PeterB

This is an update for John Huth's workshop: "Kayak Navigation: Finding Our way" tomorrow: At this time , there will be thirty attendees; while the room can handle considerably more, it starts to get tight at around 30 , and since the workshop involves sitting about at tables, and groups of no larger than 3 will be preferred, Id like to limit attendance to these 30 current rsvps. .. If you are interested in a last minute sign up , please PM me (PeterB) directly on the message board, or call me at 617-877- five eight two four . A significant part of the workshop will be working exercises with chart and compass , so: Stuff to bring: a baseplate compass navigational parallels navigational dividers a chart of Boston Harbor, #13270 preferred. pencils a ruler writing [paper or a notebook of some kind we will have some extras of each item; there will be about four (confirmed) sets of everything (dividers parallels, charts, compass) for everyone's use; there will also be ten 11 x 17 color xerox copies of the meaty section of Boston Harbor available for those who don't have charts. but you'll get the most out of the class if you bring your own, as we will be able to work in smaller groups . 10 sets of everything would be ideal, so consider buying some of this stuff; especially if you plan to do chart work in the future. (its fun) Looking forward to this fun workshop! see you tomorrow.

One way or the next, I think its traditional to tether the cockpit cover to the boat while in transit. ; usually the cockpit cover has a release handle on the front and some loop on the back, like your picture shows. Some sort of carabinier or clip is usually used between the cockpit cover and a deck bungee on the kayak to prevent an unplanned flyaway.

i have never used a camping hammock but have heard that the Hennessey Hammock is the gold standard

Such adventures and their attendant hardships called to my mind a passage from Francis Parkman’ s France and England In North America: Montcalm and Wolfe “In the tomb-like silence of the winter forest, with breath frozen on his beard, the ranger strode on snow shoes over the spotless drifts; and, like Durer’s knight, a ghastly death stalked ever at his side. There were those among them for whom this stern life had a fascination that made all existence tame” I read of such expeditions and their hardships and wonder: why do people do these things? Why are people driven to explore, often at their own peril.? I think the answer is partly in our heritage. Homo sapiens (that’s us) lived alongside its predecessor, Homo neanderthalensis , for 20 to 40 thousand years before H. neanderthalensis was permanently displaced. One long term advantage Homo sapiens enjoyed over the H.neanderthalensis: Homo sapiens could typically range 400 miles from home, where Homo sapiens could typically range only 40miles .This inherent drive to aggressively and inquisitively explore and expand ones world put Homo sapiens at a selective advantage in a world where the balance between population and resources was tenuous.

Suunto M-3D ($34.00 at REI) or Suunto A-10 ($ 14.50 at REI) both are fine and handy, fit in pfd, the A-10 is smaller and handier.

So you picked a crossing for practice , and that was what you selected? But not as part of a larger plan, so it was a circumscribed crossing exercise.? I very much enjoyed my look at the Prince William sound chart. It looks like an environment meant to be explored by kayak. Precisely why I asked whether this crossing was part of your actual plan; I think my approach to your crossing might be different depending on whether my group was coming or going from Valdez.

Warren. . Is this just a fun winter practise / planning exercise, or is this an actual assignment you’ve been given ,as in: your group is actually planning a crossing between these points at or close to the exact time and date given? .If the former, fine, it ‘s a fun planning exercise focusing on angles, boat speed ,current , etc. . If the later, more information is needed and the whole affair might be approached from a different perspective ; what is your general destination: are you traveling away from Valdez and down into Prince William sound or back from Prince William sound towards Valdez? E.G. As this is a shipping channel with occasional big vessels traveling at speeds of perhaps 12-15 kts, this ups the ante for crossings , so your crossing would want to be considered in a larger context; shipping channel,where you're going, etc.

I hope these weren't photoshopped: they look almost too spectacular to be real.

September is better. In May, seals are breeding and gather at many islands and ledges you'd want to explore but should avoid at that time of year . Otherwise, it's s always a crapshoot along the Maine coast but my general/vague weather observations are that September is better than May. The water is most certainly warmer.

only the last one of these images would I definitely like to see from the cockpit of my kayak.

Regarding flares; I don't have them but have always heard from knowledgeable people in the kayak community that Pains Wessex flares are the most reliable; the Rolls Royce of flares. They are pricey and I think there are HAZ MAT issues with mail/online ordering. They can be had from Landfall Navigation and Defender Marine.

The idea of the flare gun is that the detonation of the flare is then inside the gun and not in ones hand, also, it can be aimed more precisely. Basically, easier to use. I doubt if fumbling or mishandling a flare gun while loading is significantly more likely than fumbling or mishandling a flare while hand detonating. A flare gun is safer for the user but, as that video shows with unsettling clarity, you now have , essentially, a firearm in your hand, with all its attendant risks.

Gene, Where do you read 6-9PM? Ive checked the main listing in the trips forum, the calendar posting and the banner and they all read 1-4 PM to me.

