CASKA: Chicago Area Sea Kayakers Association

CASKA Event Calendar 2013

Chicago Area Sea Kayakers Association

Event Calendar 2013

Repeating Day Trips

• Wednesday night paddles on Lake Michigan
• Lake Michigan Water Trail day trips, gather intelligence on Chicago launch sites for www.CASKA.org
• "My First Crib" Water Intake Crib day paddles—last Sunday of the month June-September:
• 68^th street-Dunne,
• Wilson,
• Dever-Harrison,
• 4-Mile
• Lake Michigan impromptu surfing sessions—stormy weekends
• Learning the Lake - Beginner/first-time paddles on Lake Michigan

One-Time Day Trips

• St. Patrick's Day Parade/River dyeing paddle—March 16 (GKC)
• 54^th Venetian Night—July 27
• Taste of Tall Ships Chicago—August 11-14
• Chicago Shoreline Marathon—August/September
• Northside Chicago Circumnavigation—late summer/early fall
• Distance, Wind, Waves, and Navigation (DAWWN)—early fall, Calumet Harbor

Overnight Multi-Day trips

• Find multi-day trip partners among CASKA members initiative: CASKA members post their multi-day trip plans and invite/seek partners from among the club members

Social Events

• Pukaskwa 2012 trip presentation—February 24 (Alec and Sharon Bloyd-Peshkins)
• Caneocopia 2013—March 8-10
• Rio Grande canoe trip presentation (Greg Anderson)
• Yukon canoe trip presentation (Charlie Stark)
• Jackson Park Yacht Club picnic

Training

• UIC pool session—CASKA skills training April 17th
• BCU Coach 1Training and Certification--May 21-24 (WMCKA, note pre-requisites)
• BCU 3* training with Nick Cunliffe—June1st or 2nd
• CASKA Risk Assessment and Trip Leader training with Ryan Rushton
• US Coast Guard Auxiliary VHF/Rules of the Road—April 6 (Stone/Stark)
• Forward Stroke Clinic with Jim Tibensky
• Four-Crib Round-Trip paddle/Long-Distance Paddling
• CASKA Rescue Clinic

Activities with Sister-Clubs

• NWIPA—Wolf Lake paddle
• NWIPA— Lake Michigan Water Trail paddle (Indiana Section)
• Southern Wisconsin Paddlers—End-of-season Door Slammer
• Southern Wisconsin Paddlers/Milwaukee Sea Kayakers—Lake Michigan Water Trail paddle (Wisconsin Section)
• WMCKA—Lake Michigan Water Trail paddle (Michigan Section)

Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposia

• WMCKA Symposium—May 25-28 (Memorial Day Weekend), Pendalouan on Big Blue Lake, MI
• Illinois Paddling Festival—June 8-9, Phillips Park, Aurora, IL
• Port Austin Sea Kayak Symposium—June 21-23, Port Austin, MI
• Rutabaga's Door County Sea Kayak Symposium—July 12-14, 2013, Rowleys Bay, Door County, WI
• Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium—July 17-21, Grand Marais, MI
• Ladies of the Lake Women's Sea Kayak Symposium—August 15-18, Drummond Island, MI
• Gales Storm Gathering—October 11-13, The Apostle Islands, WI

Sea Kayaking & Whitewater: Roughing it With Scott Berry and Nigel Dennis

What could be better than kayaking the Apostle Islands?

Yup--having Nigel Dennis join you. In order to get better acquainted with rough water this year, I started to look for opportunities to get familiar with whitewater kayaking.  

This past week, I opted to get out on Wisconsin's Wolf River and follow Scott Berry, another expert in kayaking, for a couple of days on my way up to see Nigel Dennis.

1. Sea kayakers going through a tide race at North Stack, Anglesey, Wales. (small tide race)

2. The mouth of the Indian River, Delaware. (med. tide race)

3. Nigel Dennis at North Stack Cave: Stacks of Rockhopping--Holy Island, Anglesey: "...They’ve all cut their teeth in the Tide Races and Overfalls around Holy Island. If you can paddle comfortably in these waters, then you can almost certainly hold your own anywhere in the world."

If a fast current is constricted by a headland jutting out into the sea, or a channel between an island and the mainland, or it flows over an undersea reef, bar across a river mouth or rocky sill across the mouth of a fjord, it can behave just like a whitewater river. Expect tide races, which are often fun; tide rips which may be fun; and possibly overfalls. (10)

 

Tidal race (or tidal rapid) is a natural occurrence whereby a fast moving tide passes through a constriction resulting in the formation of waves, eddies and hazardous currents.

Paddling with Nigel Dennis (above) around Oak Island. Nigel Dennis began sea kayaking at the age of 23, and within 3 years had completed the first circumnavigation of Britain, with fellow kayaker Paul Caffyn. The following year, in his kayak circumnavigation around Australia in 1981/2, Caffyn had to contend with a tropical cyclone which nearly swept him off a small offshore islet in the Coral Sea, raging surf, tiger sharks which frequently bumped into the kayak in the Gulf of Carpentaria, crocodiles, sea snakes and three sections of sheer limestone cliffs. To overcome the three 100+mile plus long sections of cliffs, he used Nodoz tablets to stay awake and Lomotil to keep his bowels dormant during these overnight paddles. The longest stint along the awesome Zuytdorp Cliffs in Western Australia, took 34 hours of continuous paddling. (9)

Nigel’s expertise to lead others soon led to the Cape Horn expedition of Rebecca and John Ridgeway in 1992 which included a camera crew and was televised. Rounding Cape Horn requires ships to press south to 56° south latitude, well into the zone of fiercest winds. These winds are further exacerbated at the Horn by the funneling effect of the Andes and the Antarctic peninsula, which channel the winds into the relatively narrow Drake Passage. The strong winds of the Southern Ocean give rise to correspondingly large waves; these waves can attain enormous size as they roll around the Southern Ocean, free of any interruption from land. At the Horn, however, these waves encounter an area of shallow water to the south of the Horn, which has the effect of making the waves shorter and steeper, greatly increasing the hazard to ships. If the strong eastward current through the Drake Passage encounters an opposing east wind, this can have the effect of further building up the waves. In addition to these "normal" waves, the area west of the Horn is particularly notorious for rogue waves, which can attain heights of up to 30 metres (100 ft). (8)

(Our group putting in in the morning fog.)

