April 2025 HCKC Newsletter |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UPCOMING TRIPS AND EVENTS
|
KEEP AN EYE ON OUR CALENDAR FOR UPCOMING EVENTS THAT MAY BE ADDED AT SHORT NOTICE. THERE WILL GENERALLY ALSO BE AN EMAIL ANNOUNCEMENT |
|
|
|
|
DEMO DAY--SOCIAL--PICNIC June 7 Geist Park This event is to welcome new members, and give long time members a chance to socialize and try different gear.
TRY A BOAT YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU WOULD PADDLE
TRY A PADDLE YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU WOULD USE
MEET CLUB MEMBERS WHO HAPPILY WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
ENJOY A PICNIC LUNCH/DINNER OF BRATS, BURGERS, AND SIDES |
|
|
|
|
UPCOMING WHITEWATER TRIPS:
WW: Ocoee River or in the area - April 26-27
WW: Stoney Creek Rendezvous - May 15-18 Johnstown, PA
The Stonycreek Rendezvous is an annual whitewater festival hosted by the Benscreek Canoe Club in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The event is held at Greenhouse Park, Pennsylvania’s first man-made whitewater park, held over three days in May. During the three days of the event, there is live music, food and gear vendors, a whitewater rodeo, downriver race, daily whitewater releases into the Stonycreek from the Quemahoning Dam.
WW: Memorial Day Wisc. Wknd Class 2-3 (4) - May 23-26 Silver Cliff, WI
The Memorial Day Wknd in WI Wolf/Peshtigo Whitewater (this year May 23-26) is ON! It has always been a great step-up trip for newbies to find their WW footing but has good action for all boaters. Plus Big Drop Piano Bob has a gig at Kosirs for off the water evening entertainment! Party at the bar & walk to your tent; safety first!
The advantage of an extra day to drive has made this a tradition. Big Drop will lead down the Class III/IV sections and Jason down the Class 2/3 sections. Camping will be at Kosirs to be centrally located.
Sponsor Jason Tharp: email jastharp@yahoo.com Text: 1-219- 877-4286
Location: Kosirs Campground: W. 14073 County Road C, Silver Cliff, WI 54104 |
|
|
More information on these trips is available through the calendar. If you are unsure if these trips are suitable for you, please contact the trip sponsor.
|
|
|
UPCOMING CANOE & KAYAK TRIPS: Driftwood River - May 18 This is a fun trip for all skill levels but is long so you need to have the stamina for a distance paddle. We start at Furnas Mill on Sugar Creek which joins the Driftwood. Our take out is 14 miles downstream at Lowel Bridge near Columbus. Be prepared with sunscreen, water, lunch and paddling gloves in addition to your regular gear. The meeting time is on the early side in order to get on the water ahead of the folks from Blue’s Canoes Outfitters. The trip leader will monitor conditions and if there are any challenges will put out an email to registered participants by 7 pm Saturday evening.
|
|
|
|
|
UPCOMING SEA KAYAK TRIPS:
SK: Lake Monroe Overnight - May 3-4
Join us for an overnight paddling trip on Lake Monroe. Lake Monroe lets us camp from our boats along the shore in Deem Wilderness. This is our annual spring pilgrimage and we will camp out on the peninsula across from Cutright Public Access Site.
If you only want to paddle on Saturday, our campsite should be only be about 3-4 miles from the Cutright put-in so that people are welcome to come out and day-paddle with us without camping. |
|
|
|
|
TRIP REPORTS
|
Sand Creek / Shirley Gates' Memorial Paddle - April 12 Vernon Fork Muscatatuck April 13 Eighteen paddlers from 17 different towns and four states attended the annual Sand Creek paddle for the 12.2 mile run from the Westport Dam to the Brewersville Bridge. As is seemingly the norm on these trips for now 4 consecutive years over 7 inches of rain had flooded the upper watershed only six days prior to the scheduled put in. Fortunately, 63 degrees temps and blue skies prevailed for the weekend to satisfy any paddler's desires. The always present overhanging rock ledges and the two carved mill races were enjoyed especially by first time Sand Creek participants. The first mill race (1862 Woolen Mill) was jammed up with newly flooded logs that blocked the entrance and halted any effort to pass through. The second race (1816 Kellar Mill) was run by two ''brave'' paddlers at the end of the trip. Near the half-way point was the traditional scheduled lunch stop. It was here that Shirley Gates was remembered by several members as she was born and grew up near her beloved Sand Creek where she sponsored her annual trip for numerous decades. Many memories and stories were shared about her passion of paddling, camping and total dedication for the club. From reigning as an elected three-time Club President to hosting several club board meetings and her renowned Christmas parties at her house with bumper to bumper filled rooms that left little space for any movement. Baseball and football teams have their stadiums, basketball has arenas but for the Hoosier Club it was her house in Brownsburg that was their true ''home court''. As a tribute her final remains were entered into Sand Creek for her last trip on her favorite Indiana stream to a woman who was one of the most well-liked and popular members in the 62 year old history of the HCKC. Further downstream and hanging from the North Brewersville Bridge was a 6 foot wide sign proclaiming ''HCKC Says Thanks For The Memories Shirley 1937-2023''. The water level was running 3-4 inches over the dam @ Westport creating a CFS estimate of aprox. 