I'm Still Paddling...I've Just Been Too Busy To Tell You About It. Part 2

We pick our story back up with a third paddle down the Kiski River in two weeks. This trip I was joined by my wife Robbin, and our friends Rose, Kelly, and Diane. Rose and Kelly had been on the river once before in tandem kayaks with their husbands (see 1/2/2010 How We Got Hooked - Our First Trip Down The Kiski), Diane had never been on the river. We decided to paddle the section from Avonmore to Vandergrift. The river level was still high enough to make paddling the riffles a lot of fun, and I thought it would be exciting for them while still being an easy 10-11 mile trip....I got the fun and the exciting part right. Rose decided that she wanted to try a canoe this time around. Their plan was for Rose, Kelly, and Diane to all share the same canoe. As luck would have it, the outfitters from The River's Edge threw a extra single kayak on the trailer. This would turn out to be a blessing.

When we got to Avonmore, Kelly decided she would paddle the extra kayak. After a foot pad adjustment and a couple of quick paddling lessons, she picked it right up.





We had a blast paddling through the first few sets of riffles. The river was high enough to paddle straight through without having to navigate around the rocks.






We stopped every so often to grab a snack, a drink, and to just enjoy swimming around in the river.






The first 8-9 miles of this journey went very well with only one canoe tipping incident. The final 2-3 miles got a little more difficult for our canoeists, though. This is also where the photography stopped as the photographer now became the Kiski River "tow boat". The river got more shallow at this point and the riffle sections became a lot more difficult to navigate. The second canoe tipping incident resulted in bumps, bruises, and lost items. From that point on I held on to the canoe to stabilize it while steering my kayak with my free hand. I would really love to have a couple of photos of this spectacle as both boats were spinning down the river bouncing off of rocks. We made it through though, only slightly worse for wear, and we're all having a good laugh about it now. Rose has sworn off canoes though, and Diane has sworn off the river completely. Hopefully Diane will change her mind and give a kayak a try sometime.


If you look closely at the above photo you will see that Robbin (front kayak) has assumed her preferred kayaking posture... feet outside the cockpit while paddling as little as possible. If you look at the rear kayak, however, you will see that Kelly has taken it one step further. Notice the rope attaching Kelly's kayak to Rose's and Diane's canoe. Kelly has eliminated paddling completely. Don't get any ideas Robbin!

I'm Still Paddling...I've Just Been Too Busy To Tell You About It. Part 1

I've been REALLY busy lately. This is the time of year that my work schedule is crazy (I'm a painting contractor) and my wife has finally, after nearly 31 years of marriage, gotten me to participate in a social life, with real live friends and everything! I did manage to fit in a few really fun paddles though.

Loyalhanna Inflow Creek - Bush Run to New Alexandria - 6/16
This was a trip that I've been wanting to make for a while now. With little side trips into coves and feeder streams, the total round trip distance was a little over 14 miles. There was a lot to see along the way. Ospreys had a nest built on a pole in a cove that is reserved for their use. They were fishing as I made my way past their cove. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me. Robbin was visiting a friend in Cape May, NJ and had the camera with her. I took a couple of photos with my phone, but they're not as good.

This is the osprey nest. A metal cage is attached to the top of a pole that is standing in the middle of a cove. The osprey's return each year to build their nest in this spot. There are signs at the entrance to this cove explaining that the area is off limits to boaters so as not to disturb the ospreys while they tend to their young.


Robbin sent me a picture message showing me a beautiful restaurant on the water that she was having lunch at. I sent her back this photo showing that I was also dining on the water.

Kiski River
In the past three weeks I've made four trips down the Kiski River. At that time the water level was at the perfect depth. It was high enough to make the riffles a lot of fun, but low enough to see the rocks. We've had a heat wave this past week with very little rain. The river level is down now and we probably won't have those conditions again until fall.
Robbin and I took a trip together from Roaring Run to Vandergrift. Notice I didn't say "a paddle together".

This is Robbin's idea of a perfect trip down the river...feet outside the cockpit...holding her paddle with her toes...floating merrily down the river, paddling only when absolutely necessary!

My son, Jeremy, and I paddled down the Kiski from Avonmore to Vandergrift on Fathers Day. I knew the first time we went that he would be hooked. It was a beautiful day and water conditions were perfect. Each time I paddle this section I find something new to photograph.