Using his practical experience in demanding conditions while at sea, Nigel built his own fleet of kayaks and the first Anglesey Sea and Surf Centre was started (UK Sea Kayak Guidebook Anglesey).

(Bill Burton and Nigel Dennis)

Nigel's first kayaks were built to withstand the constant use and abuse by groups that would use them at the center. He designed strategic day hatches which allowed easy access while paddling, and his keyhole cockpit design, which compared with the original very small ocean cockpit, allowed for faster entry and exits.

(Eila Wilkinson and Nigel Dennis gearing up two of his kayaks for our tour--her purple Pilgrim and his green Explorer.) Nigel’s kayaks have been adapted and modified for expedition use, and then tried and tested in severe weather conditions and extremes of temperature. (5)

(Wolf River Rapids; Scott Berry of Bear Paw Adventure Resort)

Standing waves can be surfed on a river all day long and provide great practice. The northeast corner of Wisconsin is known as the "cradle of rivers" where headwaters of the Wolf, Pine, Popple, Oconto, Peshtigo, Deerskin, and Wisconsin rivers originate from. Along the Wolf River, the Bear Paw Adventure Resort, in White Lake, Wisconsin, has been open since 1994.

At Hansen's Rapid, Scott demonstrated how to side-surf a hole. When it was my turn he climbed a rock right next to it and when I paddled over he took my paddle away and had me do it without the paddle while he was nearby to catch me "just in case." Most people trust their paddle for balance here and it usually sinks. He had me stick my hand down into the wave to feel the current below it. It was fun to just play follow-the-leader because I didn't have to think about it all and I could just "do it" since I saw Scott before me. Scott Berry has 20 years of paddling and extensive river rescue experience. He hosts ACA Swiftwater Rescue Instructor’s Classes at Bear Paw and is a fully certified ACA Swiftwater Instructor. He is also a volunteer firefighter for the Town of Wolf River and a volunteer on the Wolf River Search and Rescue Squad.

On June 7, 2007, a tornado moving at 50 mph with wind speeds of 160 mph wiped out the resort. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Owner Jamee Peters rebuilt with new co-owners Scott Berry, an instructor, and Craig Knapp, who had been a guest when the tornado hit. They reopened a year after the tornado (6)

As soon as the boy scout group finished their training at their bridge on Boy Scout Rapid, we ferried across and I surfed a very small wave for the first time. We paddled back and forth at the foot of the rapids, angling our boats slightly upstream. It was really fun to just follow Scott and mimic his moves. We had ample practice with our draw and rudder strokes as we eddy hopped and aggressively zig-zagged through boulders always moving faster than the current or slower as we ferried forward and backward to find our lines.

Whether you go faster or slower than the water you are in control. Stop paddling and you are now moving at the waters speed. The water is in control and will do what it wants with you. The river was low and we had some technical rock gardening at times that would not be there if the the boulders were covered. We scouted down the river to see where the current was the strongest. Where there's a train of waves, the water is the deepest and we'd cruise right through them. Sometimes, however, a boulder can mimic a wave and the ride gets a bit bumpy by surprise....

Bear Paw teaches paddling and skiing and rents mountain bikes as well. Their accomodations include chalet suites, rustic cabins and a campground. The Wild Wolf Inn , overlooks the Wolf River, and has a great view of Gilmore's Mistake and great sandwhiches, too. Both nights I had servers who grew up with Scott Berry and could not say enough good things about him. Katie, in particular, shared how he not only spent time teaching her how to paddle, but ski as well.

Mfairlady

Paddle/Hike/Play

References

1. "Whitewater Paddling Strokes & Concepts," Eric Jackson; 1999.

2. "Sea Kayaker Deep Trouble," Broze & Gronseth; 1997; p. 130.

3. Bear Paw Adventure Resort

4. Inland Sea Kayak Symposium

5. Surfline, "Nigel Dennis Kayaks."

6. Midwest Weekends Bear Paw review, "Whitewater Kayaking 101," 3/11.

7. Wausau Whitewater.org, Scott Berry bio.

A Field Guide to Canoecopia

By:  Tom Bamonte

Right about now, in houses throughout the Midwest hundreds if not thousands of paddlers are rediscovering the pleasure of snail mail.  They have come home from work or the unemployment office to find waiting for them the Canoecopia Gazette, the official guide to Canoecopia, the world's largest paddlesports festival, which will be in Madison, Wisconsin on March 11-13.

A Slice of Canoecopia

Just as Canoecopia marks the beginning--or at least the hope of the beginning--of the paddling season, the Gazette whets our appetite for Canoecopia, the high holy days for midwestern paddlers.  The Gazette is filled with surveys of new gear, inspiring trip reports, and chatty articles on all sorts of paddling-related topics. There are some nice nature photographs and lots of pictures of cute kids and smiling adults.  You can always count on an article from Darren Bush, who heads Rutabaga, the outfit that sponsors Canoecopia, complaining that he didn't get enough paddling time the previous year but that it is all good anyway.  You savour the Gazette, thinking back to how much fun you had at past Canoecopias and counting down the days to the next one.

