Summer Paddling Schedule - 2008

The Brattleboro Outing Club will host seven (7) canoe and kayak outings from May to September. All paddles are free and open to the public, and all are suitable for family canoeing and kayak touring. Life jackets (PFDs) are mandatory.

No advance reservations are required, except for the overnight camping at Wilgus State Park, in August. Reservation priority goes to BOC members. Membership information is available at the BOC website. The Club does NOT provide boats. Rentals are available locally through the Vermont Canoe Touring Center, Putney Rd., Brattleboro, 254-5088 (discounts to BOC members); or the Green Mountain Flagship Company, Rte 9, Wilmington, VT. 464-2975.

Warm summer rain will not stop these trips; however high winds, storms or cold rain will. If in doubt, or for more information, contact Larry McIntosh at (802) 254-3666, or Lmacyak@yahoo.com.

Two of this year’s trips are described in more detail in a guidebook by John Hayes and Alex Wilson; Quiet Water, New Hampshire & Vermont, 2^nd Ed., published by The Appalachian Mountain Club. Information regarding the Connecticut River trips is found in The Connecticut River Boating Guide, Source to Sea, 3^rd Ed., published by The Globe Pequot Press, for the Connecticut River Watershed Council. Both books are available at local book and outdoor stores, as well as most libraries. You can read brief descriptions of each trip on the BOC website at www.brattleborooutingclub.org.

SUMMER PADDLING SCHEDULE

Sunday, May 11^th (Mother’s Day) – Connecticut River Setbacks, Hinsdale, NH

Meet at 9:30am in the Wal-Mart parking lot (Rte 119 in Hinsdale) for a peaceful paddle and picnic lunch in the setbacks of the Connecticut River. This often overlooked wildlife area is the home to hundreds of spring birds and huge fish. Bring water, lunch, snacks and something warm to drink. We were snowed-out on this trip in May 2002, but it’s usually warm and beautiful. (See “What to bring”)

Saturday, May 31^st – Vernon Dam, VT. to Northfield, MA. – Connecticut River

We paddled this stretch of river in 2002 and 2005, and it’s time to revisit this beautiful, undeveloped area again. Meet at 9am in the Price Chopper parking lot (near Exit 1, I-91, in Brattleboro). We’ll pool cars and boats before leaving a few cars at the take-out, and launch below the Vernon Dam, at the Governor Hunt Picnic area, off Rte. 142, in Vernon. Boaters coming from the south are welcome to meet us at the picnic area put-in, about 11am. This will be an easy 9-mile, downriver trip, stopping to explore Stubbin and Upper Islands, a beautiful waterfall, island campsites and the confluence of the Ashuelot River. Our take-out will be at the Pauchaug Brook Wildlife Management Area in Northfield. (See “What to bring”)

Friday, June 20^th – Summer Solstice, Sunset & Dessert, West & Connecticut Rivers, VT

Meet at the “Retreat Meadows” launch site on Rte. 30 (across from the Retreat Farm) at 6pm. We’ll paddle the Connecticut River, down past Brattleboro, around Island Park, and back into the West River for the 8:30pm sunset, and dessert stop at the Marina Restaurant. Bring your own evening meal (or not), but save room for dessert. (See “What to bring”)

Saturday, June 21^st – First Full Day of Summer; Sunrise on Lake Whitingham (Harriman Reservoir), VT

This is our famous sunrise “paddle & nosh” trip. We meet at 5AM at the Chelsea Royal Diner (Rte. 9, West Brattleboro), or 5:30AM at the VIP Coffee Shop in Wilmington (Jct Rtes. 9 and 100S). We’ll enjoy a potluck breakfast on a sunny warm secluded beach, before the motorboat crowd wakes up. Bring light breakfast snacks to share; OJ will be provided. Also bring whatever makes a picnic breakfast more enjoyable. We’ll be off the water by 10am. (See “What to bring”)

There is NO BOC paddle trip during JULY. See the BOC website for new, club sponsored SCULLING clinics and events, at the new BOC boathouse on the West River. In addition, contact the following clubs for local paddling trips hosted by AMC and VT Sierra Club:

…AMC – www.amcberkshire.org or www.AMC-NH.org.

…VT Sierra Club - <maram@vtlink.net>

Saturday & Sunday, August 23 & 24 – Connecticut River & North Hartland Lake, VT

This is a 2-day ‘camp-if-you-want’ paddle trip, bringing together two of our classic outings from the past, into one fantastic weekend. On Saturday we’ll paddle 13 miles (all downstream) from Sumner Falls (Hartland Rapids), Hartland, VT to Wilgus State Park, Ascutney, VT. Sunday will be a trip up into the lower end of the Quechee Gorge, on North Hartland Lake. Paddlers have the options of joining us for either, or both day trips, AND camping at Wilgus State Park. No reservations are required for the paddle trips; however, RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED, and a $10 fee per person/per night (Friday night camping is also available) paid in advance, for camping. Camping reservation and fee (check made out to BOC) must be received NLT August 16^th, at POBox 6294, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Directions and camping list will be sent out as reservations are received. Refund of reservation fees will be made for cancellations received by August 9^th. Camping space in the BOC area is limited, so reserve early. Priority to BOC members. Meeting time on Saturday is 9:30am, at the Wilgus State Park entrance station, on Rte 5, about a mile and a half south of Ascutney village. Paddlers coming from the north can meet us at the Sumner Falls launch site (hard to find), or catch us as we drive north on Rt.5, through Hartland Four Corners, about 10:30am. Launch will be BELOW the falls, with fast and flat water all the way to the State Park. Mt Ascutney will dominate the vista downriver. The covered bridge at Cornish/Windsor is the longest (460feet) in the US. We’ve seen bald eagles and lots of water fowl along this stretch of river, and there are many islands and beaches to check out. For Sunday’s paddle, we’ll meet in the Wilgus State Park parking lot adjacent to the entrance station at 9:30am, or at the US Corps of Engineer’s North Hartland Lake Project beach/ramp at 10:30am. The entrance is on Clay Hill Rd, off Rte 5 (Fire Station on the corner), just north of North Hartland village. A $3 entry fee may be collected. North Hartland Lake is a long, narrow undeveloped reservoir that reaches up to the eastern edge of the Quechee Gorge, with its 165-foot walls carved out by the Ottauquechee River. Bird life abounds; and we pass near a well-populated Great Blue Heron rookery. In all the years BOC has been hosting paddle trips, North Hartland Lake has been the site of the best bald eagle encounter – ever! We hope for a repeat performance. We’ll picnic on the rocks at the foot of the gorge, where there is also good swimming. Bring lunch, snacks and plenty of water, for both days. (See “What to bring”)

Sunday, September 21^st – Sommerset Reservoir, Sommerset, VT

This is an all-day, fall foliage paddle on a very special, out-of-the-way, protected body of water, at a special time of the year. We chance to see loons, bald eagles and migrating waterfowl, feel the crisp late season air and witness fantastic fall colors, on this favorite yearly outing. Bring snacks, lunch, water and something warm to drink. We’ll meet at 9am at the VIP Coffee Shop (Jct Rtes 9 and 100S in Wilmington. (See “What to bring”)