Lehigh Gorge

This course is designed to give students tools to travel down a moving river. The first day is on flat water and the second day is on moving water

• Friday June 1
  • We encourage all to stay at the Canalside if possible as a chance to meet instructors, assistants and students.  You can arrive either Friday night between 5:00-11:00 or Saturday morning if you do not want to spend the first night there.  Dinner and drinks are on your own.  There are several near-by options.
• Saturday June 2 (Day 1) – Lehigh River
  • Location: Meet at the Canalside by 9:00 or in Parking area #2 near the river by 9:30 (see maps below for details) where we will divide into training groups, finalize waivers, etc.
  • Duration: Approximately 6 hours
  • What to bring:
    • Required: Kayak, paddle, spray-skirt, PFD, helmet, air bags, water shoes, water bottle, lunch, towel, dry clothes, double ziploc baggies or dry bag to keep food and other items dry
      • Bring a lunch and snacks with you for the river along with plenty of water / Gatorade.  You will store these items in your own boat, so space may be a consideration.
      • You will need a “take-out” bag with a towel and dry clothes to change into after the paddling day ends.  There are State Park restrooms available at the end of the day for changing.
        
    • Highly recommended: Sunscreen, Nose clips (many experienced paddlers use them too)
    • Optional: Sunglasses, additonal clothing layers, carabiners, dry bag

• Sunday June 3 (Day 2) – Lehigh River, Lehighton to Bowmannstown
  • Location: Meet at the Canalside by 9:00 or at the put-in location shown on the map below by 9:30.  This one is a little tricky to find, so you are encouraged to meet us at the Canalside if possible.  A shuttle will be required this day to relocate cars to the take-out location down river.
  • Duration: Approximately 6 hours
  • What to bring:
    • Required: Kayak, paddle, spray-skirt, PFD, helmet, air bags, water shoes, water bottle, lunch, towel, dry clothes, double ziploc baggies or dry bag to keep food and other items dry
      • You will need a “take-out” bag with a towel and dry clothes to change into after the paddling day ends.  This bag may end up stored in someone else’s car at the take-out so be sure you have everything together that you need at the take-out.
      • You may want to bring an extra towel that is large to wrap around you while changing.  There are no changing facilities at the take-out.
    • Highly recommended: Sunscreen, Nose clips (many experienced paddlers use them too)
    • Optional: Sunglasses, additional clothing layers, carabiners, dry bag

Suggestions to make the paddling weekend go smoother

By far, it is most important that you not be late.  The instructors and assistants have invested a great deal of time to prepare professional level training for you.  The class is disrupted if you arrive even a few minutes late.  Please be respectful of others and always arrive on time.

When (not if), you flip over and wet exit, everything in your boat usually dumps into the water and sets it’s own course.  It is much easier for those assisting you if they do not have to chase down your water bottle, lunch, sunscreen, etc.  We suggest you use a Nalgene type water bottle that can be attached to your boat using an inexpensive non-locking carabiner.  Likewise, your other gear such as lunch, keys, sunscreen, etc can be secured in large double ziploc baggies.

Try to leave any electronic type devices in you car.  If you must bring them, you may be able to ask your instructor to keep them in their dry bag or you can acquire two dry bags to handle your items (one smaller that holds the electonics and is placed inside the larger one for even more protection).  Be careful not to get too large of a dry bag as it must fit behind your seat where there is limited space.   If using one, a  dry bag can be attached behind your seat using another non-locking carabiner.

Lastly, did we mention that it is important that you always arrive on time ?!?!?!?!!!

Equipment Rental

Wilmington Trail Club can assist you with the core required equipment through a very reasonably priced rental program. The charge is $25 per training weekend and includes a kayak, paddle, PFD, spray-skirt, air bags and helmet. The standard process is listed below. Contact the equipment coordinator if for some reason this will not work for you.

• Once signed-up for training, the club equipment coordinator will contact you about gear and the training coordinator will contact you to coordinate the rental fees.
• You will be asked to provide your height, weight, shoe size and possibly other information to enable selection of equipment that best fits you.
• You will then be requested to go to wherever the equipment is located to verify fit and then take it with you. The provided equipment is from a pool comprised of club and individual owned items.
• You will keep the equipment for the number of weekends of training for which you signed up for. You are charged based on the number of weekends you use it for training, although you will likely keep it in your possession for the time between the classes.
• Upon completing your final course, contact the owner of the equipment you rented from and schedule a time for it to be returned.
• Soon we will publish information about a new equipment program that extends further into the paddling season.

What are the accommodations?

You may choose to stay at any facility or campsite in the region; however, most paddlers stay at the Canalside in Lehighton, PA.  This is a great opportunity to meet and get to know the trainers, other club members and your fellow students.   We have found this to be a very opportune time for you to learn much more about equipment, other paddling opportunities, how to get involved in the club, etc.  Outdoor seating for several is provided at the Canalside, but you may want to bring an extra portable chair if you have one.

Dinner will be provided Saturday night at the Canalside between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm.  Because of the many varying drink tastes, we provide only water and tea with ice and cups.  Feel free to bring your drink of choice, including beer or wine. This is the only meal provided by the club during the weekend.  All other meals will be own your own and ad hoc with fellow paddlers.

A few weeks before the training weekend, we will request input from all paddlers that will allow us to determine the sleeping accommodations at the facility.  Fitting everyone at the facility usually requires people to share rooms and some (usually the younger men) to sleep on mats on the floors.  Consider this more of a ‘roughing it’ weekend in which hopefully life-long friendships are established.

MOTELS:  For motel or bed and breakfast lodging should you choose to stay elsewhere, please check out the Pocono Whitewater or Jim Thorpe River Adventures websites for locations close to Jim Thorpe or Lehighton.

Click on the red icon for more information about the specific location. The map
is fully interactive supporting zoom-in, zoom-out, alternative views, traffic, etc.

Where will we meet for day 1 of kayak training?

Click on the red icon for more information about the specific location. The map
is fully interactive supporting zoom-in, zoom-out, alternative views, traffic, etc.

Where will we meet for day 2 of kayak training?

Click on the red icon for more information about the specific location. The map
is fully interactive supporting zoom-in, zoom-out, alternative views, traffic, etc.