Darren Bush of Rutabaga

The Whys of Canoecopia

Why is it worth making the journey to Madison in often chilly early March for Canoecopia?  Image a huge exhibition hall packed full of boats and gear and outfitters where everything is at least 15% off.  You can easily comparison shop and sometimes find stuff on sale at even deeper discounts.  Keep an especially close eye on the Rutabaga sale table.  I've gotten good stuff for half off or more.   

Both inside the exhibition hall and in the hallways outside there are commercial and civic organizations (including CASKA) with booths.  The booths feature mounds of paddling-related propaganda for you to snag for later reading and folks willing to talk about paddling destinations and techniques.  You can learn so much at Canoecopiea by just wandering around and asking questions, feeling stuff and hopping in and out of boats.

But there's more. Canoecopia offers over 150 presentations on a wide variety of paddling-related topics. Many of the presentations are Powerpoint travelogues and how-to demonstrations.  There are also real-life demonstrations in a pool and participatory sessions on paddling techniques in an open area in the atrium.  Some of the presenters are world-renowned paddlers and some are the folks you paddle with on the weekend. Rutabaga encourages local paddlers to be presenters.  For the cinematically inclined there is a day-long festival of paddling films on Sunday.  

On top of the formal program of presenters are plenty of informal opportunities to learn a lot.  For example, I noticed on page 42 of the Gazette that Kokatat is holding three drysuit gasket replacement demonstrations this year. With a trip coming up where we'll be relying on gaskets for over two weeks straight this will be useful stuff.  Canoecopia also the kind of place where you can bounce your questions off of the perfect stranger next to you.  People tend to be both friendly and helpful.

Some Hows of Canoecopia

I've attended Canoecopia for about the past five years.  Here are some tips:

First, if at all possible try to spend at least two days at Canoecopia.  Not only will the extra day(s) mean you won't feel rushed but you can spend a night or two in Madison, which is a really fine town. (Visitor information here.)  If resources are an issue you can usually find a motel for $50 a night and there is a hostel for even cheaper accommodations.  The CASKA Yahoo Group is a good way to get or share a ride. An alternative to buying food at the event at convention hall prices is to stop someplace like the Willy Street Co-Op and pick up some good carryout.  The University of Wisconsin typically is on break Canoecopia weekend so there is no difficulty getting into downtown restaurants and clubs.

Madison

Second, once you are up there you don't have to spend a lot.   You can get a three-day admission and parking pass to Canoecopia for just a smidgen over $30.  Once inside, there is no obligation to buy anything.  I went two years running where just about the only thing I brought home was a couple pairs of Teko socks.  Your results may vary, as did mine in other years!

Third, Canoecopia is an opportunity to sell your boat or buy a used boat.  The parking lot is filled with vehicles with boats on top festooned with For Sale signs and contact information.  If you are in the market for a pre-paddled boat troll the parking lot.  At a minimum, make sure your boat rack is on your vehicle just in case.  You never know where your covetous eye might land.

Fourth, there is a Bike-o-Rama right next to Canoecopia. There is no admission charge and you might find some deals on bikes and biking gear if you aren't all shopped out for paddling stuff.

Finally, for sports entertainment there used to be the Wisconsin girls high school basketball tournament on Canoecopia weekend, but that is not the case this year.  One option on warm days is to to watch the cluster of ice fishermen on Monona Bay chance fate on the diminishing spring ice.  You never know when the lake will claim one of those pesky fisherman who have been depleting the water of fish all winter.

Ice Fishermen

A Guide to Presentations

People graze through the presentations for personal reasons.  Some want advice on paddling techniques. Some are looking to live vicariously through the "I was up a creek without a paddle" sort of of travelogue. Some want to increase their knowledge about camping, navigation and first aid skills.  Some just want a dark space for a 45 minute nap.

Here's my highly personal guide to this year's presentations.

First and foremost, we should support the Chicago area paddlers who are presenting.  This year's crop includes:

--Alec & Sharon Bloyd-Peshkin are doing a pool presentation on T-Rescues.  This is a follow-up to their excellent article on the same subject in a recent issue of Sea Kayaker magazine. (Saturday, 1:00 p.m.; Sunday, noon)

--Gary Mechanic.  Gary is presenting on the Lake Michigan Water Trail, a very important initiative about which there will be much news in 2011. (Sunday, 1:30 p.m.)

--Tom Lindblade is doing a timely presentation entitled "From Killer Dam to Whitewater Park," which is about the new whitewater park in Yorkville, Illinois that adds a great new dimension to Chicago-area paddling and has prompted the return of the Geneva Kayak Center store.  (Saturday, 9:30 a.m.)

Some other presenters and presentations that I'm keeping an eye on include, in no particular order:

Steve Scherrer.  Steve is doing a land presentation on "Understanding Boat Design" (Saturday and Sunday at 11:30 a.m.) and pool sessions on boat control and rolling (Saturday, 2:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2:00 p.m.). Steve is wise and witty and I learn a lot from his presentations.

Stephen Brede.  "Solo Canoe Circumnavigation of Lake Huron."  Stephen paddled around Lake Huron in 2009 and had a tough but successful Lake Michigan circumnavigation in 2010.  I bet he goes for all the Great Lakes.  Stephen is a thoughtful guy and a writer, so this should be an interesting presentation. (Saturday 9:30 a.m.)

