Editorial: The Three-Day Revival

Stories

Photo: Flickr user shinealight — No more excuses, hit the trail this weekend for a quick overnighter

I’m only a little embarrassed to admit it. I get out far less than I’d like, spend far more time on three-day trips than 30-day epics, and much more time frequenting the water trails within a few hundred miles of my house than I do exploring my northern dream destinations.

Maybe, like me, by the end of your workweek, the prospect of packing up and driving for hours starts to sound less appealing than doing laundry and watching snails traverse the garden (how relaxing).

Whenever I’m tempted to bail, I tell myself that while I probably won’t regret staying home and running errands, I will regret missing out on a new adventure.

After 10 years of playing weekend warrior far more often than the part of paddling nomad, I’ve learned a thing or two. From one three-day adventurer to another, here’s my advice.

1) Leave on Friday. No excuses, even if it means arriving at the access point at midnight and camping. You’ll appreciate it when you wake up Saturday morning already there and your time outside will feel like it’s double the length.

2) Keep an eye on your bear spray. Don’t assume the safety lock will do its job and toss it in a pack. Best-case scenario of an accidental blast is experiencing a litany of strange, capsaicininduced symptoms on the trip thanks to a never-going-anywhere residue. And that’s best-case.

To read more about how to get out for a quick weekend paddle, check out Canoeroots & Family Camping, Summer/Fall 2013. Download our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read it here.

Kayakers Complete 1000 Kilometer Crossing Of Baffin Island

Photo: Erik Boomer — The Pittarak Team arrived safe and sound after 65 days on the water

Earlier this summer, we reported on a group of paddlers >who planned to paddle around Baffin Island using only the kayaks they built themselves. After 65 days of travel across Baffin Island, kayakers Erik Boomer, Katherine Breen, and siblings Eric and Sarah McNair-Landry were treated to a special welcome as they arrived in Cape Dorset, completing their crossing of Baffin Island. Hundreds of community members turned out to welcome the team as they paddled their traditional Inuit style kayaks into the harbor.

“We were overwhelmed by the greeting that we were given in Cape Dorset,” says Katherine Breen. “The sight of so many people waving and cheering as we landed on the beach brought tears to my eyes. It was amazing to know that so many people were excited about our arrival.”

The team started their adventure in Qikiqtarjuaq in mid July, traveling across the Penny Ice Cap and through Auyuittuq National Park to Pangnirtung. From there, they paddled and portaged a historic route from Cumberland Sound to Nettiling Lake, the Amadjuak River to Amadjuak Lake, and through a series of small lakes to the Southwest coast of Baffin Island.

For the final leg of the expedition, they followed the ocean’s coast to Cape Dorset.

“It certainly isn’t the first time that people have traveled this route. Nearly every day we saw signs of previous travelers on the land.” Sarah McNair-Landry says that the combination of a historic route and a traditional method of travel made for a unique expedition that paid special tribute to the Inuit people of Baffin Island. “Stone cairns and Inukshuks, tent rings, and other artifacts like kayak stands were reminders that people have been traveling on this land for thousands of years.”

Erik Boomer says that his kayak is the most impressive thing that he has ever built with his own hands. “People were really excited to see our kayaks. The fact that we built them ourselves added a special element to this expedition. In a small way, it is nice to know that we are doing something to help keep the kayaking tradition alive in Nunavut.”

“The expedition brought many challenges including some that we hadn’t expected, says, Eric McNair-Landry. “We’ve heard from many people that this is the coldest summer that they have experienced in over 30 years. The temperatures hovered around zero degrees for the last few weeks of the expedition and staying dry and warm took some creativity. But, challenges like that take and make a great team. We all feel lucky to have had the chance to experience the incredible natural environment that Baffin Island has to offer.”

The team has now arrived back in Iqaluit where they will spend the next few weeks wrapping up the expedition. More information about the team, their route, and traditional kayaks can be found on their website www.pittarak.com. You can also follow them on Facebook at Pittarak Expeditions.

This expedition would not have been possible without support from their sponsors: National Genographic Legacy Grant, NRS, The Royal Canadian Geographic Society, Fist Air, Klattermusen, Hilleberg, Adventure Technology, Camino, Watershed and Voke.