We found this stream after stopping to empty water out of the kayaks. You have to walk upstream to find this section, but it's pretty.


Not long after this photo was taken, Jeremy learned a few things:
1. If you hit a big rock sideways in the riffles even a super-stable kayak will flip.
2. When a kayak has no bulkheads, it will fill with water if turned upside down.
3. When a kayak fills with water it becomes very heavy and is hard to get to shore.
4. The Kiski River flows extremely fast.
5. A water tight box is only water tight if it is completely latched (good-bye cellphone).

To be continued....I have to leave now to participate in my social life :-(

Paddling With My Son - Kiski River - Avonmore to Roaring Run 5/31/2010

My son Jeremy called me over Memorial Day weekend to ask if he could go kayaking with me. He had never kayaked before, so I jumped at the chance to share the experience with him and enjoy a little "father-son time" on the water. I decided that his first trip should be down the Kiski River. He and his friends used to sneak down to the river to swim when they were kids. He would get in trouble when I found out because I was afraid they would get sick from the pollution that was in the Kiski at that time. I wanted him to see the change in the river quality since then. Robbin and I paddled the section from Roaring Run to Vandergrift on Sunday and noticed that the water level was up, so I knew that Avonmore to Roaring Run would be a fun paddle because of the Class 2 sections.


When we launched at Avonmore, I gave Jeremy some quick pointers on how to paddle a kayak. He struggled a little at first with stability and technique. His initial attempt resulted in a long sweeping turn to the right that he couldn't seem to get out of. After a few more lengthy explanations, he was paddling like he had been doing it for years.


The trip down that section of river didn't disappoint. The higher water level made the class 2 sections even more fun than usual. We ended up with so much water in the cockpits that we had to stop once and empty them (no bulkheads). We had a great day and I think I'll be doing a lot more kayaking with my son in the future.

I think he's hooked.


This is one of several sections of riffles on this stretch of the Kiski. The picture doesn't really give a good view of there size though.


Jeremy going through some class 2 riffles. This photo gives a little better view.


The result of rough water and low profile kayaks is a wet paddler and a lot of water in the cockpit. We had to stop a drain them because the rear of the kayak was almost under water.

Paddle At The Point - Click Here For More Information

On Saturday June 5th, Robbin and I plan to be part of an attempt to set a Guinness World's Record for the largest paddling flotilla of kayaks and canoes. This record setting attempt is included as part of Pittsburgh's World Environmental Day Celebration. The current record is 1,104 canoes and kayaks, but Venture Outdoors is trying to register 1500 boats to create a record that will last. So far there are over 1,300 registered so they're well on their way. We're looking forward to it. It should be really cool to see that many boats in the same place at the same time. I hope the weather cooperates.

Kiski River - Saltsburg To Roaring Run - 5/8/2010

This was my first trip of the season as part of the "Pittsburgh Kayakers" Meet-Up group. Unfortunately I had a time limit and couldn't stop at the Avonmore launch area for brunch or be there for dinner and a campfire along the river at the end of the trip. The next time I'll schedule my time a little better because it seemed like a great group.

I got to Saltsburg a little early so I paddled around for a while to warm up and kill some time. It didn't take too long to realize that this trip was going to be a workout. The river level was up a little higher than normal creating some great class 2 areas. Also, a strong, constant headwind, that gusted to 50 mph, was blowing upstream. Those conditions combined to create a rough, choppy water surface in places, that broke over the front of my kayak and landed in my lap.

This was the last time I was completely dry. As you can see, my Fusion has a pretty low profile and a large cockpit opening which doesn't make it very class 2 friendly. Seals makes a custom order spray skirt for this kayak. One of these days I'll quit talking about it and just order it. My NRS gear did it's job though. Even with the steady wind, air temps in the lower 50's, and that much water hitting me, I stayed warm. In all honesty though, I probably could have stayed a lot drier if those big riffles weren't so tempting. I'm hoping to run into those same conditions sometime when the air temperature is around 80.

** Distance traveled - 14.5 miles. **




This is the only quick shot I got of any of the riffles.

The same area 2 weeks earlier.




I took shelter behind this big rock to get out of the wind for a while and have a snack.


Remnants of the PA Main Canal Line.


I've been past here several times now and still can't figure out how they got this down here.


I don't know what kind of tree this is, but I admire it every time I paddle past it.