Keith Wikle.  "An Introduction to Surf Kayaking." Keith is a pill and has a prankster spirit. In the same spirit I want to attend and ask a rookie question such as how he pees in his boat just to see his response. I also expect to learn a lot. (Saturday, 11:30 a.m.; Sunday 10:30 a.m.)

Nancy Uschold.  "Fog, Ferries & Fjords-Paddling Newfoundland."  Nancy is co-owner (with Sam Crowley) of Sea Kayak Specialists in Marquette.  She has been quietly building an impressive paddling resume and I'm certainly interested in Newfoundland paddling. (Friday 5:30 p.m.; Saturday 2:30 p.m.)

John Browning is a well-known Milwaukee paddler and instructor and is doing multiple presentations on topics including navigation and wilderness first aid.  I going to be sure to make at least one of them.

Shawna Franklin & Leon Somme.  "Safety and Rescue:  Defining a New Standard."  Shawna and Leon run Body Boat Blade in Washington and are well-known instructors and adventurers.  They will be showing a new Sea Kayak Rescue Film.  A don't-miss presentation.  (Friday, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, 12:30 p.m.)

Ben Lawry runs a variety of hand's-on sessions on how to paddle effectively in the upstairs atrium.  Over the years I have participated and observed many "a-ha" moments when people first understand that you paddle from your core rather than your arms.

There's much, much more.  Find your way to Canoecopia and plunge into a truly invigorating swirl of people, presentations and, yes, shopping.  Don't forget to stop at the CASKA booth and introduce yourself or help staff the table for an hour.

 

CASKA Booth at Canoecopia (Sharon Bloyd-Peshkin & Lyn Stone)

 

 

Chicago Shoreline Marathon: 2010 Edition

By:  Tom Bamonte

Photos:  Humberto Garcia

Yesterday marked the 2010 edition of the Chicago Shoreline Marathon.  The Marathon attracts competitors from all over.  Each year there seems to be more competitors.  I was a safety boater this year and about 35 competitors passed my spot.

The 23.25 mile course runs from Calumet Park to Leone Beach.  The fastest competitors, paddling surfskis, finish in about three hours.  There are also ocean canoes, tandem kayaks, traditional sea kayaks and performance sea kayaks.  The Marathon requires that competitors finish in six hours.  Those who fall behind that pace are shuttled from one of the four check-in points along the race course to the finish line at Leone Beach.

There also is a mini-marathon that runs from Leone Beach to Montrose and back.  This 8 mile course is a nice opportunity to folks to ease into competitive paddling.  It also ensures first crack at the food table at the end of the course!

This year there was a nice breeze from the south.  The heavy motorized boat traffic between 12th Street and Montrose and the unforgiving breakwalls created somewhat chaotic wave conditions.  Performance boats are typically tippy boats and a number of competitors took a spill in the warm water.  Fortunately, everyone was able to get back in their boats quickly and continue with the race, losing nothing more than a little time and a few caps.

The Chicago sea kayaking community, with our relatively wide and stable craft, provide the safety boaters for the Marathon.  We position ourselves about a mile apart.  Our bright hats provide visual reference points for the competitors.  We pitch in and help with rescues when needed and identify for the race organizers competitors who appear to be veering off course or are having trouble of some sort.  This year Keith Heger was the Safety Director, taking over from Tom Heineman, the Safety Director in previous Marathons.  Tom had spent a chunk of August paddling in the Bay of Fundy.

Safety Boater Beverly Serrell

Safety Boater Jim Des Jardins

Local kayakers also help staff the four check-in sites where competitors get out of the water for a brief spell before forging ahead.  Pierre Kornak was the race sweep, following the competitors and letting the safety kayakers know that their term of duty was over.  He probably paddled longer and farther than anyone on race day.

Marathon Sweep Pierre Kornak

The heavy boat traffic was a challenge but overall the conduct of boaters during the Marathon was good.  It was obvious that most boaters were keeping a careful watch as they plowed out of the harbors along the race course.

However, I do want to report the conduct of a sailboat called "Sorcerer's Judge."  Pierre Kornak and I were accompanying a competitor northbound around Montrose point.  This competitor was in a new boat and was being challenged by the chop.  Indeed, he had flipped and rolled just 10 minutes before. 

As we approached Montrose point Sorcerer's Judge approached from our left, out of Montrose Harbor.  The boat was close and I called to the captain and pointed out the competitor paddling a bit ahead of me on my right.  The last thing this competitor needed was the added distraction of being spooked by a sailboat.

The captain acknowledged he saw the competitor and I gestured that he should steer away from the competitor.  The captain replied that he had no brakes.  I told him he had a rudder and should use it.  The captain then said something to the effect of "let me show you how to use the rudder."  He then used his rudder to set his sailboat on a course set directly at the competitor, veering away at the last second to avoid a collision.

I reported this shocking incident to the Coast Guard Auxiliary boat that was patrolling the race course and that boat went searching for the Sorcerer's Judge.  I also reported it to the Chicago Police Marine Unit and to the Corinthian Yacht Club, which operates out of Montrose Harbor.  Watch out for this boat and take appropriate action if encountered on the water.

Perhaps the best part of my day was accompanying one of the final finishers.  This competitor was paddling an ocean canoe.  He said that the folks at the Montrose Beach check-in appeared ready to yank him out of the race because he was dangerously close to finishing in over six hours.  However, he had hopped back in his boat before they made a final decision because in almost four decades of racing he had finished every race.

Ocean Canoe

We had a nice south wind and with less boat traffic there was less chop.  Yet, the clock was ticking.  This competitor was obviously tired and his digestive system was upset from too many power gels.  Yet, he paddled on, taking advantage of every following wave he could. 

