Canoe West

2009 Holiday Newsletter!

Good grief, it's holiday time again! All of our canoes are back in the racks, the driftboat is waiting for the steelhead to show up, so it's time to sit around the fire and think about the fun we had this last year...

First off, in January Neil and Tom headed to Concord, California to be part of the Boy Scouts of America's big shindig LEAD at Diablo College. It was a lot of fun seeing so many friends, and a nice opportunity to make some new ones in the world of scouting.

After that, we were forced to mostly hang around and fish for steelies until May, when Neil & Tom had a fun time boating on the American River again with Keith Gale, Course Director for the Mt. Diablo Silverado Council. The guys offered a few river-running pointers to the brave participants of Keith's annual Boy Scout Leader boot camp. It was great to see all of the fresh faces mixed in with the veterans, to see everybody so excited about paddling, and jazzed about getting their scouts involved. Thanks, Keith for letting us show up and mix in... us bumpkins from the country don't get to big cities like Folsom very often--it's too scary.

Actually, Keith's program has been met with so much enthusiasm that he's bringing the whole shebang up to the Klamath this next year, which should be fun for all. We like the idea so much, in fact, that we would be interested in helping such a program for scouts in southern Oregon and northern California (I know, I know, but we all grew up, Corning was southern California). If any of you out there are interested in getting in on developping such a program email or give us a jingle. We'd be happy to provide equipment and staff to get started.

Spring this year brought a number of new faces to our solo and tandem clinics. Some came to learn the basics, some to brush up on their skills, others to tune up for expedition-type trips (two weeks on the Blood River--sounds perfect for Halloween, huh?). The weather here in early spring makes paddling a joy (as if it's ever anything else!), and we were happy to have some of these new friends back again and again over the summer.

The first of the season's Boy Scout troops showed up on the river in June. The scouts have always been a special part of our program since we started, 'way back in 1977, and the scouts are still a big part of our summer. A real highlight this summer was spending some time with a local outfit, Troop 57, from right here in Yreka. We had a dandy time paddling with these guys, and look forward to more days on the river with them.

Over the years, we've gotton into the habit of giving special kudos to some particular paddler or tandem team for each season, but this year we'd like to give special mention to Troop 444 as a unit. This troop has been with us several times, and we've had the pleasure of watching them develop as team paddlers. These kids are mighty good at honoring each other's strokes, correcting mistakes instead of ragging each other, and making sure the river trip is fun for everybody.
Oh sure, most of our troops do these things, but we have to pick one, and this year it's Troop 444. Thanks for paddling with us, guys!

"Water, water, everywhere..."
Well, not everywhere, but as July came on there was plenty of water in the Klamath for a successful canoe season. Apparently from what folks told us, that was not the case on a lot of California streams, and we got a lot of inquiries from friends all over the state whose home rivers were a bit on the bony side. While most of the Klamath is in California, its headwaters are in the Oregon Cascades, where the rain and snow were enough to keep us smiling all summer.

July wouldn't be July without the annual return of the Wild River Women, and we were delighted to have 'em up again. These super gals have been coming to the Klamath for ten years now, beginning (and continuing) as a birthday get-together canoe clinic for one of the founding members. Over the years, members have joined us from all over the U.S., including Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Kentucky, Hawaii, and, of course, California.

In August, we continued paddling with beginning to intermediate paddlers. Mostly adults as August, especially the last two weeks, finds many Scouts getting ready for school again. We enjoyed the father and son clinics and family groups that came and we hope to see them again this next year.

Speaking of 2010, we look forward to seeing some of you at Diablo College again, and joining Keith with his annual clinic. Come early spring we'll be back in Sacramento and the Bay Area, giving presentations on our canoeing program to area Scout Troops. We have some Troops, repeaters and new, as well as the Wild River Women, already scheduled, which we'll use as a reminder for all of you to check your calendars and get your dates booked now to join us for another great summer of canoeing.

Scout Canoe Clinics
Our Canoeing Instructors
Canoeing Pictures
Canoeing Tips and Tales
KLAMATH RIVER GUIDEBOOK
Used Canoes and Gear for Sale

All contents copyrighted 2009
P.O. Box 931, Yreka CA 96097-0931    (530) 842-7805
canoewest@snowcrest.net

Be One With The Water