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 MikeI 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.
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