He got a bit off track, aiming for the wrong beach, but I was able to talk him back on course by establishing a landmark at which he should aim.  The clock was ticking.  I knew that getting to Leone on time would be a challenge.  We chatted occasionally.  It was obvious that finishing and, especially, finishing on time, was important to him.

He found one last reserve of energy and we landed with a couple minutes to spare.  He was nearly last.  There was no one on the beach cheering him on.  The feasting and post-race ceremony had begun and his landing was unnoticed by the group. 

Yet, the handshake he gave me was firm and the thank-you was deep and sincere.  In the best spirit of the Marathon he had done the best he could and that, in the end, was more than good enough despite his finish near the end of the pack.

Buffed Participants at the Awards Ceremony

A final note.  Tim and Kristen Flentye, the Marathon co-organizers, had a baby earlier in the week.  Needless to say, this was a busy week in their household.  Congratulations to them and to all who participated in this year's Marathon.

Humberto's Marathon pictures here.

A Pasty-Sized Good Time: Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium 2010

 

By:  Tom Bamonte

This is an appreciation of the Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium, which is held each July on the south shore of Lake Superior in the town of Grand Marais, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

I attended GLSKS this year for the first time with Luis Caro, a favorite neighbor and paddling companion.  We learned on the long drive up that Luis, a native of Puerto Rico, has a real fondness of empanadas, a pastry filled with good stuff that is a staple throughout Latin America and elsewhere in the tropical world.

When I described the glory that is the pasty, the high point of the cuisine of the Upper Peninsula (an ungenerous person might say this is like being the tallest person at a midgets convention), Luis wasn't biting.  He argued that the empanada had been developed over the centuries by a rich and flavorful Spanish culture that spanned the globe.  According to Luis a pastry developed by impoverished miners in the cold and dank environs of Great Britain and then rudely transplanted to the United States where it was embraced by Finns could not come close to matching empanadas.

Pasties

I bite my tongue, but when Luis stopped to catch his breath I predicted that Luis would consider his first pasty a life-changing event.  I described the sturdy goodness of the rutabaga, the noble root vegetable that is in every true patsy.

Luis confessed that he had never tasted a rutabaga and I pointed out that the absence of the rutabaga from Spanish cuisine no doubt led to the long decline of the Spanish Empire.  Luis countered that the bastardization of the empanada in the form of the pasty had undoubtedly coarsened the culture of Great Britain, leading directly to its colonialist depredations that stunted development in wide swatches of the tropical world where empanadas are king.

I responded that I envisioned him going back to Puerto Rico as the pasty evangelist, spreading the rutabaga gospel and freeing people from the bonds of tradition and their overly spicy and unsubtle empanadas.  Alternatively, I sketched a vision of Luis opening a pasty parlor in Chicago, attracting Yooper expatriates, hipster foodies and recovering empanada addicts in equal measure.

As we engaged in this spirited debate the miles clipped away and before long we cruised into downtown Grand Marais.

Downtown Grand Marais

The town is perched on the west side of a nice harbor.  The symposium is located on the beach.  Off-water events are held at the town recreation center.  I was told by a local that on GLSKS weekend kayakers literally take over the town and the locals are glad to have us because we are much better behaved than the hordes that descend in the winter on their snowmobiles.

Grand Marais Harbor

To the west, between Grand Marais and Munising, an hour's drive and 35 mile paddle away, lies the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, which includes the towering Grand Sable Dunes.  Grand Island, another prime paddling destination, is just outside of Munising.  GLSKS takes full advantage of these sites by hosting a variety of day trips customized to all skill levels.

Luis and I camped in the Woodland Park Campground, which is located on a bluff overlooking Lake Superior within an easy walk of the symposium and town.  The campground has showers, flush toilets and running water, so it is not a wilderness camping experience.  All these amenities, however, are much appreciated after a long day at the symposium.

Luis and I were lucky to find relatively secluded camping spots with especially nice views of the lake.

Campsites

This year's symposium was organized by Down Wind Sports, a U.P. outfitter with stores in Marquette and Houghton.  Down Wind also organizes the Ladies of the Lake symposium.  (The 2010 edition opens on August 12.)  I have nothing but good things to report about the Down Wind folks--friendly and helpful.

GLSKS was packed with kayaking luminaries.  Freya Hoffmeister was the headliner, but there were well known instructors from all over the country in attendance as well.  From everything I heard and observed all of the instructors, from Freya on down to the lowest ranking piker, were extremely generous with their time and expertise.  Chicago was well represented at the symposium by Scott Fairty, the Bloyd-Peshkins, Lyn Stone, Hether Hoffman, Danny Thorley and likely several others I've failed to mention.

On Thursday I took the all-day Grand Island trip led by the Bloyd-Peshkins.  The weather was perfect and the water in Lake Superior was unusually warm--almost scary warm for Lake Superior.  Grand Island features colorful cliffs and inviting beaches and the trip was a great introduction to the area.

Grand Island Rocks

Grand Island Beach

On our way back from Grand Island Luis and I stopped at Muldoon's, a venerable pasty shop between Munising and the ferry launch for Grand Island.  As Luis worked his way through his pasty I could tell from his intense silence that it was a profound experience.  He was unlearning years of eating spicy and piquant food so he could appreciate the mellow and filling goodness of a Yooper pasty.  I'm confident that from now on he will have a pang of regret every time he frequents an empanada shop, yearning for a pasty while he has to settle for an empanada.