Standing Waves: Meet The Creature

Photo: Leah Hemberry Ricketts/Icicle TV — The Creature Craft is changing the way we raft rivers

Billing its unusual creations as the best whitewater rafts ever built, Creature Craft is pushing the limits of what’s possible in inflatables. The boats celebrated a successful descent of the Stikine last year, and creature craft paddlers regularly test themselves against class V+ rivers around the world.

The duelling oar-rig has an admirable safety record. Thanks to its shape and design, the only stable position is right-side up. “All weight is on the bottom side so it’s like an old-style clown pop-up. The bigger the water, the faster it flips up,” says Creature Craft owner and founder Darren Vancil. Thigh straps keep the paddlers in the boat at all times, and feature an easy-release system. “The boat can withstand way more than your body and keep you safe—you’re not getting out unless you want to.”

A former high school teacher, Vancil designed the first creature craft in the fall of 1997, and launched it 18 months later. Inspiration came after his raft flipped during Colorado’s Gore Canyon Race, which resulted in a bad swim and dislocated shoulder. “I decided then, while I was underwater, there’s got to be a better way.” Soon after, Vancil was drawing up designs for a safer raft that could contend with the biggest water.

One of the biggest advantages to paddling the creature craft is that it buys you time. “You have time to follow through on plan B or C, if the first plan isn’t working,” Vancil explains. While paddling the Stikine last September, one boat became trapped in the middle hole at Site Zed rapid…

This article originally appeared in Rapid, Early Summer 2013. Download our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read the rest here.

Paddle All Week Without Getting Tired

Skills

Photo:Paul Villecourt — Paddle all week long without fatigue with these tips from Andrew Westwood

The steady, hypnotic rhythm of stroking your canoe toward a distant shore eases the tension in your mind. Now, how to rid yourself of the tension in your back, shoulders and wrists! Effective forward stroke technique can lessen the strain on your body so you can paddle all day and not even feel it.

Let’s start by breaking down your stroke into the large and small muscles doing the work. Use your larger abdominal and back muscles for the heavy work of moving the canoe forward, and assign your arms to tuning the position of the paddle for a relaxed catch and recovery.

Remember, we don’t so much as pull our paddle through the water as anchor our blade and drive our torso and the canoe forward. Efficient propulsion comes from gently rotating your hips—sort of like rocking a baby in your arms but with a twist toward your paddling side. Keep your butt planted on the seat and alternately pivot your hips forward and back to drive the canoe forward. Bend your arms and turn your shoulders to complement this movement and guide the paddle from recovery through to the beginning of a new stroke.

At the start of each new stroke, stiffen your wrists and arms to minimize their effort. As the stroke progresses, lower your top hand and shoulder and drive the stroke with the smooth rotation of your abdominal and back muscles. Avoid overworking your arms and shoulders; keep the paddle close to the gunwale and relax your grip on the paddle shaft.

Consider the sit and switch technique when fighting winds, or when you want some extra speed while traveling a straight course. Sit and switch balances your effort on both sides of the canoe and eliminates the muscle fatigue that comes from steering with correction strokes.

For best results, synchronize your strokes with your partner, shorten your stroke length so the paddle doesn’t pass your hip, and keep an upright posture. Switch after six to eight strokes or when the canoe begins to veer off course. Paddle selection can also lesson fatigue and strain on your arms and shoulders. A narrow, long blade—like the ottertail—is a great choice for distance paddling. For sit and switch, a shorter bent shaft paddle works best.

Whoever said “no pain, no gain” was certainly no canoeist. Efficient forward strokes allow you to set your sights on a distant shore and feel great when you get there.

Andrew Westwood is an open canoe instructor at the Madawaska Kanu Centre, member of Team Esquif and author of The Essential Guide to Canoeing. www.westwoodoutdoors.ca

This article originally appeared in Canoeroots & Family Camping, Early Summer 2012. Download our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read it here.

River Alchemy: Whitewater’s Unanswered Questions

Stories

Photo: Dave Best — Jeff Jackson contemplates why some things are the way they are

Back when I bought my first Perception Dancer, some things about the whitewater paddling game seemed peculiar to me. These things still do:

1: Why is there just one price point for whitewater boats?

