Fellow Paddlers,

Our spring canoeing season is again close at hand. The snows that finally arrived in February to provide some skiing now hold promise of a spring runoff to provide canoeing waters. Our favorite spring whitewater streams will hopefully rise to the occasion.

Tony Shaw has again worked up our spring schedule with a collection of trips to accommodate all skill levels. For each trip, in addition to the leader listed, we are looking for a volunteer co-leader. This will provide a training opportunity for potential trip leaders who don't feel quite ready to go it alone. Co-leaders will be acknowledged on the trips and in the trip reports. So, please keep this in mind when you call to join a trip.

Mark Willett is heading up this spring's canoe clinic with help from Rob Farley in the classroom, Ray Gonda at the pool, and Rich Larsen for the river. As usual, we need many more volunteers to support the training activities, so call and schedule yourself in the area of your choice. Check out the schedules and make a plan to participate where you like and help where you can. I hope to see you whether your choice is dinner or paddling. Have a great spring canoeing season.

Charlie Thompson

The meeting began with a pot luck coordinated by Nancy Huelsberg and Zander Ponzo. Following that were announcements. Charlie Thompson called attention to the kayak clinic being offered during the summer. Sheri Larsen announced that the Williston Triathalon at the Catamount Family Center was looking for a sweep paddler(s) / safety boat(s). Date to be June 21.

A slide presentation "Paddling the Petit Mecatin" and "Sea Kayaking off the Coast of Maine" by Len Carpenter and Sally Spear was followed by whitewater videos by Mark Willett.

The business meeting commenced at 8:15 after the entertainment. Rose O'Connell discussed the newly hammered out Club position statement on navigable waters and access. It was put to a vote and passed unanimously by the general membership. Rob Farley indicated he would be taking a rescue clinic at Zoar Outdoor, MA. with Charlie Walbridge as primary instructor. The Club is paying Rob's tuition. Rob will be offering a rescue clinic for Club members during the late summer.

Ray Gonda
Secretary

NOTES:

1. For information about each trip, contact the trip organizer. All trips are dependent on water level. The scheduled trips are based on "normal" spring-time water levels. The trips listed may be changed or cancelled if the water level is unsuitable.

2. Persons interested in leading an alternative trip on a particular day should contact the trip organizer so information about the trip can be relayed to others.

3. Evening trips on the Lower Lamoille River may be held beginning April 12. Contact Ray Gonda for information on Monday/Tuesday outings (862-6164) and Rich Larsen for Information on Wednesday outings (878-6828).

4. Mark Willett (434-4297) can drop everything to run the Huntington (Int) when it rains --and he yearns to do so. Inquiries are welcome.

5. Contact Bob or Marvie Campbell (875-2235) if you are interested in paddling Southern Vermont Rivers in April.

The help of the users of Vermont countryside are needed to help preserve its use. We need to pass a change in the Landowner Liability Law. The existing law, TIO S5212, is good but needs some additions. Landowners are safe from loosing a suit to a careless recreational user of his land, like the case of swimming unsafely in Huntington Gorge.

The changes landowners and recreational users want adds two sections. One states that a landowner can recover legal costs of defending himself when he wins under this law. The other section says that the landowner doesn't loose control over his land when allowing a trail across it. We recreational users of land should certainly allow these changes in exchange for being allowed to cross land in our visits to Vermont countryside.

The House has again made an unacceptable version, H.243, that will force the closing of land, by making landowners liable for "wilful or Malicious failure" to warn against dangers. How many landowners would put fences and signs around all kinds of things to be safe under this law? How many would just post and close their land?

Please write your Vermont legislature requesting the two desired changes, landowner control and suit recovery, and rejection of the "malicious failure" part mentioned above. The Senate version is S61, and is good except it does not have the landowner control part. This is the third year trying to make this change. We need your help.

Thanks,

Peter Grant

If you are interested in participating in the Executive or other committees, please call Charlie or any chairperson. We would love to hear your suggestions and get you involved.

Please help us get a head start on the Summer Flatwater Schedule by providing any of the following information:

1) Where would you like to paddle? Do you have a favorite river, lake, or reservoir you would like to see on the schedule?

2) Would you be willing to coordinate a trip? Trip coordinators are needed to keep the schedule active and full.

3) Do you prefer day trips or overnight trips? Weekends or week evenings? Would you prefer to see several trips scheduled for the same weekend so you can pick and choose?

4) How often do you participate in club trips? Would you be willing to participate in spur-of-the-moment trips if a list of members with similar location interests was available?

Please help us make this year's Canoe Clinic another success! We need members to help instruct, paddle, assist with set-up, etc. If you would like to help with any aspect of the program call Ray Gonda at 862-6164 or Mark Willett at 434-4297. If you are available, your help will be appreciated, and you'll have fun!

Get your Spring trip reports ready for the Summer Bow Stern. It would help if the reports were sent on disk. Writing Assistant preferred, but Word Perfect or MS Word or ASCII can be used.