The winners of the 2013 NSPN yearly awards were announced at the Holiday Party last night . PADDLER OF THE YEAR AWARD: PRUDENCE BAXTER (The Paddler of the Year Award is given to the person who made the greatest contributions to benefit the club's membership.) TRAVERSO AWARD : CATHY FOLSTER (The Traverso Award goes to the member who has shown the most improvement through taking a "never quit “ attitude in the last year. This award is supported by a memorial gift in honor of Jim Traverso, a member who lost his life on the Sun Kosi River in Nepal in 1999. Jim was a dedicated teacher, guide, adventurer, and lover of the outdoors. ") FOUNDERS AWARD: CATHY FOLSTER (“The Founders Award is given to the person deemed by the members of the club to have done the most to keep the NSPN spirit alive by giving of themselves to better the club, in ways that may not always be visible.") "SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS" AWARD : BILL HARTER (A lighthearted, less-than-half-serious award celebrating the club member who indured the most notable insults to boat, body or personal property in the course of kayaking) Congratulations Prudence, Cathy, Cathy, and Bill!

John Huth once again has volunteered to present a workshop to NSPN, this one on "Kayak Navigation: Finding Our Way", an exploration of primitive or traditional navigation and how this applies to us as sea kayakers John's presentations have been favorites for many years by club members , and this is truly one workshop you won't want to miss. “Kayak Navigation: Finding Our Way” by John Huth Sunday, January 26th 1:00PM-4:00 PM Location: Meeting Room, REI, Reading, MA This is a bit about the workshop: “Navigation is a fundamental skill in sea kayaking, as for many other outdoor activities. For the sea kayaker, there are specific challenges faced and useful techniques. The increasing reliance on GPS and electronic devices, while reducing a level of anxiety, has also created a mental barrier between the environment and us. Long before Google Earth, GPS and Global Transit, humans have traveled long distances at sea using only environmental cues and simple instruments. This workshop will explore this world of primitive or traditional navigation: how ancient mariners from the Vikings to Arabic traders to Polynesian Islanders found their way on the ocean, and how these methods still apply to us as sea kayakers.” John Huth is a longtime NSPN member who is also a professor of Physics at Harvard U. Over the years John has offered workshops to NSPN which have integrated his skills as a lecturer and researcher of natural phenomena such as weather and waves with his own experiences as a kayaker, which drew him to research the world of primitive navigation , and culminated in the publishing of his book The Lost Art Finding Our Way this past year . This workshop is for PAID MEMBERS ONLY Please RSVP in the Calendar posting (under "I'm attending") for this event . Like This

I learned yesterday that Dave Duncanson, a longtime NSPN member, died several weeks ago after contracting an aggressive form of organ cancer a fairly short time ago . Deb and Dave Duncanson were active club members in years past, and surely know many people who will be reading this. I knew Dave ,as he was surely known to others, as one half of an extraordinarily solid marriage, and as a fine paddler, fine person, and fine friend in his own right. He and Deb shared a love of the outdoors, and were seemingly inseparable, paddling together all along the Maine coast every summer and skiing together in the White mountains every winter, all winter. Together they have paddled significant portions of the Maine Island Trail, and were regulars at Chebacco Lake. Personally, I feel fortunate to have known and paddled with Dave. I have attached two photos of him , both from a kayak trip we took to Vinalhaven a few years ago.

who needs coffee when there's sushi on the table? I'm making lobster & avocado maki and some plain cucumber (kappa maki) and avocado (avo) maki . I think I'll roll them in the Gould Barn kitchen so they're fresh. (i'm only kidding; coffee and avocado maki can happily co-exist)

Jason, Instructions and code for signing up with the ACA using NSPNs discount code are now posted in the Business forum.

Marine forecast looks favorable tomorrow, but it will be cold! Seas and winds are diminishing, so this trip is a go! I'll be bringing my cold weather attire : balaclava and glacier gloves.

Doesn't "Small craft advisory" mean "We advise that you get your small craft out there ASAP"? Just askin' Basically, yes. or " we advise that small craft not go on the water in the first place" It's one notch down from "gale warning".

Respondents have all favored Tucks Point in Manchester, so I changed the original posting. It looks like this trip can happen, since five have posted interest. SO; meet at Tucks Point for a 10:30 launch. Paddle with a general destination of Misery Island and beyond , to some island in the area that's suitable for a lunch stop. Off the water no later than 3 PM. The idea is a mellow, digestion inducing paddle, with the value addd benefit of putting leftovers to good use. ; Andy, rockage is an option if group resources ( paddlers, helmets, suitable conditions, safety etc. ) are appropriate. It;s hard to imagine fair weather ever again , but marine forecasts are for diminishing seas, so we'll see how weather forerecast develops tomorrow and Friday. I'd cancel if theres a small craft advisory for the area, but we'll keep an eye on the forecast. Happy Thanksgiving!

Weather permitting, is anyone game for a Thanksgiving weekend paddle? If so, let's kill two birds with one stone and have a paddle with Thanksgiving leftovers as picnic lunch. I was thinking Saturday, Nov. 30th , either Tucks Point in Manchester out to one of those nearby islands, 10:30 launch, noon-ish lunch stop for leftovers at some carefully chosen spot, (hey, we could practise our cold weather bivvy skills and build a temporary kayak lean-to/windbreak) return no later than 3 PM. Post your interest here or to me by PM. Peter

i had made plans to paddle with my friend Marion tomorrow, from South Portland. We will be close by , and at the same time, so maybe we can intersect near Portland Head Light, or join you if i can change put ins.

Phil et al theres a posting in the NSPN business forum about the website .People may contact Cathy Folster/ (Pink Paddler on the message board ) with questions about the new website.