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.