Posted May 22, 201213 yr Hello Everyone,June 6th, Wednesday, will be the first Walden Session of the season. Arrive between 5:00 - 5:30 and park at the boat launch. If the boat launch is full - unload your boat at the launch and park at main parking lot. People will assist you with improving your skills (wet exist, rescue, sculling, rolling, standing in your cockpit, juggling, etc). If you don't want assistance, then just hang out with us. Cost is the entrance fee to the Pond (5 bucks a day/35 bucks a season).Post here if you have any questions or send me a PM.See you at the Pond.Les
May 23, 201213 yr Me too, me too! I'm determined not to be grossed out by the mucky water! Mucky water?? What are you talking about?? Walden Pond is wonderfully clear and clean! You'll love it! pru
May 24, 201213 yr Mucky water?? What are you talking about?? Walden Pond is wonderfully clear and clean! You'll love it! pru Anything that's not a swimming pool seems mucky to me. I know it's very clean and quite clear, just not clear enough. My desire to have a bombproof roll will overcome this silly fear!
May 24, 201213 yr Loking forward to the sessions. I'm trying to improve my bracing skills and maybe start rolling.
May 25, 201213 yr Walden is a kettle pond, which among other things means that the water that's there in the spring is still there in the fall. Its less than clear mostly because of the organic matter than falls off the trees leaving tanins in the water. In high season the bacteria count can rise. Overall, however, the water is quite safe as fresh water goes.
May 25, 201213 yr If you have any concern about bacteria count and its always going to be higher right after a good rain, protect your self with nose clips, ear plugs and swimming goggles. I once took a 2 hour rolling lesson years ago at Walden and forgot my nose clips. Result: sinus infection lasting 6 weeks. Then again you may have a first class immune system; I think I got mine on Craig's List.
May 25, 201213 yr New to sea kayak, want to learn all the skills you listed though I don't have many gears for sea kayak yet other than kayak/paddle/pfd. Quick question: What else should I bring? (GCosloy said goggle and plugs) another stupid question what should I wear since I don't have wetsuit or do you guy think it is needed? thanks a lot Hello Everyone, June 6th, Wednesday, will be the first Walden Session of the season. Arrive between 5:00 - 5:30 and park at the boat launch. If the boat launch is full - unload your boat at the launch and park at main parking lot. People will assist you with improving your skills (wet exist, rescue, sculling, rolling, standing in your cockpit, juggling, etc). If you don't want assistance, then just hang out with us. Cost is the entrance fee to the Pond (5 bucks a day/35 bucks a season). Post here if you have any questions or send me a PM. See you at the Pond. Les
May 25, 201213 yr To those who are unfamiliar, Walden Pond is a normal swimming pond, with a little beach and lifeguard (in season) and all that. So I wouldn't get too worried about bacteria count, I mean, people take their kids there to swim. We do our kayaking away from the beach, so like any New England lake there are old leaves on the bottom. They feel a little mucky if you are not accustomed.To itfaster, it's not the ocean, so there isn't much danger of getting stranded and not being able to go back to your car and warm up. If you are OK with swimming in a Massachusetts lake in June you'll probably be fine (especially if it's a hot day). That being said, kayak practice is unlike swimming in that the activity level is intermittent, so you won't necessarily keep warm by moving. A wetsuit makes it easier if you're there for a long time. It's hard to concentrate on getting your roll if your teeth are chattering. Of course, you can also prolong the time by doing sprint laps around the lake to warm up :-)Rolling would require a sprayskirt, and it would be good for re-entry (rescue) practice too, although you can begin practicing that without.A paddle float and pump are also good for rescue practice, and a paddle float can be used in learning a roll. If you don't have them yet, someone might be able to lend them to you.
May 27, 201213 yr Thanks for your suggestions. I hope it will be warm enough that day, I don't have a wetsuit yet and want to know more before I make the purchase.. To those who are unfamiliar, Walden Pond is a normal swimming pond, with a little beach and lifeguard (in season) and all that. So I wouldn't get too worried about bacteria count, I mean, people take their kids there to swim. We do our kayaking away from the beach, so like any New England lake there are old leaves on the bottom. They feel a little mucky if you are not accustomed. To itfaster, it's not the ocean, so there isn't much danger of getting stranded and not being able to go back to your car and warm up. If you are OK with swimming in a Massachusetts lake in June you'll probably be fine (especially if it's a hot day). That being said, kayak practice is unlike swimming in that the activity level is intermittent, so you won't necessarily keep warm by moving. A wetsuit makes it easier if you're there for a long time. It's hard to concentrate on getting your roll if your teeth are chattering. Of course, you can also prolong the time by doing sprint laps around the lake to warm up :-) Rolling would require a sprayskirt, and it would be good for re-entry (rescue) practice too, although you can begin practicing that without. A paddle float and pump are also good for rescue practice, and a paddle float can be used in learning a roll. If you don't have them yet, someone might be able to lend them to you.
