Thursday, October 2, 2025

Back To Basics Part II: River Trails

Returned to an old local training route (one of several) we used to frequently paddle years back when striving to master moving water canoeing basics. Probably seventy-five percent of our paddling was upriver over low volume flows sporting usually taxing class I turbulence and class II to II+ waves, drops and holes. The prior tackled alternately head-on and through a combined series of switchback ferries and eddy hopping. The latter always and easily by-passed by tracking or lining upriver along the shoreline shoals - while being fun play spots for practicing tight eddy turns and surfing on the downriver return. Was great training for solving the geometry of an open, rockered whitewater boat. And ya' just need your shorts, shoes, boat and paddle (and mandatory PFD  now'days, which can be stowed).

A bit of fun two to three hour workout and only minutes from the front door. Out and back. No shuttle necessary. 
Upstream ≈ 1 mile. Downstream ≈ 1.7 mile. Say 2.7 miles round trip. Flatwater up to class II whitewater.

Best to tote along a sturdy old 'Carlisle' aluminum shaft/plastic blade raft paddle. Usually a bit of "paddle poling" involved on the shallow upriver. Is a useful walking stick for the tracking sections as well. Saves some wear and tear on the more expensive wooden or composite  paddles.

No fifteen foot waterfalls nor long, desperate class V drops involved. Usually just hard work. Would probably seem pretty lame to most.

No fun to be had here