July 2026 HCKC Newsletter

UPCOMING TRIPS & EVENTS

MOST TRIPS ARE NOW ON OUR CALENDAR.

KEEP AN EYE ON OUR CALENDAR FOR UPCOMING EVENTS THAT MAY BE ADDED AT SHORT NOTICE.  THERE WILL GENERALLY ALSO BE AN EMAIL ANNOUNCEMENT

TRAINING & TRIATHLON

Eagle Creek Triathlon Safety Boat Aug. 22

Sponsor Dwayne James

Swimming portion of the Indy Sprint Triathlon Series. HCKC members and guest provide safety boats for the swimmers in the 500 meter course. Participants are there to provide assistance to swimmers, guide them on the course, allow a place to rest or signal for extraction. We will be on the outside of the course while city lifeguards are on the inside of the course

Kayaking Skills Clinic for HCKC Members - Aug. 15

This training is designed for new or existing paddlers that want to learn or refine basic kayaking skills and boat control to make your paddling easier and more efficient.  It is free to club members, but there is a $10 ramp use/parking fee.

At Eagle Creek Reservoir.

NON-HCKC EVENT - QAJAQ TC Aug. 22-30

Training camp for traditional Greenland Paddling located near Frankfort MI.

NOTE: This event is full, but a wait list is available.

NON-HCKC EVENT -- TRADITIONAL PADDLERS GATHERING SEPT. 10-13

For those interested in learning more about and experiencing traditional Greenland Paddling.  In northern Minnesota.

Swiftwater Rescue Course L2 - L4 Sept. 12-13, in South Bend

If you have never taken a Swiftwater Course or it has been more than 4 years since your last one and paddle any water that MOVES this is the course you want to take!!!! This course is not just for Whitewater. You will learn how to rescue fellow paddlers or know how to be a "Good" victim from things that we have here in Indiana to tougher class whitewater streams.

CANOE & KAYAK TRIPS

NON-HCKC The 41st Annual Indiana Paddlers Rendezvous July 31, Aug 1-2, 2026

Trip sponsor Garry Hill GarryHill@aol.com 765-432-6782

The IPR has proven to be one of the overall best Paddling Events in Indiana.

The 41st Annual Indiana Paddlers Rendezvous will be held on the Driftwood River near Edinburgh & Columbus.  Our Base of Operations will be held at HEFLIN PARK.

Wabash River Trip – Lafayette Area Aug. 29

It’s that time of year when many of our local streams are often too low to enjoyably paddle. The Wabash River should have plenty of flow for easy paddling.

SEAKAYAK TRIP

Georgian Bay Scouting Trip Sept. 5-12

Sponsors and Trip Leads: Mark Schneider & David Nord

This trip is full and closed for registration. If you are interested in being added to the waiting list, please contact trip lead: Mark Schneider (Mark@ottersden.com)

SAFETY

“Talk, Reach, Throw, Row, Go” is a step‑by‑step water‑rescue sequence that prioritizes the rescuer’s safety: talk to the victim, reach with an object, throw flotation, row to them, and only go (swim) as a last resort.

Overview

This rescue hierarchy is widely taught in boating and lifesaving programs. It ensures you always start with the least risky method and escalate only if necessary.

Steps Explained

1. Talk

2. Reach

3. Throw

4. Row

5. Go (Swim)

Why This Order Matters

The sequence prevents “double drowning,” where an untrained rescuer becomes a second victim. It is designed to keep the rescuer safe while still providing effective help. 

This rescue hierarchy is a foundational principle in water‑safety training.

PAST TRIPS & EVENTS

East Fork White River July 11, Brownstown to Medora

After Inconsistent weather predictions all week cut the number of participants in half seven HCKC members had an easy, no-frills float down the East Fork for 8.6 miles. There were two new channel alterations that shortened nearly a mile of the trip that were not visible when the club last ran this section in 2021. The forecast as it has been for 4 of the last 5 years on this scheduled event was only ''fools gold'' as 10 minutes of ''holy water'' fell at the start and that was the total amount of the prognosticated heavy rainfall to be seen. The average current was fairly steady at about 2 1/2- 3 m.p.h. with the upstream Seymour gauge registering 1,400 cfs / 5.15 ft. We averaged 4.2 m.p.h. on our paddle time and were on the river just shortly more than two hours with a 45 minute lunch break on one of the nearly two dozen long sandbars that are in existence on this section. When club members arrived Saturday morning at the Brownstown DNR access site they were welcomed by several inches of deep, muck mud that encompassed the entire launching area and lower parking lot and the takeout @ Medora ramp was not much better resulting in a ''caveat emptor'' approach to these sites. Smaller Hoosier streams traditionally run 'bone dry' or ankle deep after consistent water levels therefore requiring a transition to the larger rivers (Wabash, Tippy, St. Joe (SB), Kankakee and the two Whites) to provide any type of planning for a mid-summer float. The seven who paddled (4kayaks and 3 canoes) were scattered from both near and far representing Fishers, Darlington, Indy, Avon, North Vernon, Muncie and Louisville KY. Temps were much cooler and manageable in mid-80's and a big difference from the previous weeks mid 90's along with the high humidity that was evident. The East Fork as it normally does delivered its usual, dependable performance that few streams can match in the dry months of hot, humid Hoosier mid summers. The river averages around 125' to 175' in width in most places and at times a little bit wider and narrower with the predictable downed tree limbs but it remains almost never demanding a portage and offers a current almost non-stop. After the take out at Medora a walk through of the enormous 435 foot long Medora Covered Bridge and a journey to the Bluebird Inn at Vallonia for some refreshments was enjoyed by a few members. Sincerely Richard Tekulve, East Fork trip leader since 2010

Vermillion River - July 25 

Most of the Vermillion River flows through Illinois (where it is spelled Vermilion).  The last part of the river flows through Indiana and empties into the Wabash.  Our trip consisted of around the last 8 miles of the Vermillion and 1 mile on the Wabash. There were 4 solo kayaks and 1 tandem canoe, with 6 paddlers and one dog.  Launching from the Osanamon access point, we encountered a light misting rain on and off in the morning.  By afternoon, the precipitation had moved on.  The river was on the low side with the Danville IL gauge showing 2.8 ft./258 cfs at 11:00. This proved to be sufficient flow with a fair current, and enough clearance for the boats as long as the main channel was followed. The river is sand bottomed along this trip, and it was fairly easy to scoot along if you found yourself in an area that was a little too shallow.  There were several places where downed trees had to be maneuvered through, but there was sufficient room to do so. The first part of the trip seemed to sit in a tree lined valley, and a very quiet area. We stopped for lunch at Eugene just past the covered bridge.  After lunch, the noise level from human activity increased, including traffic noise as we approached SR63.  The river seemed a little wider, and the banks flattened out compared to the trip's beginning.  Our trip ended at the Waterman Public Access Point on the Wabash.

Savage River Maryland Class III. July 5th.

Paddlers Jeff Stejskal and Eric Hayes

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 listing for this month will be combined with August new members in our next newsletter

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