A new kayak will cost you about $1,000. An entry-level boat is the same price as a Worlds-worthy competition model. I can’t think of any other activity where there is no price variation between entry and pro level.

2: Why are classic boat designs discontinued?

Happily, the product development cycle has slowed down from the doomed go-go rodeo days, but there is a reason eZs and inaZones are snapped right up on Craigslist. Canoe makers have figured this out—the Prospector has been in production for over 100 years and the much-anticipated return of the Ocoee is another case in point. I think we are finally getting over the “it’s better because it’s new” mentality.

3: Why does the myth that paddlers are cheap persist?

Blaming enthusiasts for not spending money when there is nothing to buy seems disingenuous. The places that paddlers like to hang out—near rivers— tend not to be too commercialized anyway. Campfires and tents are a necessity as much as a part of the lifestyle. Where they exist, alternatives like rapid-side rental cottages and take-out patio bars disprove the myth.

4: Why don’t more paddlers take a river rescue course?

This is a product of the “industrial rescue complex” that launched the teaching of swiftwater rescue courses designed for firefighters and institutions, to paddlers. It didn’t work, but that was over 20 years ago. There are now useful paddler-focused courses. Unfortunately, the majority of those who take them only do so after having a near-death experience. Twenty years from now, I predict rescue training will be seen as a requirement to join any paddling community.

5: On the safety note, why don’t PFDs, helmets or throwbags come with an expiration date?

We know that UV and time degrades the foam and plastic in our safety gear. Why not just put an expiry on them? How about a UV indicator? While we’re at it, build an accelerometer into our helmets so we can measure accumulated impact and know when it is time to throw them away.

6: Why is so little literature written about whitewater paddling?

Doug Ammons is likely the sole voice on this one. Our history and the significance of our paddling experience are slipping by undocumented. GoPro footage is not quite the same thing.

7: Lastly, why aren’t more natural whitewater rivers harnessed for their tourism potential?

Whitewater rivers are rare, so communities that have one should leverage the free resource. Unfortunately, the tourism angle has been left to commercial raft companies to forge for themselves, which is often not inclusive or welcoming to recreational paddlers. I can’t think of any good models of communities that have capitalized on the tourism potential of their rivers.

So, there you go. Are any of these seven things actual problems? Not really. But they are taken for granted as just the way things are. Whitewater paddling could be accessible to a wider range of people, a more diverse industry could be built and the rivers and communities that are lucky enough to have access to the beauty of whitewater could be better supported.

When Jeff Jackson isn’t dreaming up ways to change the paddling world, he’s actually changing the paddling world as professor of Outdoor Adventure at Algonquin College in Pembroke, Ontario.

This article appeared in Rapid, Early Summer 2013. Download our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read the rest here.

British Invasion: Go Creeking In The English Lake District

Trips

Photo: Steve Rogers — The Duddon River offers up to 17 kilometers of class III - V whitewater

One of England’s creeking gems is located in the northwest of the country, in the English Lake District. A small pocket of rugged hills up to a thousand meters in height provides enough relief for the whitewater enthusiast.

The Duddon Valley is relatively untouched by tourist traffic and still exists off a largely traditional hill farming economy. The valley has a slow and isolated feel, making it a place to get away from the crowded, modern world. Small single lane roads wind through the patchwork landscape to the headwaters of the Duddon River where this river journey begins.

Rainfall brings the river into flood, perfect for descent. The Duddon is generally in condition after rainfall for just 12 to 48 hours, making it difficult to catch. It provides a mixture of boulder-choked rapids interspersed with fast moving, class III boogie. From the outset, the action keeps coming and, with the correct water levels, provides a quality 17-kilometer run providing fun whitewater from class III to class V.

When at its best, the Duddon River is a sustained alpine creek. Its crystal clear water cuts through a slice of the past, nestled in the Lake District’s rugged geography.

IF YOU GO:

Steak pie, chips and a traditional ale at the Newfield Inn are hard to beat after a day on the river. The home-cooked food and accommodation will have you feeling right at home in the heart of the Duddon Valley. www.newfieldinn.co.uk

Steve Rogers is a British Columbia-based adventure photographer, writer and kayaker, originally from the north of England. www.steveophotos.com .

