A spectacular first trip with VBT. Chip and Bill arranged a fantastic group to paddle from Button Bay out to explore the Palisades of Lake Champlain. Despite a late start, and some minor equipment glitches, we all had a great time discussing the nature and natural history of this amazing section of lake.
Complacency on Lake Champlain can prove to be very dangerous to folks that paddle with the mindset that “Its only a lake”. This weekend I spent several hours coaching a group home after the leaders checked in with a weather update. The trip leaders were well prepared, competent paddlers, and had group safety in mind. When they looked at the conditions they decided some extra help was in order. I was happy to help out.
Evidence of their thinking was apparent after they checked the radar and wind reports. Had this been folks trained to a lesser degree I believe that a situation would have evolved that could have had serious ramifications.
Check out the conditions here
Pictures of the happy paddlers
We are super busy these days, the dog days of summer, meeting great folks that are taking a break from the bikes and enjoying the warm lake water.
A large crew set out in doubles on a windy day to enjoy Coolwater an amazing times on a very very hot and windy day the kids were awesome, though the GORP left something to be desired we all decided. It was a fantastic final trip with Apogee Adventures in the trip leaders were exceptional.
It is sad to say the final two kids programs of the year are wrapping up. We have done numerous trips with Apogee Adventures Man what a fantastic organization the trip leaders are fantastic, the kids wonderful, and the cycling adventure they go on remarkable for kids in grades seven through ten. Red and Ariel looked a little road weary but were still super into the Astec when working with their kids and kayaking.
Overland Adventures joined us for a phenomenal day at the mouth of the Winooski. We had a paddle over a half-mile out to find deep enough water to splash and play. These kids kayak programs are such a joy because you can watch the innate ability of young paddlers be totally at ease with being upside down and rescue them selves without even knowing it.
After a fantastic game of communication that challenged the kids to think about how they describe things. They embarked on making their cardboard kayaks,they planned a boat shape and had limited supplies with which to make a boat that would float them both
You can see here the kids participating in an activity called colorblind. This is an adaptation on a teamwork program to help people work on their communication skills focusing on clarity of language, building on shared experiences and having a common goal. Participants have to find one piece that is missing of the 36 , identifying its shape and color while never looking at each other’s pieces or their own keeping their eyes closed the whole time. They were successful!
Today kids kayak camp paddled from Converse Bay to Split Rock Point the scenery was spectacular, the waters clarity astounding, and the weather absolutely perfect. The kids had a chance to practice edging, their navigation skills by plotting the course using the chart and compass, and did some rescues. Mostly they enjoyed the scenery warm water and amazingly cool round rocks.
Graham,the kids,and I paddled out of the Otter Creek and made it all away to New York and Snaked DenHarbor and the Palisades. Amazing scenery. Antique steam boats, Eagles, great Heron