150-175. There were 10 kayaks, 6 solo canoes and one tandem. Participants journeyed from both near and far for this event. Hoosier paddlers were from: Indy, Kokomo, Madison, North Vernon, Muncie, Middletown, Yorktown, Elkhart, Goshen, Fishers, Greentown, Brownsburg and South Bend. Out of state participants came from Louisville, KY., Niles, MI. and Mason & Cincinnati, OH. The next day with many camping @ Clifty Falls State Park and also at the Brewersville cabin the Vernon Fork Muscatatuck River was paddled with 14 participants. Vernon Commons Park (Indiana's oldest) was the seen for the beginning and 9 decided on the 5.4 mile trek to the DNR access site at the Crosley/Green Bridge while 5 paddlers enjoyed a longer 11.7 mile run to the Euler Ford Bridge/CR 400 W. The river was @ 161 CFS on the Vernon gauge which made an easy float for the day. All in all, a good two days in southeastern Indiana on two of the states more popular streams that left very few paddlers disappointed with the final results that were offered for the weekend. Richard Tekulve, Sand Creek trip leader since 2006 Sara Hare, Muscatatuck trip leader |
|
|
|
|
NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS WANTED Do you have any tips, pictures, short stories or other items you think your fellow club members would be interested in? I can't guarantee that I will use all submissions, and I may hold to put in a future newsletter if space seems to be an issue, but I will consider them all. Thank you, Yeoman Judy Thompson |
|
|
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
|
Swiftwater Rescue Class L2-L4 May 10-11 This class is currently full, unless an additional instructor is added. Great moving water safety class. There may be an additional session later in the year.
Kayaking Skills Clinic May 17 and July 12 Classes are held at Eagle Creek Reservoir and focus on paddling strokes and safety information. Very good opportunities to improve your skills. Beginning and intermediate classes. There may possibly be an August session if there is enough interest.
Summit Lake Open Water Rescue and Intermediate Skills Weekend - May 30-June 1 This class is also currently full. You may be able to be placed on a waitlist, check with sponsor. Very good class for open water (lake) skills and safety.
TVCC Paddle School (Non-HCKC Event) - May 30-June 1 Ocoee TN Great whitewater training opportunity. This is a TVCC Event and you have to be a member of the TVCC Club. This is a paddling school for all skills.
If interested please reach out to myself or Toni Harris for more details.
John Gates 207-522-0259 |
POOL SESSIONS AT THATCHER PARK Thatcher Park Pool 4649 W Vermont St, Indianapolis, IN
46222
HCKC
Pool sessions at Thatcher are organized to allow HCKC members and guests to
learn and practice paddling skills in a safe environment with other paddlers,
some of which are ACA certified instructors but we all try to help each other
get better and safer for when we venture out to the water! Pool sessions are held Wednesday evenings 7:00 - 9:00 Participants must sign in each session and pay $10.00 per individual or $15 per family per session to cover pool rental. Please check out more information on the website. |
|
|
|
|
SEAKAYAK CORSICA?
|
I normally would not include what is essentially a promotion in the newsletter, but I received an email about an opportunity most would not be aware of. Several HCKC members enjoyed a private paddling trip to Greece, so some members may wish to take advantage of a relatively new opportunity. Below are the contents of the email I received:
I looked what your club is doing and I am impressed
My friend Rod, from 'seakayak milos' told me that you had a great time paddling in Milos with him in 2023 and I can see on your website that you organize different very good trips. I would like to propose to you some more opportunities of mediterranean paddling.
My name is Jeremy, owner of the new seakayak company in Corsica Island (www.nature-kayak.com), explore the most mountainous island of the mediterranean with quality gear and food.
You will find here (https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1RuS8EyRs2/) a review of the trip of Seakayak milos here in Corsica.
You will find more info about my different trips on my website, especially ‘the volcano trip’ which is a week seakayak expedition in the unesco world heritage parc of ‘porto gulf’ ( https://nature-kayak.com/seakayak-award/ ).
I also propose a multi days trip (like in Milos) where the group stay in a private bungalow at night and paddle during the day, more info here : This 6-days package is in the largest natural reserve in France called 'Bonifacio strait'
https://nature-kayak.com/south-corsica-bonifacio-strait/
I am keen to discuss a different itinerary for a trip to suit your club's member. With some clubs, I add a day of 'rolling clinic' orientated in practicing the roll in the warm water of the med. Other club want to have longer days paddling etc....
there is 10% discount if you arrived as a group already organized of min. 8 paddlers
Don’t hesitate to let me know if you are interested in this project.
Regards
Jeremy
00336 80 56 34 38 (whatapp) |
NEW MEMBERS
|
We welcome our new HCKC members. We hope you will take advantage of the many opportunities you have as a member! New Members 3/10 - 4/5 John W. Suzana B. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Get the Wild Apricot App
If you want to quickly look at HCKC Events that are scheduled, trip details, who is registered for the trip, find HCKC members or update your profile, this App is a handy tool to add to your mobile device.
|
|
|
👈BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION: JOIN HCKC FB GROUP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This message was sent to you by {Organization_Name} If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe at any time |
|
|
|
|
|
.png)