This article appeared in Rapid, Early Summer 2013. Download our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read the rest here.

British Invasion: Enjoy World-Class Surfing In England

Trips

The Bitches are a spectacular set of tidal overfalls located just off the Pembrokeshire coast, forming in Ramsey Sound between the mainland and Ramsey Island.

They’ve long been a popular spot for both the ocean kayak and freestyle kayak communities. In 1991, the Bitches played host to the first ever Kayak Rodeo World championships, putting it on the map as a world-class freestyle venue.

Not simple a turnkey spot, the Bitches require consideration for safety and planning, and a basic understanding of tidal flows. Access is a two kilometer paddle from the shore near St. David’s. Due to the distance, swims have been fatal for boaters in the past. A keen knowledge of the incoming weather is valuable as wind or fog can cause navigation issues.

There’s always some form of tidal rapids at the Bitches, but freestyle kayakers should look for tides over six meters for the features to be at their best. The biggest tides occur in the spring, just after full moons and new moons. Keen groups can paddle at both ends of the day, catching both the morning and evening tides. www.the-bitches.co.uk.

IF YOU GO:

Sea Kayak guides in Pembrokeshire will get you set up— they cater to playboats through to five-meter monsters. www.seakayakguides.co.uk

Steve Rogers is a British Columbia-based adventure photographer, writer and kayaker, originally from the north of England. www.steveophotos.com .

This article appeared in Rapid, Early Summer 2013. Download our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read the rest here.

British Invasion: Test Your Nerve On The Fairy Glen River

Trips

The Fairy Glen is a short canyon run on the Afon Conwy in northern Wales and has become a classic due to its long-standing reputation as a test piece for the area and its reliable flows. The storybook scenery doesn’t hurt, either.

Aptly named, in Victorian times it was believed that sprites and fairies graced this small gorge. Fairy Glen draws a line from below the misty maelstrom of Conwy Falls towards the confluence of the Lleder.

A favorite run for local paddlers who can be seen paddling in the cold light of dawn, it also draws paddlers from far and wide for a big day out and to test their skill and nerve. Its stunning canyon setting—so close to the main road—ensures no one goes away disappointed.

The Fairy Glen is a continuous two-kilometer, class V run with a few sticky holes and big drops that demand respect. It boasts a growing number of acceptable water levels, making it standout in an area where water level consistency hinders enjoyment of many other rivers. If it’s too much river for you try the nearby River Llugwy or the Conwy, further upstream. —With files from Tom Laws and Daz Clarkson.

IF YOU GO:

The Fairy glen is suitable for a solid group of paddlers with bombproof rolls. All the real men take out at the Beaver Pool, according to Tom Laws, coauthor of Welsh Rivers, the guidebook for paddlers in Wales. www.thewelshrivers.com

Steve Rogers is a British Columbia-based adventure photographer, writer and kayaker, originally from the north of England. www.steveophotos.com .

This article appeared in Rapid, Early Summer 2013. Download our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read the rest here.

Saltwater Surfs on the Shubie River

Trips

Photo: Virginia Marshall — Rowan Gloag surfs the Shubenacadie.

Amidst the bucolic farmland and sleepy hamlets of Nova Scotia’s verdant Annapolis Valley, the Shubenacadie River plays a twice-daily game of Jekyll and Hyde. When the Bay of Fundy’s 50-foot tidal exchange is on the ebb, the Shubenacadie—or Shubie, as it’s known locally—flows sedately to the sea. But on a flood tide, the lower reaches of the Shubie transform into a rollicking whitewater run flowing upriver, the bay’s briny seawater charging between high banks of slick red clay. Nothing escapes a liberal plastering of that famous Shubie mud; even the river runs a rich, chocolatey brown.

It’s mid-September and a full harvest moon has brought the highest tides—and largest rapids—of the month. And local paddler Christopher Lockyer, owner of Committed 2 the Core Sea Kayak Coaching and organizer of the first annual Bay of Fundy Sea Kayak Symposium, has brought 10 of the global paddling community’s top coaches to experience his backyard river before the symposium kicks off. A dozen eager students have also signed up for the pre-event fun.

