Flatwater

PADDLING THE NEW JERSEY PINE BARRENS

Book as soon as possible.

Designated America’s first National Ecological Reserve, The New Jersey Pine Barrens, comprises over 1.1 million acres of pitch pine, cedar, and lowland bog forest and fields. The low gradient rivers are narrow, surprisingly swift, and filled with clear brown yellow water. The paddling is marked by ducking under curved cedars, open bog like areas with twisty channels, sandy banks and bars, and a variety of flowering trees and shrubs. Parts of the rivers cut across sand plains with pitch pine that are strikingly like the jack pine areas so familiar in Canada’s north. I propose two trips‐ both of which I have done many times since my youth.

The first is the Oswego from Oswego Lake down to the junction with the Wading River with a take out a Beaver Branch. There are two short portages around dams and lots of lovely cedar paddling. The Oswego is totally within Wharton State Forest. I estimate 6 hours of easy going. The second is Cedar Creek which flows east to Barnegat Bay of the Atlantic Ocean. I can inquire as to the possibility of a pick up on the Bay itself or we can use the normal stopping place in the Double Trouble State Park at the campground. I estimate 4 to 5 hours of easy paddling. Rental boats and shuttles are available at each place and there are motels nearby.

There is some camping but since I live in nearby Philadelphia I have never pitched a tent in the area. One thought would be to stay out on the barrier island with ocean beaches and back bay paddling– Long Beach Island‐ in a motel or B and B‐ and drive to the various put ins or stay in land at some place. References‐ Paddling the Jersey Pine Barrens by Robert Parnes ; Water, Earth, and Fire: Land Use and Environmental Planning in the New Jersey Pine Barrens; Berger and Sinton; Johns Hopkins Univ. Press.

The Basics
Event Location: 
NEW JERSEY PINE BARRENS
Date(s) & Time: 
Friday, April 23, 2010 - 07:00
Registration Cut Off: 
April 22.
Event Duration: 
5 days
Difficulty Rating: 
Beginner
Event Coordinator/s Contact Information
Contact (Name): 
Jonathan Berge
Email: 

Flat Water Instruction Cancelled

Event Cancelled due to lack of interest.
We will be providing basic Lake Water instruction for new canoeist for two separate day sessions. There will not be any camping. On Saturday, we will be covering basic paddling and safety required on most lake or flat water canoe outings. On Sunday, we will be reviewing the technique covered previously and will proceed to more advanced techniques.
If you are interested in this session, contact Jeff Haymer by phone or email.

The Basics
Event Location: 
Frenchman's Bay
Date(s) & Time: 
Saturday, July 17, 2010 - 10:00
Registration Cut Off: 
July 1, 2010
Event Duration: 
2 days
Difficulty Rating: 
Beginner
Participant Info
Who's Invited: 
Members of WCA and OCEY
Maximum Group Size: 
6 canoes
Minimum Group Size: 
2 Canoes
Itinerary
Required Items to Bring: 

Canoe, personal floatation device and paddle for each person, rescue line, bailer, whistle or other signalling device, small flashlight in waterproof container.

Recommended Items to Bring: 

change of clothes, wet shoes, sun-block, lunch

How to Get There
Event Directions: 

Direction to Frenchman's Bay:
From Highway 401 in Pickering, exit onto Whites Road and drive south to Oklahoma Dr. At Oklahoma Dr., turn left (east) and drive a short distance to West Shore Blvd. At West Shore Blvd., turn right (south) and drive all the way down to Beachpoint Promenade. At Beachpoint Promenade, turn left and drive a short distance to the public beach.

Event Coordinator/s Contact Information
Contact (Name): 
Jeff Haymer
Phone: 
416 635 5801

LONG LAKE LOOP - THIS TRIP IS NOW FULL

Book by May 1. Join us for a trip around some beautiful Kawartha lakes before the bugs come out. Small lakes, flatwater, lift-overs and portages. Located just south of Apsley. Limit of 4 canoes.

