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!