Meeting Location and Directions Our journey will begin at the Highbanks Campground, located in the Seneca Nation of Indians Reservation in NY.

Transcription

1 Allegheny Mountains Fall Weekend Participant Information Sheet Welcome Thanks for registering for the Allegheny Mountains Fall Weekend. This 2-day, 24-mile trip will take you into the heart of Pennsylvania s Allegheny National Forest. We ll begin in NY s southern tier, and paddle across state lines on the Allegheny Reservoir, a 20,000 acre lake which collects the waters of the Allegheny River above the Kinzua Dam. Our journey will include one night of primitive camping (pit toilets, but no running water) in the Allegheny National Forest. Itinerary Saturday, September 20th 9-9:30am Participants arrive and meet at Highbanks Campground 9:30am Introductions, weather and safety briefing, pack up and head out 12:30pm Lunch 3pm Arrive at Hooks Brook (approximately 8 miles). Set up camp. Optional side hikes, paddle, or rest and relax 6pm Dinner 8pm Optional night paddle Sunday, September 21th 8am Breakfast, break camp, pack kayaks. 9:30am Paddle to Willow Bay 12:30pm Lunch 4pm arrive at Highbanks. Meeting Location and Directions Our journey will begin at the Highbanks Campground, located in the Seneca Nation of Indians Reservation in NY. The Highbanks Campground is easily accessed from major highways. From Cleveland, head east on I-90 to Erie, PA. (approx 90 miles) Take exit 37 to I-86 East to Jamestown, NY (approx 55 miles) Take exit 17 to Rt-394 south towards Onoville (approx 3 miles) The Highbanks Camp will be on the left. For a Google Map to this location, go to: Menu All meals include vegetarian options. Please let us know if you have any other specific dietary needs. In addition to the meals below, we ll bring plenty of snacks and sweets, and coffee, cocoa, and assorted teas. Saturday Lunch: Baguettes with cheese, an assortment of lunch meats, fresh fruit, and crackers Dinner: Fettucine with pesto sauce, garlic bread, and tossed salad. S mores with nutella. Sunday Breakfast: Campstove crepes (nutella & cranberries in a warm wrap with granola); oatmeal; fruit; coffee and tea. Lunch: Flatbreads, cheese, hummus, sausage, fruit. What to Wear and Bring See attached list. If you need to rent a tent, please let us know. We have a limited # of rental tents available. If you have any questions about the appropriateness of your gear, please don t hesitate to contact us. Forms Attached is a 41 North waiver and a 41 North Participant Medical Information Form Please complete all forms PRIOR to the trip and bring them with you on the trip.

