Yesterday morning, my friends Jake and Jeff set off on a big paddling adventure---to canoe from the back door of the shop in Huntingdon to Jake's parents house on the Chesapeake Bay. The allotted time for the trip is 3 weeks, but they think they will be done a little sooner. They packed everything they need …
To paddle or not to paddle…
Outside, giant, wet flakes fall from the sky. The wind gusts, blowing the snow sideways. Pulling on a suit of neoprene that is perhaps still wet from yesterday's river adventures is anything but appealing. In fact, all I really feel like doing is curling up under the blankets with a good book or my laptop, …
After work.
It's pouring as I leave work, drive to the store, get gas, load paddling gear. By the time I'm done Evan is almost ready, and we load the canoe together, the rain down to a drizzle now. It's chilly and wet---the weather perhaps not ideal conditions for a paddle, but the creek is running high---perfect …
Trough Creek Double Day.
It’s dawn on the ridge. The sky casts an orangey hue over the recently-exposed leafy ground, ground that has been hidden by ever-thickening layers of snow for the past couple weeks---until this weekend, when temperatures climbed into the 50s and the rain washed all signs of winter away. Down the hill, on our lane, canoes …
A couple hours on Trough Creek.
When it comes to paddling in Central Pennsylvania, Trough Creek (aka Great Trough Creek) is undoubtedly one of my favorite spots. Nestled in a forested, rocky gorge, the class II-III run offers just enough whitewater to be fun without being too nerve-wracking. But it's an illusive gem, only runnable at high water after a heavy …
The Triple Header.
Triple-header (n) :Â three games played one after another on the same day In the case of two weekends ago, this meant 12 miles of hiking, 14 miles of paddling, and 24 miles of biking, all within 12 hours of daylight. This adventure was to take place around the area of Delaware Water Gap, on the …
The length of the lake, and a little bit more.
Last week, knowing that we both had off on Friday and that we were both in need of an all-day outdoor adventure, Evan and I had a very brief conversation that ended with the decision that we would paddle the entire length of the 30-mile-long Raystown Lake. And so, we woke up just before 5am, …
Continue reading "The length of the lake, and a little bit more."
The last day of summer.
A ghostly mist hung in the forest as I stepped outside into the cool, early hours of the day. Watched by a sleepy dog, I performed the morning ritual, grinding coffee beans and boiling water for that necessary start to my day. But this morning, there will be none of the usual mulling over a …
Misty morning.
I love getting up early. I'm not so fond of extracting myself from warm covers on a chilly morning, but once I'm up, out of bed, dressed, and moving, I thoroughly enjoy the sunrise hours. Especially those that are spent outside, in the woods or on the water. 6am today meant up and at 'em, …
Canoe trippin’
I threw my drybags, PFD, and assorted other paddling and camping gear in my car just as a hint of light was beginning to illuminate the sky that Saturday morning. Soon, I was on Rt. 80, cruising east. I was bound for the Delaware River, where I was meeting up with a group of canoeists …
helena kotala 