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!