Eddy Lines  by John Lane

Boating is a wet business. It can also be risky. Smashed knuckles, rock rash, shoulder dislocations, bumps and bruises are the rule. Drownings, thank goodness, are pretty rare.

The 2001 boating season has had its share of deaths. I’m sad to report that one of our former members, David Ranson, was a victim. In early May, David drowned on the North Fork Yuba. He was pinned by a submerged log with a branch that penetrated his spray skirt and wedged between his legs. All efforts to save him by his competent fellow paddlers were unsuccessful. This is tragic loss. Knowing the risks, we enter the river. Knowing the risks, we train and practice. Knowing the risks, we watch out for each other, learn first aid and CPR.

We owe thanks to Kim Sacksteder for holding CPR and Standard First Aid classes. Kevin Gagnon, Fernando Caro, Susan Brauning, Sharon Hsu, Mark Steinmetz, John Markiel and Maera Flynn became certified in one or both of these classes. Nine COP boaters took part in a ODNR swiftwater rescue class on the Olentangy River on Mothers’ Day weekend. Mike and Katie Dick, Rick Allison, Kevin Gagnon, Eileen and Kevin Troutman, Jon Blake, Jeff Gentry and Butch Weaver attended. The ODNR rescue class was one of the first programs developed in the United States. It was started to help prevent drowning deaths in swift water and is recognized nationally as an excellent program. COP boating program funds were used to support our members attendance at the CPR, first aid and swiftwater rescue classes.

Take a Pole:
Was Chris Really Having Fun?

As if paddling a canoe wasn't hard enough, some folks have to go one better.  Take a look at Chris Goldschmidt.  He did a canoe/backpack trip last summer that started on Long Pond in New York, wound through the Presidential Range in New Hampshire and ended up on the Saco River in Maine.

Chris poled from the stern while his sister used a kayak paddle in the bow.  Poling is a traditional but less known method of moving a canoe, pirogue or flat-bottom boat through shallow rivers, marshes or flats.  The pole allows one to more effectively use the larger torso and even leg muscles for propulsion.  If you're good, moderate whitewater can fall into poling territory.

I'm not sure how good Chris is but from the smile and the sweat, it's easy to see he was having fun!

WMCKA Symposium

The Western Michigan Coastal Kayak Association (pronounced "wimka") sea kayak symposium convened over Memorial Day weekend.  Several COP boating leaders attended, including myself, Dave Seslar, Sharon Hsu, Fernando Caro and Jeff Haven.  The Pruitts were also supposed to attend but we never ran into them in the 200+ crowd.

Held north of Muskegon at YMCA camp Lake Pendalouan, the symposium offered great skills clinics and information sessions for beginning and intermediate sea kayakers.  Many of us attended Eskimo roll clinics, paddle stroke sessions, navigation talks, hypothermia class, etc.  When the weather wasn't great, there were plenty of indoor classes to choose from and the evening programs included slideshow presentations on ecokayaking, Chris Duff's solo tour of New Zealand's South Island and Greg Stamer's participation in the 2000 Greenland National Kayaking  Championship.  Greg won his age group over a predominantly Greenland field.  Not bad for a guy from Florida.  We learned that US paddlers were invited when Greenlanders visited and were astounded to see so many kayakers using Greenland style paddles and boats.  Kayaking is one of their cultural hallmarks and something they want to preserve as a national icon especially since the kayak culture is changing from seal hunting to sporting use.  Pretty neat to see video clips of the competitions.  Greenland starts age groups at four, so plan to start your sprouts off early if you want to see them on the winners' stand at Qoornoq or Disko Bay!  Plan your calendar to attend this symposium next year.

Volunteers Help the Scouts

Helping each other practice wet exits.

Fernando and Sharon working with the scouts.

Bill Mumford, COP member and adult advisor for Boy Scout Troop 156, contacted me to help his scouts learn kayak wet exits.  They were taking an east coast sea kayak trip and needed to have this skill prior to departure.  Larry Krall, Sharon Hsu and Fernando Caro used the COP sea kayaks and volunteered to help teach the scouts.  We had a dozen boys and adult leaders on hand at Alum Creek.  Our boaters showed them how to fit themselves in the boats, put on spray skirts and perform wet exits.

This short story is about all the time that unsung volunteers put in to make organizational wheels go around. Whether is COP or scouts, many people put in a lot of hours.  Without that volunteered time, programs would founder.  Thanks Bill, Larry, Sharon, Fernando....and the rest of you.

Monthly Guided Hike
into the
Highlands Nature Sanctuary

See why the boaters love Rocky Fork Creek!

DASH Dutro relaxing

Jon Blake in C-1

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