LOWER WHITE RIVER TRIP: June 28, 1992

It was a pleasant late June day when we met at Brooksie's Restaurant in Sharon. As usual, the water looked low but proved to be more than adequate. We stopped for lunch at the old dam in Sharon where Don & Wayne had an unplanned swim trying to side surf in the wave below the dam. The rest of us had a quick swim but the water was still cool, and Jeffery did some fishing, quite successfully. Later on in the day we stopped for another swim before taking out at West Hartford. At this level, the Lower White offers a bit of everything, a test of river reading skills, running through ledges in a current, and some easy rapids.

SNAKE RIVER "ALPINE CANYON": July 4, 1992

The Snake River, south of Jackson, WY, is a wide Western river with lots of long wave trains, big eddies with squirrely lines and a few holes. At 9600 cfs none of the holes are dangerous and the whole thing is great fun. To get there from the eastern U.S., take I-80 west from Rock Springs, WY and turn north on 191. Cross the Gros Ventre range and turn downstream at Hoback Junction. Look for the Forest Service sign for East Table Creek. (about 2500 miles)

We found the river very nice that day and had no mishaps. The "big drop" is called "Lunch Counter" (it's where the river eats boats) and at 9600 cfs it is really just some big waves, although a trifle chaotic. it's a great spot to surf decked boats and surfboards. It's also the traditional lunch spot and can be carried for multiple runs. Unguided rafts provide a great lunchtime show. Open boats are still a minority out there and a good run by one always brings cheers from the crowd.

If you're ever in Jackson, beg or borrow a boat or look up Adrienne Brown (now a permanent Jackson resident) and go run the canyon. You won't regret it.

GREEN RIVER RESERVOIR: July 18 - 19, 1992

We put in at the canoe access early morning with no rain yet but plenty of nasty clouds. We paddled safe and dry to the dam where we sat out our first thunderstorm. The skies parted, the sun shone... We paddled to one of the islands, staying dry (sort of), ate lunch and went for a brief dip. A half hour later the sun hid and the skies darkened. The next storm looked much nastier than the first so we returned (quickly) to the access point and sat in the cars until the rain stopped. The likelihood of more thunder and lightning was high so, between storms, we picked raspberries and then called it a day.

ANDROSCOGGIN RIVER: July 18 & 19, 1992

We had a great weekend. Most of us drove out Friday night. The weather was warm and fairly dry. We started out by doing the short stretch by the campground. The rest of the morning was spent in Errol playing in the waves.

In the afternoon and Sunday morning we ran the Pontook. Water levels were nice and high. A sad note, Moose (Ed Damp- manager of the campground) informed us that there is a good chance he will not be back in 193. He wants to move to Denver to be close to his sons.

DEERFIELD RIVER: Sept 12-13, 1993

Very few club members seem to be paddling the Deerfield, and those that aren't are missing a real rush. The Deerfield is class III - IV, so you do need to know what you're doing, but if you can handle that it's worth the drive. Check for directions with someone who knows as it's easy to get lost.

I went alone expecting to meet Lori at the river, and also hoping to find a group I knew to paddle with. The AMC was also there and let us join their group. The river starts out with a bang, and for me a splash. I flipped (carelessly) at the top of the first rapid and stood up and walked out. Then I walked a quarter mile along the bank looking for my pink canoe. The rest of the trip was uneventful. For me at least. Lori managed to swim the big one, Dragon's Tooth, in the worst possible spot, but emerged whole and smiling. Dragon's Tooth is easy to run if you hit it correctly, but if you mess it up, it can mess you up. Decked boats can flirt with it successfully, but we heavy canoers have to do it right.

In addition to Dragon's Tooth, there are a number of other rapids of III-IV level that demand attention. There's also debris in the river and I have seen people hurt and boats wrecked. For a good description, see the study done for the recent hydro relicensing. Then go run it.

HUDSON GORGE, NY: Sept 20, 1992

This was a typical fall Gorge trip with blue skies and mild temperatures with astounding fall foliage. Indian River seemed to have lost some of the large tree strainers that were present in the spring. The trip was a leisurely cruise down the Hudson, brought to a level of about four feet with the bubble. The day was passed intermingling with several other groups on the river with nothing exciting to mark the trip other than just enjoying the scenery.

ADIRONDACK WILDERNESS RIVERS EXPLORATIONS: Oct 3&4, Oct. 10&11, Oct. 17&18

In early summer I did a thorough reading of Jamieson's "Andirondack - Waters, North Flow" and noted that Jamieson pointed out fewer than a dozen river segments which he considered to contain quintessential Adirondack wilderness scenery. I determined that it was time to seek what succor to the spirit that these special places yet might provide to a thoroughly urbanized, schedulized, civilization-harassed twentieth century working adult. It seemed like a worthy attempt as a substitute for a far more extensive and more costly major excursion in far northern Canada. What better way to assure myself that I would actually enter the undertaking than to schedule it in the Bow and Stern. Done! Results: Three successive weekends of mild & unusually clear fall weather, inviting rivers we are sure to return to, and memorable companionship.

