Thought I'd post a few notes and pictures from this past weekend's overnight paddle trip. Around here, the quick water doesn't freeze over so if you're dressed for it, there's never any reason to live by traditional paddling seasons. While I mostly paddle the bigger whitewater rivers this time of year, the weather provided a chance to paddle the Little Juniata River near Spruce Creek in Central PA. The river follows a two lane road on and off for about 50% of the section I did. The other 50% is in the woodscape with a minor section past a rural farm. The water level was about 3.75' which gives a wide range of rapids from Class I through Class II.
The weather had been cold and Saturday was about 20F. and probably 18F with the wind. It was overcast and started to lightly snow about halfway to the campsite and never really stopped until Sunday.
At the takeout, the 16' boat is a bit too big for the Rav4. My Tacoma is behind it and that is my main truck, but my wife was running shuttle for me.
The camp is in a gorge. It was difficult to land the boat due to the level and the frozen, icy embankments. The first thing was to change from my soaking wet neoprene booties and socks to dry socks and hiking boots. I took on some water and my feet were swimming in thick slush. Then I set up my tent to get my blood flowing before setting out for fire wood. The snow was light and fine and slid off my tent to bury the perimeter.
It stayed cold but I had a decent fire well into the night and made two lobster tails and a 20oz steak using a Purcell trench grill. It worked well despite the cold. I washed it down with a beer and then sipped some whiskey occassionally. My brother had arrived right at dark by hiking in from the takeout so we fire gazed through the night.
The next morning my brother headed out and I finished packing up and headed out myself. The red canoe was covered in snow when I found it. The second half of this short trip doesn't have as many rapids, but it is more scenic than than the first.
My dog has a bad habit of standing on the seat when there are rapids. We just came through some rapids and I was able to let go of the paddle for pic. In bigger rapids, she has been known to be thrown overboard when standing up like this but she's a stubborn Chessie. Other than this though she's a great tripping dog.
This is the last of the section I did for the weekend. It never got above 20F and the wind was constant with intermittent snow. At the this level, you go on and on with different takeouts to extend the paddle, but I figured this was enough for my first canoe paddle in nearly a month and having to get home and tidy up the gear and start thinking about work on Monday.
That's it, thought this might be a good way to practice with pictures and all before I start some other trip reports from the past and future. I also have a lot of different gear that I use different times. I really like some of the items and will try to share some reviews of my favorites sometime.
Thanks.
Barry
The weather had been cold and Saturday was about 20F. and probably 18F with the wind. It was overcast and started to lightly snow about halfway to the campsite and never really stopped until Sunday.
At the takeout, the 16' boat is a bit too big for the Rav4. My Tacoma is behind it and that is my main truck, but my wife was running shuttle for me.
The camp is in a gorge. It was difficult to land the boat due to the level and the frozen, icy embankments. The first thing was to change from my soaking wet neoprene booties and socks to dry socks and hiking boots. I took on some water and my feet were swimming in thick slush. Then I set up my tent to get my blood flowing before setting out for fire wood. The snow was light and fine and slid off my tent to bury the perimeter.
It stayed cold but I had a decent fire well into the night and made two lobster tails and a 20oz steak using a Purcell trench grill. It worked well despite the cold. I washed it down with a beer and then sipped some whiskey occassionally. My brother had arrived right at dark by hiking in from the takeout so we fire gazed through the night.
The next morning my brother headed out and I finished packing up and headed out myself. The red canoe was covered in snow when I found it. The second half of this short trip doesn't have as many rapids, but it is more scenic than than the first.
My dog has a bad habit of standing on the seat when there are rapids. We just came through some rapids and I was able to let go of the paddle for pic. In bigger rapids, she has been known to be thrown overboard when standing up like this but she's a stubborn Chessie. Other than this though she's a great tripping dog.
This is the last of the section I did for the weekend. It never got above 20F and the wind was constant with intermittent snow. At the this level, you go on and on with different takeouts to extend the paddle, but I figured this was enough for my first canoe paddle in nearly a month and having to get home and tidy up the gear and start thinking about work on Monday.
That's it, thought this might be a good way to practice with pictures and all before I start some other trip reports from the past and future. I also have a lot of different gear that I use different times. I really like some of the items and will try to share some reviews of my favorites sometime.
Thanks.
Barry