The next day I joined the trip along the Pictured Rocks.  This was a spectacular paddle along towering cliffs and waterfalls.  Scott Fairty was one of the trip leaders (after have driven all night from Chicago) and he kindly let a group of us paddle up close to the cliff faces, playing in the sometimes confused water and doing our best not to gouge the bottoms of our boats on the rocks.  I'm so glad to have taken this paddle, one of the best ever stretches of shoreline for paddling in my book.

Pictured Rocks

   Waterfall off the cliff

View from inside cave

Sense of scale

Curve to Point

These day trips were a great way to meet fellow paddlers from all over.  Some of these paddlers were from areas without an established paddling community and they complained of feeling isolated.  It made me feel fortunate to be part of a large paddling community in Chicago, were we can be isolated together.  Some of the people on these 18 mile trips were relatively new to paddling, but they did a great job keeping up and learning on the water.  Other were old hands, having attended GLSKS for years. 

On Saturday I took classes.  These included a surf class because Lake Superior had picked up with 2-4 footers.  I had so much fun in class that I stayed afterwards to play around with several other like-minded folks in the surf and chop where the beach met the breakwater at the entrance to the harbor.

On Saturday night the GLSKS crowd headed for the local high school gym for a pasty dinner hosted by the students.  The pasties were made by the local kids under the guidance, we hoped, of the town's pasty experts. There were filling side dishes and extremely rich desserts as well,   Freya Hoffmeister then gave her round Australia talk.

I had seen that talk in Chicago earlier in the week.  It is a long way around Australia.  I knew that tired kayakers in an overheated and stuffy gym after a heavy meal were in for a struggle.  I confess I snuck out to enjoy a shower, see the sun set over the lake, and wander through town at dusk processing all of the good experiences over the past few days.

When I returned to the high school, I saw a small group of folks at the entrance slouching on a bench with their legs splayed before them, panting and nearly cross-eyed.  Occasionally, others would stumble out with red faces and rapidly blinking eyes.  The combination of a heavy dinner, a hot gym and a long journey was just too much for them.

There was a spirited after-dinner gathering at the local bar.  The next morning there was a race.  Luis and I were taking down our tents because rain was predicted for later in the morning and we didn't want to have to pack up wet tents.  However, we heard that Chicago's own Scott Fairty gave Freya Hoffmeister a run for her money in the race.

My last class was an incident management course led by Keith Wikle, among others.  The instructors would designate a leader from among the students, cook up and execute a scenario (e.g., one person throwing up and two people flipped over and a third paddling off into the distance), and let the leader and the group figure out what to do.  Once the situation was stabilized the group convened to discuss what had gone right and what had gone wrong.  The lessons learned were then, hopefully, applied during the next scenario.  It was an extremely valuable learning experience.

After that there was time for one last paddle in the harbor.  By now it was raining, after several days of warm, sunny weather.  Luis and I packed up our wet paddling gear, which fermented on the long trip home. 

While we didn't stop for a patsy on the way home, I know that Luis is counting the days until next year's GLSKS, when he can return to the land of the true empanada.

End of Summer creeping up on you??

The sun is rising later and setting earlier. If the end of summer is looking a little too close because you still have training, tripping or playing goals to accomplish, read on. Many of the Great Lakes Symposia have come and gone, but here are a few to check out.

                      Give them a look or call them to get involved.

(Note: This is not a comprehensive list, just a handful of opportunities FYI.)

 

August 12-15

Ladies of the Lake Sea Kayak Symposium Marquette, MI Contact: Arni Ronis, (906) 482-2500 arni@downwindsports.com www.downwindsports.com

It's this week end if you're free to travel.

 

August 19-22

Lower Columbia Kayak Roundup Slow Boat Farm, Wahkiakum County, WA Contact: Ginni Callahan, (360) 849-4016 info@columbiariverkayaking.com www.locoroundup.com

What's New for LoCo 2010
First, what is LoCo 2010? The 4th Annual Lower Columbia River Kayak Roundup is an instructional retreat for kayakers of all levels.
Classes last the full day, with some afternoon games, and evening presentations. Most participants and coaches camp at Slow Boat Farm, where the event is held, although there are also a number of small B&Bs nearby.
Catered Meals. Sharon's Pizza and More in Cathlamet will be working with local farmers to offer fresh, locally raised food. Breakfast, Trail Lunch, and Dinner are available. Meals will be served at the Slow Boat Farm. Pick up your trail lunch at the morning meeting.
LoCo Meet-up. Kayakers who are not taking classes are invited to go paddling together unguided. Daily routes will be recommended for various skill levels based on the weather and tides. Sign up on the regular registration form. Modest fee of $20 includes the organization of groups, screening for skill level, camping, and evening program.
Sunday Morning Social Paddles (free with a 3-day program; $20 as a Meet-up option). Enjoy paddling with friends and utilizing your new kayaking skills. Separate groups will have different levels of challenge and length of trip.

 

August 26-29

Greenland Paddling Symposium Wawa, ON, Canada Contact: (800) 203-9092 info@naturallysuperior.com www.naturallysuperior.com

Every August, Naturally Superior Adventures hosts Ontario’s only Greenland-style sea kayak symposium on Lake Superior. Instructors include Bonnie Perry and Doug Van Doren, two of North America’s finest Greenland-style paddlers. Perfect for first-time and experienced Greenland-style paddlers alike, registration includes the use of a handmade paddle.

Where the vast majority of Greenland-style retreats have focused on flatwater skills, Naturally Superior's Greenland-Style Paddling Symposium includes surf kayaking at the mouth of the Michipicoten River. Novice and women-only programs make this event perfect for everyone. And Sunday’s Greenland-style competition combines a sprint race and portage with rolling and traditional hunting techniques in a fun-filled format.