We meet in the historic village of Maitland—formerly a shipbuilding center and still home to a wealth of fine Victorian architecture—at 7:30 am, up early to put on the river before the incoming tide. I tag along with guest coaches Matt Nelson, visiting from Washington’s San Juan Islands, and Rowan Gloag, hailing from British Columbia’s Vancouver Island. We’re joined by Fernando, a local Nova Scotia paddler, and Haris, a sea kayaking instructor from Chicago. Matt is tasked with seeing us down (up?) the river safely, as well as hunting out the best play spots along the way.

In the quiet stillness of the morning’s slack tide we wait expectantly, straining to spot the vague ripple on the horizon that signals a coming tidal bore. After an hour of anticipation and holding position against a weakening ebb, the current turns almost imperceptibly, then begins to pick up speed.

The bore—a river-wide, surfable wave that pushes upriver, reaching up to 10 feet high and promising 10- or even 20-minute-long rides—never materializes. Formation of the Shubie tidal bore requires a specific alchemy of factors, including tidal exchange, river volume, wind speed and direction, and the depth and width of the channel at the river’s mouth on Cobequid Bay—it’s by no means a sure thing. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to play.

Wave sets soon develop over underwater sandbars and at constrictions, the features building and flooding out with the rising tide. Imagine watching the daily transformation of a snowmelt or glacier-fed river on super fast-forward. Rides are as fleeting as the features themselves, and we chase Matt around the wide, lumpy channel of the Shubie like hounds on a scent. He seems to have an uncanny sense of where the next wave set will materialize, rising from the coffee-colored water like a surfacing sea serpent.

The day’s best rides are had in the “Killer K” upstream of a bluff known as the Nose. Actually, relative to the sea, this kilometer-long wave train is downriver from the Nose, but directions on the Shubie change with context. “Yeah, it’s a bit confusing,” Matt admits, “just think of the river in relation to the prevailing current.”

Haris scores a dream surf—nearly a minute of carving gracefully on the glassy leading wave. Fernando executes a combat roll amidst the exploding haystacks. I fall down a four-foot face, sliding into a muddy trough as the Shubie crashes playfully across my shoulders. For a moment, I view the world through a barrel of this strange, salty river and feel as though I’m surfing through one of those TV commercial swirls of molten chocolate.

Our paddle ends after four hours, but we’ll be reliving the ride for days to come. Now a week later, I still have an unslakable craving for chocolate milk.

Info

Committed 2 the Core Sea Kayak Coaching, www.committed2thecore.com

Shubie tidal bore sessions are offered throughout the paddling season. Visit the website or contact Christopher Lockyer for 2014 dates. (902) 305-0051

Read all about the Bay of Fundy Sea Kayak Symposium and paddling in Nova Scotia in the next issue of Adventure Kayak, Spring 2014. Download our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read it here.

British Invasion: Play At The Falls Of Lora

Trips

The Falls of Lora are situated six miles northeast of the resort town Oban on Scotland’s rugged and beautiful west coast.

Home to some of the U.K’s best big wave features for freestyle kayaks, these waves are surfed by all manner of craft, from ocean kayaks to surf boards. Draining from Loch Etive, the falls are created as the tide ebbs out over a rock shelf underneath Connel Bridge into the Firth of Lorn.

The tide generally runs for four hours. Gauging when the wave features are working is a bit of a science and based upon the differential between the high water and the low water measurement in the tidal tables. Freestyle kayakers should look for the largest differential numbers.

The convergence of several flows right beneath the wave features means the fun often comes at a price—large seams, unpredictable boil patterns and whirlpools up to a meter in diameter have caused many a cold and embarrassing swim for both seasoned pros and first timers alike.

www.fallsoflora.info

IF YOU GO:

The Scottish creek boating community have long used the Falls of Lora tides as a social pilgrimage. The banks of Loch Etive provide beautiful secluded camping close to the falls and have been host to many late night gatherings. Wild camping is tolerated in Scotland and, as long as you are respectful in your choice of location, you can freely camp in most remote areas.

Steve Rogers is a British Columbia-based adventure photographer, writer and kayaker, originally from the north of England. www.steveophotos.com .

This article appeared in Rapid, Early Summer 2013. Download our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read the rest here.