brambor

I am still ON although there is a chance I will have to bail out and stay home. I am also planning on launchimg earlier than noontime, in which case we would meet at the campsite.

i am about to try attaching a suction cup camera mount on my foredeck. I will sure be rolling with it before I go anywhere.

The last time Emilie and I went kayak camping, we took our tandem and did some rolls with it fully loaded while near shore. Everything stayed in its place in the boat, including the paddlers.

In our favor was that we were packed for only a single night.

Interesting. So he couldn't cut the bag off the foredeck and ditch it? Maybe shove it into the cockpit, reenter and roll?

Looks like the conditions were very bad but at least he should have tried before calling the CG for rescue.

He has a blog, you can follow his trip:

http://kayakworldtraveler.blogspot.com/

He had a big deck bag that filled with water, preventing him from righting the kayak. Liz

I did think about going but I am glad I did not go.

Seabrook / Hampton skills session 5/24

We had some "NASTY" weather last night. Intermittent rain, moderate wind, serious thunderheads, lightening, strong currents. Waves were 4-7 feet.

Adrenaline level....10. Stupidity level.....10.

Our excitement to get into the big surf on the years first skill session blinded our ability to make rational decisions. Yes, we looked at the radar before we launched to see what was headed in our direction. We convinced each other that the storms would pass north and south of us even though looking up at the sky we knew we were in for an interesting surf session. Paddling skills were with us but thinking skills were not! We agreed to go ashore if there were impending threats but never followed through with that plan. It takes a lot to shake up this paddler, but I recall saying to myself a dozen times and to Bill paddling beside me four or five times that we would be lucky to get through this. Two others of our foursome headed back 15 minutes earlier.... the only wise decision all night. We waited too long. The only one that didn't mind was the seal that followed us back down the river. The current and wind was coming at us as 6 foot swells pushed us in. I wonder what the seal was thinking?

We took shelter under the Hampton, Seabrook bridge for a half hour as the lightening cracked around us. The setting sun finally peaked out beneath the clouds over the Nuclear Power Plant.

I will know better next time as I'm glad there will be a next time.......

The first 2 pics were taken minutes after we launched.

The third was before it really got bad....

Resistance is futile. All your base are belong to us.

You have not achieved a sufficient level of assimilation to be cleared to see the photos. I am able to see them.

CAM = Common Adventure Model. Participation description from NSPN.

Sorry for the seemingly silly question but I'm a ne member and have no idea what CAM stands for. Can anyone help me with that acronym?

Thanks

Of course I did but it was too late to edit the post.

Rene,

<...the cliffs...so that if there was a freak wave he would be in harms way...>

If that's really what you think of your son and heir, I'm sorry for him! ;^)

Did you, perhaps, mean "<not> be in harm's way"? I suspect so...

Right on. Think rain protection and bug protection.

Bivy alone - not so good

Bivy + tarp = great without bugs

Tarp plus ground tarp great without bugs (no good with bugs)

Tent = great with bugs, good without bugs

My tent packs about as small as my tarp.

This past weekend on the Jewell trip, my first night was in an uncomfortable hammock, hung below a sil-nylon OES tarp (11oz). Nite 2 I went to ground, and employed a tent footprint (ground cloth), same air pad, and a borrowed (thanks Judy) bivy-sortathing (think nylon liner, but external). With rain/fog forecast for the overnight, I hoped my bag would stay dry, and it did. In the shoulder seasons of Apr-May and Sept-Oct, I am happy to NOT pack a tent, as the bug situation (mostly) goes away. I own a goretex bivy that allows a small dome-shaped, pole-supported space near the head region, but is very claustrophobic as a stand-alone shelter. It works great paired with the tarp, and ensures my bags, one of which is down, stay dry. Might it add a degreeF of warmth? Who knows. During bug season, I pack my one-person MSR Hubba (fly included), and ALWAYS at least one tarp that can serve as kitchen/LR/etc. if weather comes in.

I will be sitting in a kayak with my favorite possessions. I expect to be lifted to thy heavens with my stuff.

judgement day is supposed to be saturday....what better way to face it than on the water?

i plan to start saturday with a hangover, so perhaps a late start..noonish? north-shore-ish?

anybody else up for something? not too studly, i haven't been on the water in awhile.

perhaps lanes to cranes or something else standard?

Did you know about the Smuttynose Murders?

Return from the Jewell:

It rained overnight but when I woke up around 6am the rain has stopped. Having my young son first time paddling his own kayak to Jewell and my wife first time on an overnight kayaking trip I was anxious to head out while the sky was clear to minimize the amount of cold rain exposure. We packed up, loaded our kayaks and headed out soon. The exposed side of Cliff was bumpy. I was amazed that my son Dagen did not display any sign of uneasiness. I was more nervous just watching him close to the cliffs and I tried to get him away from the cliffs enough so that if there was a freak wave he would be in harms way. Barry and Chris were calm and patient and looked out for breaking waves at the point of the Cliff. We paddled nicely out and past Cliff towards Hope island. Surroundings were foggy and mysterious - very beautiful. We rounded southern point of Chebeague and headed towards the sandbar that connects Chebeague and Little Chebeague. Dagen surfed a few small waves on the way to the sandbar.