With a maximum registration of 50 participants, there will be lots of personalized teaching and feedback from our instructors. Registration includes a beach campsite and hearty, home-cooked meals at Rock Island Lodge, and a Saturday night house concert.

 

September 10-13

Downeast Sea Kayak Symposium Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor, ME Contact: Melinda Rice, (207) 669-2338 info@carpediemkayaking.com www.carpediemkayaking.com

Registration is now open for the 5th Annual Downeast Sea Kayaking Symposium !

Dates: Friday, Sept. 10 through Monday, Sept. 13.
Location: Mount Desert Island, Maine

New This Year: We're mixing it up this year, offering new classes (along with the usual favorites) and dividing them into series based on skill level and interest: Fundamental Skills; Beyond the Basics; Masters Series; BCU Series; and Just for Fun. Check out class descriptions and the symposium schedule at www.carpediemkayaking.com/symposium .

The Masters Series is for experienced and trained paddlers looking to push the performance envelope even further -- much further. If you feel you qualify, please call us, as enrollment in these courses will be limited, with prior approval required.

Coaches: We've got many coaches from previous years returning including John Carmody, Scott Fairty, Christopher Lockyer, Jean Totz, Russell Farrow and Steve Maynard, plus new coaches including Nigel Robinson from Wales.

Visit the website or call us at 207-669-2338 for more information or to sign up.

 

October 27-31

Sea Kayak Georgia Skills Symposium Tybee Island, GA Contact: Sea Kayak Georgia, (888) 529-2542 info@seakayakgeorgia.com www.seakayakgeorgia.com

 The British Canoe Union is a widely respected school of training, we invite you to join us for your skills development and assessment in this outstanding system. We are pleased to offer BCU courses as well as skills training courses developed by Sea Kayak Georgia and some of the world's leading kayakers. Courses are available for all skill levels and everyone is invited to attend.

Sea Kayak Georgia looks forward to hosting the 2010 symposium to allow paddlers to come together as a community to give and receive knowledge, to see old friends and welcome new ones. The Symposium is planned around the highest tides of the year. The high tides lend themselves to challenging conditions for the advanced classes and flood the marshes with higher water than usual. The marshes are an excellent sheltered water training ground. Navigation through flooded creeks enables us to offer the Exploration Series and the Naturalist Day Paddle.
Group dinners will be offered. Presentations will be given by different coaches evenings around 7:30 to 8:00.

Call with questions, help you plan, and receive your registration by phone: 888 529 2542.


Check in with Geneva Kayak Center for the September Midwest Sea Kayak Skills Fest

When

Fri Sep 17 – Sun Sep 19

http://genevakayak.com

You can always check the many posted calendars:

Locations for event calendars:

http://www.goneseakayaking.com/calendar.asp

http://www.paddling.net/events/

http://playak.com/calendar.php?eid=1458

http://www.seakayakermag.com/events_calendar.htm

http://www.kayaksession.com/calendar-kayak.php

http://www.paddlermagazine.com/component/option,com_eventlist/Itemid,138/view,eventlist

Announcement: Lake Erie Islands Trip--Weekend of June 25

By:  Tom Bamonte

It's time for another trip to visit the islands of the Great Lakes.  Last year's trip was to the Manitou Islands.  Report here.  This year's trip will be to a group of islands in Lake Erie, including north, south and middle Bass islands.  Chart here.  The area is about a 5.5 hour drive from Chicago, almost all on the Indiana and Ohio turnpikes.  The islands have lots of history and provide great paddling opportunities.  The consensus view is that this is the best paddling spot in Lake Erie. 



Last year's trip included an 8 mile crossing and wilderness camping.  The Lake Erie islands are very different.  While shallow Lake Erie can kick up quickly, the crossings will be significantly shorter.  There is frequent ferry service if the paddling conditions are not good.  We will be staying in a state park campground with running water and the like.  Ice cream, pizza and fermented beverages will be within an easy paddle.  Perry's Monument will provide a handy navigational guide.  There is plenty of boat traffic, which may sometimes be a nuisance, but that boat traffic can come in handy at times from a safety perspective.




Consequently, this will be a good trip for paddlers who have some open water experience and want to take the next step into working on navigation, kayak camping, and crossings in unfamiliar waters.  At the same time, the trip will give experienced paddlers options to test their skills through extended open water crossings to islands in Canada and at the fringes of the archipelago. The ferry provides a back-up in case of bad weather and even an option for non-paddlers to join the trip.  Think of this as the WMCKA of kayak tripping.

The trip will occur over the weekend of June 25, likely from late Friday through Monday night.  There may be an opportunity to spend an extra day.  As with last year's trip there will be carpooling opportunities.

This trip will come together quickly.  If interested or you have questions please contact Dave Kaknes or myself.  We need to get a headcount in order reserve campground space.

This should be a fun trip.


Background Information

Articles/Trip Reports

http://travel.nytimes.com/2004/09/10/travel/escapes/10ERIE.html?pagewanted=print&position=

http://www.paddling.net/places/showReport.html?1499

Information on the Islands

http://www.middlebass2.org/LakeErieIslands.shtml#Lake%20Erie%20Islands

Ferry

http://www.millerferry.com/

Middle Bass Island State Park

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/parks/middlebass/tabid/766/Default.aspx

Aurora Paddlesports Festival June 12 & 13

Aurora Paddlesports Festival

June 12 & 13, 2010

Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Mastodon Lake, Phillips Park, Aurora, IL

CASKA is one of the sponsors for this open to the public paddlesports event. Reminiscent of years past Paddle in the Park, it is not only a place to network and learn about local clubs, local outfitters, paddlesport centers, and places to paddle. It is a place to get your feet wet, or if you're a more adventurous, to get all of you wet. There will be introductory and not so introductory classes on land and on water, fleets of boats to try and a film festival!

