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PPCS Message about Spring Trips and the Coronovirus Pandemic

Club Members,

Spring paddling season is upon us. TCs have canceled the first trips over concerns of the pandemic. Yesterday, Wednesday, 3/25, the executive board discussed what we should do in light of the federal and state guidelines for social interactions. The board unanimously voted to cancel all upcoming trips on the PPCS schedule until further notice. We have no idea what regulations might take effect in the near or distant future and therefore we can’t sponsor trips that bring people together and might compromise their health.

This is not to say that members can’t find their own ways to take paddling trips, hopefully following recommendations on sanitizing, group size and social distancing. The list serve is available for all club members to use to communicate with others.
In my opinion, keeping one’s space on the river is doable (not overloading eddies) and driving to the river separately, the trick is the shuttle. Six foot separation in an enclosed vehicle is impossible. Walking or bike shuttles would work. These are suggestions. As a club, we can’t even endorse how to organize or carry out a trip. People will have to use common sense as to whether they can get together and pull off a paddling trip safely.

I can’t believe this is happening during my favorite time of year. Anyone with alternatives or suggestions, we welcome your feedback.

Executive Board:
Kenny DeCoster, President; Helen Hess, Vice President; Ron Chase, Treasurer; Ken Gordon, Secretary; Ryan Galway, Past President

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March 14, 2020: Cathance River

Trip participants:  Rick Farnsworth, Koa Farnsworth, Adam Chase, Kevin Rogers and TC

Perhaps attempting to supplant The Waterman as club river expert, my son Adam announced that the Cathance was free of ice and all rapids clear of debris. Posting the trip the day before, Kevin, Rick, and Koa signed on. Celebrating diversity, our group paddled two kayaks, a canoe, and a shredder. The gauge read 2.6, providing a medium low level. Everyone had clean runs on technical Z Turn and Second Drop. Despite sloppy lines, we all survived Third Drop upright. Adam and I paddled Boulder Pile tight left whereas the others successfully navigated the center right move. The unanimous decision was to walk Little Gorilla which had some unappealing ice shelves extending out into the main channel bottom right. Final Drop provided the most entertainment. Recognizing the hole on bottom left would be extremely sticky at that level, Adam and I bounced down right center. Kevin and Team Farnsworth had excellent runs punching the hole. Rick and Koa defiantly decided to side surf the snarling monster. At first, they had fun. Then they wanted to get out but couldn’t. When asked if they wanted a bag. “Yes” was the unambiguous reply. It must have been close to 10 minutes before Adam and Kevin pulled them out using two throw bags. The old man took pictures. We had a great day. Since I broke through some ice near the end, the trip has been designated the “ice breaker.” Too bad the Eggster missed it again this year. See my upcoming column at: http://rchase.bangordailynews.com/ for the rest of the story. In an effort to avoid spreading the coronavirus, handshaking and kissing were banned.

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March 12, 2020: Franconia Ridge

One of my favorite winter hikes, Franconia Ridge weather is similar to Mount Washington so I scrutinized the forecast for a Goldilocks Day. Posting the trip well in advance, I didn’t receive any bites until Brent signed on the day before. We spent the night at a motel in Woodstock to facilitate an early departure. Not the infamous Cascade Inn which was deemed a public nuisance and burned, but the Parker Motel instead. On the trail at 6:35 AM, the Goldilocks forecast took a tumble with snow showers, stronger winds, and cloudy skies on the menu. Since the trailhead was hard-packed ice and snow, micro spikes were the footgear of choice. The trail conditions were excellent and several spectacular views were enjoyed before reaching the closed Greenleaf Hut. Shortly after, an overnight trekker was met breaking camp. He had crossed the ridge the day before but was unsure if he would return. The shoulder of Mount Lafayette presented an unanticipated complication, a steep, consequential icy section. For about 75 yards, full crampons and ice axes would have been the preferred gear. Snow ended and the winds were manageable on the 5,260 foot summit of Mount Lafayette. The ridge traverse was typically glorious in and out of the clouds with a fair amount of ice to 5,089 foot Mount Lincoln. After meeting two hikers cleverly wearing full crampons, we continued to Little Haystack Mountain. Descending the dazzling Falling Waters Trail, I developed a new old age issue, intense left ankle discomfort. Vitamin “I” provided partial relief. The 9 mile loop was completed in a little more than 6.5 hours. Not a record time, but not bad for a couple of retirees. See my column at: http://rchase.bangordailynews.com/ for the rest of the story.

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Oct 12, 2019: Fall Supper Sea Kayaking

Participants: TC Kenneth Gordon, Dave Boyle, Troad Richmond, Ron Chase, Kenny DeCoster

After no small amount of discussion as to the safest venue for paddling that day (there were some ominous forecasts close to MDI) we decided to paddle from Hadley’s Point to Bar Harbor. It was  a good choice as seas and winds were calm and we had an opportunity to visit a small set of sea caves known as “The Ovens”. Heavy seas would have preempted getting too close to them but we were able to get inside and look around. We finished the trip by taking a short tour around the Porcupines and admiring the view of the mountains closest to the MDI shore. It was a beautiful day to paddle and more than made up for last year’s windy rain soaked adventure.

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Oct 19, 2019: Little Suncook, NH

Participants: TC Kenny DeCoster, Norm Rehn (OC1’s) and Ron Chase, Pat C., Paul L., Blake Fouracre (K1’s)

None of the usual suspects (except Ron) had contacted me about the Little Suncook Drawdown trip, so I was pleasantly surprised when six paddlers gathered at the Cumby’s in Epson, NH on Saturday morning. There were two new members, Pat and Paul, a potential new member, Blake, Norm, Ron, and I. It had rained a bunch midweek and the river was running high and fast. But to our disappointment there was a strainer right across the bottom of the first and most exciting rapid. Somebody had cut off the very end of the branch, but that only left a 6’ opening to the right eddy. Small opening to aim for after multiple ledge drops and holes. 5 of us passed, but Pat couldn’t resist the temptation and made the run look easy and slithered passed the obstruction.

The river was lively and rocks were less of an issue. Still, we had some mild carnage. Paul missed his first boof off the dam, flipped, and got sucked back into the froth. Luckily, the adjacent landowner was standing on the dam with a long pole and fished Paul out in a flash. Pretty convenient rescue. Paul redeemed himself on the second run and stayed dry. Further downstream, Norm must have slipped out of his eddy and got knocked out of his boat by a branch. It took a while to land his Whitesell full of water in the high water. After a cold swim, Norm had had enough and took out at the next bridge and headed home to warm up. Otherwise everyone had good runs.

On the second go round, Ron rested his hip, played shuttle bunny, and took pictures of us boofing the dam. I discovered that Blake had only paddled a kayak twice before on the Deerfield! I wouldn’t have guessed that by the way he was dodging rocks and strainers. He may soon be a new member with some natural talent. By the second time we reached the Cumby’s take out, the temperature had warmed to 60 degrees to top off a great day of paddling.