The Basics
Event Location: 
Kawartha Lakes
Date(s) & Time: 
Friday, May 14, 2010 (All day)
Event Duration: 
3 days
Difficulty Rating: 
Novice
Event Coordinator/s Contact Information
Contact (Name): 
Gary James
Phone: 
416-512-6690

BIRDING AT POINT PELEE

book before May 1. Enjoy the spring warbler migration. We will camp at Wheatley Provincial Park and wander the trails of Point Pelee and Hillman Marsh. Flatwater padding opportunities available. Binoculars mandatory.

The Basics
Event Location: 
Point Pelee
Date(s) & Time: 
Saturday, May 8, 2010 - 16:52
Event Duration: 
2 days
Difficulty Rating: 
Beginner
Event Coordinator/s Contact Information
Contact (Name): 
Anne Bradley
Phone: 
519-855-4835

SPRING IN MUSKOKA

Book before April 15. We will paddle some lakes yet to be decided, experience the returning birds, and discover other flora and fauna emerging from hibernation. Maybe we will find the first turtles sunning themselves on logs, and listen to the choruses of spring peepers, as in previous years. We’ll hike and explore the surrounding area and clean up portages, if needed. Limit four canoes.

The Basics
Event Location: 
Muskoka
Date(s) & Time: 
Saturday, May 1, 2010 - 16:50
Event Duration: 
2 days
Difficulty Rating: 
Beginner
Event Coordinator/s Contact Information
Contact (Name): 
Gisela Curwen
Phone: 
416-484-1471

BEAVER CREEK #1

Book as soon as possible. This will be a challenging whitewater run suitable for advanced-level paddlers with fully outfitted canoes (centre bags for tandem boats) and proper cold-weather attire. If the river isn’t open yet we could switch to the Moira. Limit five boats

The Basics
Date(s) & Time: 
Saturday, April 10, 2010 - 16:31
Difficulty Rating: 
Intermediate
Event Coordinator/s Contact Information
Contact (Name): 
John & Sharon Hackert
Phone: 
416-438-7672

LOWER CREDIT RIVER

Book before March 21. Join me on this classic early spring favourite of Toronto area paddlers. We’ll catch the Credit in Streetsville and run down to the mouth at Port Credit. The river is a delightful continuous class 1 to 2 with lots of play spots. However, as sweepers can present a hazard and the water will be cold, participants should have solid basic moving water skills, and wear a wetsuit or drysuit. If we have a late break-up, we'll move the trip to March 29.

The Basics
Date(s) & Time: 
Sunday, March 28, 2010 - 16:24
Difficulty Rating: 
Intermediate
Event Coordinator/s Contact Information
Contact (Name): 
Bill Ness
Phone: 
416-321-3005
Email: 

UPPER CREDIT RIVER

Book by March 21. Join us for an early spring run on the Credit from Inglewood to Glen Williams. Some competence in moving water is helpful. Suitable for novices. A potluck dinner will follow at the home of Barb & Dave in Brampton.

The Basics
Date(s) & Time: 
Saturday, March 27, 2010 - 16:22
Difficulty Rating: 
Intermediate
Event Coordinator/s Contact Information
Contact (Name): 
Barb & Dave Young
Phone: 
905-457-7937

PADDLERS PUB NIGHT

Contact by January 13 to register so we can book sufficient room. Join other paddlers for an evening of food, drink and good cheer to chase away the January blahs. It will be a great chance to get together and plan next season's adventures and re-live last summer's outings, or just watch a few paddling films running on the big screen in the background.

As in the past, we are organizing this evening together with members of the Ontario Voyageurs Kayak Club. Meet 7.00 pm at Toronto's Twisted Kilt Pub (previously the Bow & Arrow), 1954 Yonge Street (second floor), just north of Davisville subway station.

The pub is under new ownership and things are running a lot better than last year (Check out their website at www.thetwistedkilt.ca.).

The Basics
Date(s) & Time: 
Saturday, January 23, 2010 - 09:07
Difficulty Rating: 
Intermediate
Event Coordinator/s Contact Information
Contact (Name): 
Gisela Curwen
Phone: 
416-484-1471
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