This will be the 2nd annual two-day canoeing and kayaking festival with low-cost on-water lessons in solo and tandem canoeing, river and sea kayaking; test-paddling of canoes and kayaks; on-land programs about paddling skills and adventures, paddling safety and more. Meet Illinois paddling clubs, paddle sport retailers, and river conservation organizations.

The festival admission is free. Paddling lessons are $ 20.00 for adults and $ 10.00 for children 10-17 when accompanied by adult taking the same lesson. Test paddling canoes and kayaks is $ 10.00 adults only for the day with a signed waiver. The film festival is $ 2.00 per showing.

LOCATION:

Mastodon Lake was so named because the remains of the extinct elephant-like Mastodon were found in this 28 acre fishing lake in the 1930's and visitors to the lake can see a life size sculpture of a Mastodon and a restored prairie grass development, as well as enjoy a one mile walking path.

For more detailed information, directions, sign up forms and waivers go to:

http://www.illinoispaddling.org/upcoming-events/2ndannualaurorapaddlesportsfestiveltobeheldjune1213th

CASKA will also staff a table to provide information about our club, safety and activities. We will be putting out a call for members to sign up to represent our club through out the event. Keep your calendar open.

To sign up to staff the table contact:   Bill Burton, pudmuppy@hotmail.com or lwstone@yahoo.com

Lyn Stone

With the snow melted, the weather warming up and open water paddling opportunities increasing weekly, CASKA will be offering a second opportunity to tune up those rusty rolls and rescues ( or just plain mess around) in the comfort of the UIC pool.

In conjunction with Kayak Chicago, CASKA is sponsoring a night at the UIC pool on Wednesday, April 7 from 7:00 to until 9:30 p.m.

The first 10 CASKA members (paid up for 2010) who register with Alec Bloyd-Peshkin (bpfamily@gmail.com will get in free. All other members will get in at the reduced rate of $10 (down from the normal $15). If you wish to use one of Kayak Chicago's kayaks, you need to reserve a boat for $10 by calling (630)336-7245.

We will also be giving out to all paid members the must-have kayaking accessory of 2010: the CASKA logo-imprinted, BPA-free, polycarbonate 36-oz. water bottle and carabiner.

Note: If you haven't come to the UIC pool, you can find directions on the link below: 901 W Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, IL

http://tinyurl.com/yged45k

Entrance to the pool is at the end of the sidewalk , probably next to where the Kayak Chicago trailer will be parked. If you are bringing your own boat, please make sure that it is clean and free of sand or dirt.
Dress for a relatively cool pool.
While many people park their cars behind the UIC pool building, officially there is no parking there, and people occasionally get ticketed.

Contact Alec offline at bpfamily@gmail to register. Make sure you are a current CASKA member first! (That means you've paid in 2010.) You can pay via PayPal at caska.org

I hope to see you there!
Alec Bloyd-Peshkin

2010 St. Patrick's Day Paddle--This Saturday, March 13th, at Lincoln Park Boat Club's River Site

The Tradition of Dyeing the River Green: In late 1961, a plumber entered Stephen M. Bailey's office at the Chicago Journeymen Plumber's Local Union #130 in white overalls splotched with green. The plumber had been pouring green dye into openings of the waste system, in search of the source of refuse being dumped into the Chicago River:

As fate would have it (or the "luck of the Irish"), the plumber had walked in on a casual meeting regarding the planning of the 1962 St. Patrick's Day Parade. The proverbial light bulb went off for Bailey and his next question was, "Why can't we dye the whole river for St. Patrick's Day?" Thus, a long standing tradition was born. That first year, the dye kept the river green for a week.

With typical Irish flair, Bailey commented, "The Chicago River will dye the Illinois, which will dye the Mississippi, which will dye the Gulf of Mexico, which will send green dye up the gulf stream across the North Atlantic into the Irish Sea, a sea of green surrounding the land will appear as a greeting to all Irishmen of the Emerald Isle from the men of Erin in Chicagoland, USA."

History and quote from http://chicagostpatsparade.com/index.html.

The Sales Pitch: What better way to witness a 49 year tradition than from the river itself! This year we will launch at 9:30 AM from the Lincoln Park Boat Club's North Avenue river site.

We will be greeted by thousands of cheering onlookers as we arrive under the Columbus Street bridge at approximately 10:30 AM, just in time to witness the river being dyed green. No, the dye will not affect the color of your boat.

Date: Saturday, March 13th

Time: Please arrive at the LPBC's North Avenue river site by 8:30 AM so that we can launch by 9:30 AM. Depending on how long we linger downtown, we should be back at the launch site sometime around noon.

Distance: Six miles (round-trip)

Gear: A wetsuit is required (or a drysuit if you have one) since the water will be quite cold. Please plan on being on the water for three hours since there are very few opportunities to get out of your boat during the paddle. A warm change of clothing, water and a snack bar are recommended.

Trip Difficulty: This trip is intended for the more experienced paddler because of the water temperature and the time we will spend in our boats.

Please keep in mind that it is more challenging to paddle six miles in the winter than in the summer due to all the gear we'll be wearing and carrying.

Directions: The Lincoln Park Boat Club's river site is located just south of North Avenue and just west of the Chicago River on Magnolia Street. Magnolia is the street that runs south from North Avenue across from the Home Depot and between the river and Comcast's headquarters. The site is located about 1/4 mile south of North Avenue on the east side of Magnolia Street. I have attached a map for your convenience.

Tim Flentye