2 What to Bring on a 41 North Sea Kayaking Trip Trip Specifics: Destination: Duration: Avg. Temp.: Allegheny Reservoir -- Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania 2 days/1 nights Cool. Expect highs in the mid-60s, lows in the mid-40s, but check weather for Warren, PA before you pack! We will provide (unless you have specified that you are bringing your own items) Sea kayaks Kayaking gear (paddle, PFD, sprayskirt, etc.) Safety equipment and all group gear (first aid kits, etc.) All meals and snacks Cooking and cleanup equipment (stoves, fuel, cookware, plates, utensils) Some dry bags (for group gear) Permits / user fees You must bring: Waiver & Medical Form Gear A warm but lightweight sleeping bag rated for temps to at least 30 F. Mummy bags are preferable. Line the sleeping bag s stuff sack with a garbage bag (on the inside) to keep your sleeping bag dry. A sleeping pad (e.g., a Ridge-Rest or Therm-a-Rest pad) Lightweight backpacking tent (no larger than 2-3 man tent) with a full coverage rain-fly. 1 qt. water bottle or bladder. Fill before leaving for the trip. Small waterproof flashlight or headlamp and spare batteries (2-AA size is ideal. We recommend LED flashlights as they have a much longer battery burn-time.) Dry bags for personal gear. Choose several smaller bags rather than one large one to make it easier to pack. Waterproof nylon bags (not PVC) are recommended as they are more flexible and easier to slide into the kayaks. Alternatively, you can pack items in Ziploc bags and put them in stuff sacks. Clothing A broad-billed hat (for sun protection of head, ears, face, and neck) A wool or polypropylene winter hat Sunglasses (preferably polarized glasses, which will protect eyes from wind, cut the glare on water and allow you to see below the surface) & croakies. Rain gear (waterproof/breathable preferred this is no place to cut costs!) Windbreaker shell (may use raingear) 1 fleece pullover 2 lightweight long sleeved (non-cotton) shirts 2 short sleeved T-shirts (polyester or polypropelene) for your base layer. 2 pair thermal underwear tops/bottoms (silk, Capilene, polypro) one for layering while paddling, another for camp/sleeping in. 3 pairs of wool, poly, or pile socks (no cotton!) 1 pair of long pants (nylon, not cotton) 1-2 pairs of quick-dry shorts Paddling shoes (water sandals, neoprene booties, Tevas, etc.) Camp shoes/light hikers (should be comfortable for wear around camp, but light and packable) Optional: dry-top, paddling jacket, wetsuit, booties for paddling in Staying Comfortable The best strategy for staying comfortable is to layer clothing for warmth, peeling off and adding layers as needed to regulate body temperature during periods of high or low activity. Avoid Cotton! Cotton does not insulate well when dry and not at all when wet. Cotton also dries very slowly (if at all). Therefore it is dangerous to rely on cotton clothing in any wilderness setting. Synthetics fabrics (nylon, polyester, capilene or polypropylene), in addition to wool and silk, are preferred. Personal Items Insect repellant Sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) Lipbalm (preferably one with an SPF rating) Personal toiletries and any personal medications You may want to bring: Binoculars Field guides (bird identification books, etc.) Extra plastic bags (to separate wet from dry gear, etc.) Camera and film (waterproof one-time use cameras are a good choice) Clean, dry set of clothes for the drive home. Packable fishing equipment (PA Fishing License Required) A small packable camp chair (e.g., Crazy Creek or Therm-a-Rester) Cell Phone in dry case or dry bag.