There is a caveat associated with some of these explorations -difficulty with or near impossibility of legal access to get onto some of the river segments. Once on the water, though, the navigability laws guarantee legality. All of the river segments are flat/flowing water with no rapids or sections where leaving the boat is required for lining or portaging. With the exception of an occasional camp, none too obtrusive, all of the rivers were as delightful as hoped for, with no development and offering a wide variety of scenic viewing pleasure.

The major reason for the natural beauty being preserved to the present day is a result of ownership by large timber products companies. Most of the land is under large scale leases by private fish and game clubs from various cities in New York and very heavily posted ... thus the access problem. The Osgood River presents few access problems; the Deer requires trespass for about 100 yards. Considerately, the posters are densest along the roads but few to none as viewed from along the rivers themselves.

WINOOSKI RIVER - FALL FOLIAGE TOUR: October 10, 1992

The weather persons statewide were trying hard to convince their listeners to prepare for rain, sleet, and a chance of snow on October 10, 1992. After an extremely cold and dismal September most canoeists believed them and had long since put their boats away for the season. But, believe it or not, the weather persons were wrong! We had a wonderful, warm, sunny day lazily spent on a river surrounded by brilliant yellows, reds, and golds of peak colors in the Richmond area. We started late morning at the Jonesville Bridge. Our goal was to paddle to the take out on Rt.. 117 at a very leisurely pace. We would enjoy the mountains, the foliage, the ducks and the day as they all slowly passed from bow to stern. We stayed dry, took plenty of pictures, and thoroughly enjoyed one more day on the river before the forecaster's predictions finally came true.

Another NVCC annual close boat clinic took in the summer of 1992. Twenty three (23) students attended the clinic. There were several new instructors to the program including: Mark Willett, Peter Briggs, Kevin Garetty and I, as well as some of our regular instructors: Rick Davis, Alan Plumb, Cindy Spragues and Poppy Gall. The clinic included three Wednesday evening sessions and a weekend on the Androscoggin. Our flatwater sessions consisted of two evenings at Shelburne beach. Both sessions gave a first hand learning experience on hypothermia from to cool temperatures, wind and/or rain. No major discomforts were experienced by anyone, and WARM FABULOUS BAR-B- QUE s were provided after paddling. Special thanks go out to Krista Willett for preparing these dinners. The river session took place in two parts. The third Wednesday session took place on the Winooski River below the Bolton Dam. The Androscoggin trips took place on two weekends to help accommodated the students. The course provided a great introduction to whitewater paddling. Everyone had a good time. The NVCC thanks all students and instructors for participating in another successful Clinic. Rob Farley

Alan Plumb and I attended a River rescue Training Course offered by the Zoar Outdoor Center on the Deerfield. Instructors were the American Canoe Association (ACA) Safety Chairman, Charlie Wallbridge, and Wayne Sundmacher of Professional River Instructions.

The course emphasized rescuing swimmers, pinned boats, judgement and managing river rescue situations. The course was on Saturday and Sunday, July 11 and 12, 1992. Saturday's activities consisted of lectures and practicing on throw ropes, wading, swimming, self and shore rescue. These activities utilized zip lines, rescue life vest and an artificial strainer. Yes, we practice swimming through a strainer. Sunday activities included lectures and practicing on a boat rescue set-up utilizing rope anchoring, back-up anchors and the famous Z-drag. The final practices entailed pulling a submerged pinned kayak off a rock at the top of Zoar Gap. After all the technical information we learned, this rescue had two people wading to the eddy behind the rock, hooking a rope to the bow of the boat and a gentle tug on the rope. Most rescues require only the simplest techniques.

As Charlie and Wayne wrapped up the course, the Margin of Error couple came paddling by. The Grumman scraped a rock, we cringed. The next rock flipped the boat. The boat broached, blocking the right hand chute and leaving a rocky left hand swim. The stern paddler cleared the boat and made it to shore. The bow paddler was even luckier. She got swept into the bow and managed to get over it, but got the painter wrapped around her leg. The rope came free leaving a rope burn, and she made it to shore safely. We took the responsibility to retrieve the boat. Our first attempted was to wrap a rope around the bow, so the boat would spin upstream and come free. Twelve people couldn't pull it free. The second attempted was a Z-drag from the other side of the river. Six people couldn't free it. Finally we provided a second anchor to the Z-drag and used our first technique to finally free the boat.

Alan and I enjoyed the weekend and learned a lot. We would like to share this information with the club on the weekend of June 12 and 13, location to be announced. The information we have to share could be very useful, and practice in rescue can only improve your paddling ability. We look forward to seeing you there.

Rob Farley

Peter M. Briggs
Treasurer, NVCC

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