After a short break at Little Chebeague we headed towards Clapboard Island. At this point we got the rain treatment. It rained pretty much until we reached Falmouth Foreside.

This trip was a great example of staying on the optimistic side of weather forecast. The forecast was for rain all weekend but optimistic research revealed that it might not be rainy everywhere. :-) Even though it was unseasonably cold, we got lucky for clear skies during most of this drip.

Great trip with great company.

I am interested, especially if overnight.

Last weekend we went on a 7.4 mile paddle at a local lake with my kids, friends and some paddlers new to the sport.

It just happens that one had no sprayskirt, no drysuit, no gloves. Only what appeared to be a thin farmer john and a fleece top.

It was a nice warm day at the put in. My kids were bickering about putting on drysuits and there was some snickering about all the gear I was putting into the boat. I had spare set of warm clothes, cag, throw bag, tow line, food, drinks, extra gloves, extra neoprene hat, first aid, TP, matches...

Based what I had and what I saw from others I knew that the itinerary changed and that we would not venture too far out of the bay.

The smiles quickly dissipated once we got on the water, the cold wind started blowing and the cold water dripping onto hands drained warmth from the bodies. Couple of miles into the paddle I handed out first spare gloves. We poked in and out of protected inlets and had a good time. I said a few words of tips but in general those who were not prepared pretty much got the point by being out there.

Lessons conveyed without much being said.

When I go backcountry skiing, I carry a pack that looks like I'm going overnight camping. At the sight if my pack, I am often asked if I will be out overnight. When I answer that I'm just out for the day, the person asking is often a bit surprised and asks what all my stuff is for. From time to to time, my explanation of what happens if someone gets injured and/or the weather turns gets a wide eyed expression of realization of the risks they are exposed to in response. More often they just don't get it. However, when they do, its worth it.

My GPS is usually turned off in the day hatch. Ready to be deployed when absolutely necessary (i.e. thick fog or throwing something at rabbid wildlife)

GPS is a fun toy to have. Like Tyson said, pretty tough to navigate with the small screen anyway. OK as a back up only and great to measure distance & speed of each trip. You can download it later on Google maps which is also nice. I do have an iphone with a big screen and Navionics detail charts for the ultimate toy.

Nothing should be considered as a replacement for charts and compass.

Doug

I have known about this option for a few months and I think this is a great opportunity to spend a night at IOS. I am definitely interested to go.

rb

An exciting development for MITA in 2011 is the addition of Smuttynose, Isle of Shoals to the trail with permission for MITA memebers to stay overnight in the cabin. Prior permission is required and is limited to 6.

This would allow splitting the trip over 2 days and give more time to explore/hike the other islands. Would anyone be interested in doing this? perhaps a weekend in June or July.

Barry.

Jeremy,

I think Barry is heading up on Saturday morning. We will probably head up Friday after work or Saturday morning too.

I'd like to go but probably can't start on Friday due to work. I will watch how the plans progress and see if I can catch up to you on Saturday.

-J

I am bringing at least 2 family members. Maybe 3. My son is 13 years old. If you have a young teenager on the fence than this might tip the scales. Bring them!

I think JeremyN was interested too. I will send him PM.

Rene

Planning on going!

I'd much rather you keep making the Maine trail better every year and improve the promotion and practicality (camps) of doing the trail in one continuous trip.

Scott, thanks for the really interesting insight; I'm sure the ground work of building the trail is grueling, requiring the buy in from land owners, regulatory bodies and numerous stake holders.

I think in MA our best option would be a partnership with an organization such as the Trustees of Reservations. They have done an amazing job of preserving and providing access to numerous properties including many we, as paddlers, already know and love eg. Crane Beach and Misery Islands and many coastal properties that would be ideal links in the chain.

Barry.

I haven't yet gotten seasick while in a kayak but I got seasick once when taking the ferry boat to Monhean during turbulent seas.

I would say it is a definite possibility. You're in a boat and it is rocking...

Interesting ... when I did a lot of sailing I found that if we had a passenger who got seasick, giving them a turn at the wheel often worked wonders.

Barry.

Looks like the sponsors of this bill had one too many drinks at the yacht club.

Do not change anything for me. I would LOVE to attend and I will attend if I can take care of all the things amd people who depend on me. I have a family event and on top of that it is hockey playoffs and I happen to be the primary organizer for the 40 teams I administer.

I live a hectic life but I am always grateful I could get 'out there' away from it all and relax. ;-)

Rene

I'm a maybe. I really want to go but I do also have a conflicting event I wanted to attend.

Doug, John, do these workshops have (always) to be on Saturdays? Could consideration not be given to a Sunday affair, perhaps? Sunday would suit <me> more; but I do not know about others...

sadly nodding in agreement

In the spirit of full disclosure, I should add that size may matter here. My 5'8", 145 lbs. may give me some advantage over the 6'2, 220 lbs. ex-linebackers among us

Yeah, no kidding.

I will practice the first demo but the second demo I would be very hesitant to leave the paddle under the boat like that.