3 Packing for a Trip by Sea Kayak by Steve Braden Overview Here are some suggestions for packing personal gear, food and water in your sea kayak for your upcoming trip. These suggestions are based on my experience as a sea kayak guide and trip leader and, before that, a backpacker. It is not exhaustive, so if you have any questions, please contact 41º North. Frame of Mind You should think like a backpacker. So, ask yourself if you really need everything you are planning to bring. Some pre-trip sorting and even a couple of practice tries at packing your boat will do a lot to help convince you that the small, lightweight backpacking tent is a great idea but the beach umbrella should probably stay at home. Packing Basics There is plenty of room in the kayak for everything you will need, but only if you pack intelligently. The fundamental principle of packing a kayak is this: Pack so as to keep the weight low and near the center of the kayak. Lighter items should be placed high and closer to the ends if possible. The weight should be evenly distributed for the proper trim that is, so that the boat sits evenly in the water, not bow heavy and not stern heavy. There are two basic considerations for every item you take with you weight and volume. The two are related but different. For example, some sleeping bags may not weigh much but are too bulky to fit in the storage compartments; other items like a water bag or fuel can are dense and heavy but take up little room. In general, people have more trouble with volume than weight that is, the kayak would easily handle the weight of what they want to carry, but it is too bulky to fit in the kayak. Sometimes, objects are too bulky to fit through the hatches, which are relatively small (around 8 x 10 on average). Even though a kayak can handle a surprising amount of weight, you should not add weight unnecessarily. Again, you should approach packing your kayak as a backpacker might, eliminating unnecessary items and opting for lighter over heavier gear that accomplishes the same purpose. Remember, the more weight you carry, the more weight you have to push forward with each stroke of your paddle. More weight is more work. Dry Bags Everything should be packed in small- or medium-sized dry bags. If you are new to sea kayaking and haven t yet invested in dry bags, you can use freezer size zip-locks (be sure to get all the air out before closing) stored in nylon or mesh bags. If you put your gear in one or two large trash bags or dry bags, it will not fit into the kayak! There are several benefits to packing in several small bags: You will easily fit everything through the hatches, and the kayak is easier to pack; You can distribute the weight evenly for best trim ; and, You can thoroughly organize your gear. Organizing Your Gear A basic principal of organization is grouping like with like that is, objects with a similar use or function are grouped together. So, your dry bags become a basic unit of organization in your kayak, with different bags for different uses: Stove Paraphernalia, Clothes, Snacks, Toiletries, Latrine Kit, and so on. Of course you have to remember which bag is which (dry bags in different colors and shapes helps), and some kayakers like to label their dry bags, but I tend to use labels only on large trips involving a lot of group gear. Organizing your Gear in the Kayak Day Use Items: You will want to pack items you may need during the day close to the hatches. This category might include sunscreen, extra water, rain gear, snacks, chap-stick, and extra clothing layers (for cold weather). If your boat has a day hatch (and I recommend one!), this is a good place for these items. Other items that you will not need until camp can be packed in less accessible spaces in the boat. Tent: Take your tent out of its stuff bag to pack it in your kayak. Leave the poles and stakes in the stuff sack, and slide them up into the bow of the boat, followed by the tent body and fly. This allows the tent to be packed in the shape of the bow and saves space. Sleeping Pad: Slide your sleeping pad to one side of the skeg box (if present) and, again, push it all the way back in the stern of the boat. Use the small space left over on the other side for a small dry bag, say personal items for camp. Sleeping Bag: I use a lightweight synthetic fill sleeping bag most of the year on the Georgia coast, resorting to my down bag (usually) from December through February. Both will pack down in a cylindrical dry bag having a 7 diameter and a length of about 14 when closed. I offer this as a standard so you can see how yours compares; if it significantly larger, you may want to consider picking up a more compressible sleeping bag for the trip. Be sure to line your dry bag (or stuff bag) with a large plastic bag to protect your sleeping bag especially a down bag from moisture. Dry bags do a pretty good job, but they

4 are not infallible. The plastic bag is an added precaution to make sure you have a warm, dry bag to sleep in at the end of the day. Water: One of the more dense and heavy items you are likely to carry is water. Ideally this weight should be divided part should be packed just forward of the front bulkhead and part should be just back of the aft bulkhead. I prefer 2.5 gallon water bags Stearns makes a very durable one to water bottles. On overnight trips I often carry two, one for the front compartment and one for the back. This way I can balance the weight for proper trim. The bags are flexible and, within reason, can be mashed, pressed, coaxed and squeezed into innumerable shapes, which is a big advantage over more rigid bottles. As you use the water, the bag gets smaller, leaving more room in your compartments; when empty, the bags weigh only a few ounces and are easily stored rolled or flat. If you carry plastic water bottles, you will generate a considerable amount of petroleum-based, non-biodegradable trash that is only moderately compressible, still takes up room in your boat, and must be dealt with the entire trip. I do carry one or two Nalgene one-quart water bottles for use in camp it s a little easier to drink from these than from a water bag. I also carry a hydration bag on my PFD that allows hands-free hydration while I am paddling and saves my having to try to secure water bottles under my deck cords. You should have easy access to water while you are paddling; if you are using a water bottle on your deck, consider one that is equipped with a nylon bag that you can clip to your deck cords to prevent the bottle from slipping out and getting lost. Also, get in the habit of drinking a little bit of water out of the bottle before you put in; then, if the water bottle falls in the water, it won t sink and you can retrieve it. Do not use the 5 gallon plastic water containers with the red plastic spigots! These have all the disadvantages of water bottles, none of the advantages of the water bags, and are simply too big. Also, after rugged use for a few days, they will crease and develop pin-hole leaks, oozing water into your otherwise dry compartment. Clothing: You will want to leave some clothing items accessible hat, gloves, and raingear, for example. Clothing that you will only use in camp can be packed in less accessible spaces in your kayak. The best strategy is to layer clothing for warmth, peeling off layers as needed to regulate body temperature during higher activity. Lightweight, quick-dry, synthetic fabrics (in addition to wool and silk) are preferred nylon fleece, polypro and capilene, for example. In general, cotton should be avoided. It does not insulate well when dry and not at all when wet, and it dries very slowly (if at all). Therefore, it is dangerous to rely on cotton clothing on a sea kayak trip. On Deck: Keep your deck as clear as possible. If you use a deck bag, choose a low profile one. Storage on the deck is not recommended since it creates extra windage and can exacerbate weather- or lee-cocking. Steve Braden is an ACA Advanced Open Water Instructor and BCU Coach 3. He lives and works on Williamson Island, Georgia, where he is a professional sea kayak guide and freelance illustrator. * * *

