally for actual "guide stuff".  It was so great to be inside my kayak, snug and dry and warm rather than sitting in an open raft with my feet tucked under 4" of cold bilge.

As soon as I get a waterproof camera I will bring you more action shots. 

I'm off from training for the next couple weekends.  During that time I will complete the First Aid and CPR portions of the requirements.  I'm schedule to return May 15th, the first scheduled Dam Release of the season and the official kick-off.  The following day is a training day on the river with the actual mannequin resuscitation drills portion of the CPR in the evening. 

By Monday, May 17 yours truly should be fully legit and cleared for guiding at JTRA.  WooHoo!

I'm thinking about looking for a sponsorship - whitewater kayaking and river guiding is a pretty steep learning curve and coming to it later in life doesn't make it any easier - so why not sponsor a guy who is a  key demographic for the sport's future.  Potential sponsors take note:  I am available for blogging, appearances, video, and magazine articles.

LK

Guide Training Continues at JTRA


Cold temperatures this past Saturday made the lower gorge a very chilly place to be at 4pm in the afternoon.  You begin to realize, however, just how well the seasoned guides know the river.  There are not only a dozen named rapids in the lower gorge, but the guides even have names for individual rocks, here's a sampling:

45 Minute Rock, Flipper Rock, the Three Sisters, the Picket Fence, Millennium Rock, Battleship Rock, and more . . .

As of yesterday I logged my third training raft trip and after CPR training I will be certified to guide in the State of Pennsylvania.  Two more river trips are required before I can become a paid guide at JTRA. 

Most of the time the guides at JTRA are in their own personal craft while the guests pilot their own rafts.  It's been interesting to see the boat choices made by individual guides, everything from full Colorado-style "oar-rigs" to sit-on-top or inflatable-kayaks.  For the moment I'm not deciding on anything, just going with the flow, and I hope that I'll quickly develop the skills needed to guide in the gorge from my "hard" boat, a Wavesport Diesel 75 (at the moment).

Next weekend, my first trip in an inflatable kayak, stay tuned.

LK

Sorry, no pics this week.

Guide Training Begins on Lehigh Aprill 10-11

Dear Readers,

Your's truly has officially kicked off the 2010 with weekend of training at Jim Thorpe River Adventures.  Saturday was spent learning the ins-and-outs of their guest service at the rafting center.  On Sunday we went out as a group in eight bright orange brand-new rafts. 

My training crew included Jerry, the boss, a seventeen-year old kid (Garrett), two sixty-year old guys (Gary and Bob), and a ski patroller from Blue Mtn a bit older than me (Mitch).  We all took turns "working the stick" at the back of the raft next to Jerry.  Fortunately, Jerry is a really mellow guy and is one of those great guys working at the highest level of professional sports recreation (Jerry is an American Canoe Association examiner) who really engages beginners.


I felt pretty confident as I had piloted rafts and kayaks down the Lehigh Gorge several times in the past year.  Now, however, I had a coach directing various draw or pry strokes, and asking for me to make specific moves with the raft.  I got put under the gun at Boxcar Rapid when Jerry had me ferry back and forth across the current several times.

About 10 minutes from the take out, with the entire group pulled into 'iron ring' eddy, the chief guide, Brad, announced that all first- and second- year guides were going for a swim.  I can assure you that the sunny skies that prevailed at midday had given way to that Pocono gray and the last thing I wanted to do was voluntarily jump out of the raft in lower Snaggletooth Rapid. 

But I did it and was quickly separated from the raft.  I was in the water a good minute and went over two or three small drops, taking a good knock on my right knee.  Not as bad as the swims I had in Ohiopyle or even last year at Pipeline on the Lehigh. 

That's me, second-back on the right, on the bus trip to the put-in.

I have to log two more raft trips plus two more days on the river in order to eligible for paid guide work.  I'll update you next week.  LK

Eric Jackson Paddles in Pine Barrens

 ERIC JACKSON VISITS BHP AND PADDLES PINE BARRENS

About twenty paddlers showed up at Bel Haven Paddlesports to meet and paddle with legend Eric Jackson.  EJ is an Olympic Medalist and National Freestyle champion who now runs the whitewater kayak company that bears his name.  Eric made a promotional stop to help get paddlers stoked, show them a few tips on the water, and offered a unique Q & A in the showroom with the complete line of Jackson Kayaks.

Great weather and a friendly crowd at the put-in on the Wading River.

Mike Cagno getting ready at the put-in.

 EJ making the rounds at the put-in.

 EJ paddling a Jackson Fun and showin' off a little.

Thank to Bel Haven Paddlesports for hosting us, providing shuttles and gear, and refreshments!

Paul Lewis on the Musconetcong July 2009

F.L.O.W. Launches!

Greetings Everyone!!

I am pleased to announce that this year I will attempt to organize my (our) paddling through this blog site.

What does F.L.O.W. stand for? For Lovers of Whitewater. (Yes, we'll still paddle some flatwater too).

In upcoming weeks look for the creation of the season long calendar to help you keep track of dam releases and regional trips.

This year's signature trip is whitewater rafting the Lower Youghiogheny in southwestern Pennsylvania on Labor Day Weekend, Sept 4-6.

Also planned, annual trips to the Pine Barrens and the Lehigh. Plus, as conditions allow, as many regional rivers as possible, especially S. Branch Raritan River, our beginner's fav, Octoraro, and hopefully some Susquehanna tributaries like Muddy Creek.