5 RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY In consideration of being allowed to participate in any way in the 41º North Coastal Kayak Adventures, Ltd. coastal kayaking program, and related events and activities, the undersigned agrees to the following: 1. Prior to participating, I will inspect the facilities and equipment to be used, and if I believe it is unsafe, I will immediately advise a instructor, guide, aid, or other event organizer of such condition(s) and refuse to participate. 2. I acknowledge and fully understand that I will be engaging in activities that involve risk of damage to personal property or serious injury, including permanent disability and death, and severe social and economic losses which might result not only from my own actions, inactions or negligence, but the actions, inactions or negligence of others, the condition of the premises, or of any equipment used. Further, there may be other risks not known or not reasonably foreseeable at this time. 3. I assume all of the foregoing risks and accept personal responsibility for all expenses, medical or otherwise, following any such damages, injury, permanent disability, or death. 4. I release, waive, discharge and covenant not to sue 41º North Coastal Kayak Adventures, Ltd., its members, officers, operators, agents, employees, volunteers, participants, affiliated clubs and organizations, and if applicable, owners and leasers of premises used to conduct the event, all of which are hereinafter referred to as releasees, from any and all liability to me my heirs and next of kin from any and all claims, demands, losses or damages on account of injury, including death or damage to property, caused or alleged to be caused in whole or in part by the negligence of the releasees or otherwise. 5. Ohio law shall govern this agreement, and any action against 41º North Coastal Kayak Adventures, Ltd. shall occur in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. This waiver may not be modified in any way. If any part of the waiver is determined to be invalid by operation of law, all other parts of this waiver shall remain valid and enforceable. I HAVE READ THE ABOVE WAIVER AND RELEASE, UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN UP SUBSTANTIAL RIGHTS BY SIGNING IT, AND SIGNED IT VOLUNTARILY. Participant s Name: Signature: Date: Address: City: State: Zip: FOR PARTICIPANTS UNDER THE AGE OF 18: In consideration of (print minor s name) being allowed to participate in any way in the 41 North Coastal Kayak Adventures, Ltd. coastal kayaking program, and related events and activities, I further agree to hold releasees harmless for any and all claims brought by or on behalf of this Minor. Name of Parent or Guardian: Signature: Date: Address: City: State: Zip: PHOTO RELEASE: Please initial here if you do NOT wish to grant permission to 41 North Coastal Kayak Adventures to use my photograph on its World Wide Web site or in other printed publications without further consideration.

6 Medical Contact Information for 41 North Participants Name: Age Sex HT WT Present Adress: City: State/Province: Zip/Postal Code: Phone Number (H) (W) In case of emergency please contact: I. Name: Phone Number: Relationship: II. Name: Phone Number: Relationship: Physician: Name: Phone Number: Type of Health Insurance: Company Name: Policy#: