Kayaking for beginners can be pretty overwhelming at times..spinning out when paddling forward, catching an edge when crossing the current, lifting your head at the end of the roll, and so much more.  Luckily, with more time on the water and proper instruction these frustrations begin to fade allowing confidence to increase each day on the river. 

During a beginner lesson one of the most important concepts I like to teach is catching eddies.  Understanding how to enter and exit an eddy allows a beginner kayaker to break apart a rapid in order to better plan out the next move.  Hopping from one eddy to another also allows a kayaker to better ferry across currents, perhaps to avoid an obstruction downstream.  Eddy lines are also great tools when learning to bury the bow and stern for various playboating moves.

When entering an eddy I think of three things: Speed, Angle and Lean (S.A.L.)

SPEED:
    Having momentum when entering an eddy is key.  Speed will carry your entire boat over the unstable eddyline, rather than just your body.  Not having speed will allow the stern to be swept right on top of the eddy line, often ending in a flip.

ANGLE:
    Entering the eddy perpendicularly will allow the boat to cross the eddyline smoother and faster.  This means turning the boat from facing downstream, using a downstream sweep stroke for instance, to square up to the eddy line. 

LEAN:
    When turning into an eddy a kayaker will lean into the turn, similar to leaning into a turn on skis or a snowboard.  This means leaning upstream while crossing over the eddy line to "hook" into the top of the eddy.  Remember to continue to paddle all the way into the eddy as to not get stuck on the eddy line!  Also, you'll want to aim to enter the eddy just behind the obstruction, or at the top of the eddy.  Here, the eddy line is most defined and narrow and where the current is the calmest in the eddy. 

Good luck and keep eddy hopping to improve those whitewater kayaking skills! 

Be sure to check out Wilderness Voyageurs Kayak Instruction where we can personally tailor a day of instruction to meet your needs and improve your kayaking technique whether it be on the Middle Youghiogheny, Lower Youghiogheny or even the excitin Class 5 white water Upper Youghiogheny River!

Hey all you outdoor gear fans!

The rumors are true: Wilderness Voyageurs has opened a new outfitter store at the take out of the Upper Yough in Friendsville, MD, in the old Mountain Surf building. The building reopened on Friday, June 20th and will keep business hours from 10 to 6 on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays. We are really excited about the great reception we've gotten from paddlers and Friendsville residents: Thanks for the support!!

Here is a map showing the location of the building (click to open full size in a new window):

And now for answers to some frequently asked questions:
1. YES, kayakers, you can still take out at the bridge! Stop in and see us if you like. We'll have boating videos running and tons of cool stuff to check out.

2. YES, we are offering demos on the Upper Yough. Call 800 272 4141 to talk to our Ohiopyle store so we can make sure we have the boat in Friendsville for you.

3. YES, you are welcome to use our public restrooms.

4. YES, we have grand plans for the building. We're going to open the deck back up as a place to hang out. With any luck, there will be live music during releases! We are also considering a massage parlor for the upstairs.

5. YES, we are investigating the possibility of renting canoes from Friendsville to some point downstream.

6. YES, we are eventually going to offer our standard HUGE selection of outdoor gear, including paddling, clothing, camping, fly fishing and more.

Did I miss a question you had, or did you have a suggestion for us? Leave us a comment because we'd love to hear from you.

See you in Friendsville!
Lou

"How far away is Indianapolis from Ohiopyle, anyways?" I get asked this question at least a few times a week; mostly because I talk about Ohiopyle daily - and most people just think Pennsylvania is REALLY far away. But reality is, its not. You can get from Indianapolis to Ohiopyle in about 6 hours! So this weekend, instead of driving the distance alone I took a few Hoosiers with me to do some East Coast rafting! :)
We had a fantastic time on the Lower Yough Saturday morning. I figured for some first timers, the class 5 whitewater rafting might be a little much so we cruised down with the earliest Wilderness Voyaguers trip that puts on the Lower Yough (class 3) @ 10:00AM.We spent the day in the Laurel Highlands watching first time rafters work through the rapids, the WV guides hustle, swimming and having a great time!

To top off the trip.. this weekend marked the 7th Annual Beer & Gear Fest - which, like it sounds, was a festival of micro brewery beer and outdoor gear. Some of the best parts about this festival is that it was that it only costs $12 to get in AND you get a really awesome pint glass to drink out of and keep as a souvenir. And this years cup was designed by one of Ohiopyle's cool cats Megan (pictured). 

So overall we had a blast! Came back and when we came back I talked about it so much that I am going to be bringing a huge group from work back the weekend of July 26th! And because its Ohiopyle, there is always something going on. This weekend Wizdom will be playing at the Falls City Pub! Always a fun time had by all!

    The 2008 rafting season is shaping up to be one of high adventure!  Wilderness Voyageurs is proud to have recruited some of the company's strongest, friendliest, most knowledgable and experienced "rookies" ever.  Some came with years of experience on rivers all over the country, some came with class V kayaking skills while others just came with the determination and eagerness to learn as much as possible.
    Training began back in April when the water was colder and so was the air.  Returning every weekend to learn such skills as raft handling, trip management and first aid, these fresh river guides were put to the test both physically and mentally.  After 5 intense weekends and at least 20 training runs down the Lower Youghiogheny only the best were invited back to become full time river guides for the 2008 summer season. 

Here is Callie from California (yes, it is just a coincidence).  Callie is new to rivers but comes with experience in other adventure sports such as skiing and snowboarding.  She was one of the first to check out on the river, getting her training trips in as quick as possible while also taking every opportunity to explore other rivers, building upon her experience even more. 





Next we have Nick, or "Darkness."  Here nick shows off his quick reflexes and big guns by getting his crew back in the raft faster than you can say paddle!
Brian comes to Wilderness Voyageurs with raft guiding experience on rivers such as the New and Upper Gauley.  His strong work ethic and commitment have allowed him to jump right into the trip leader position.  He has also been able to work on his kayaking skills by getting on many local creeks and rivers during our spring high water season.







Here is Kent.  He means business.


    These, and all of our other new river guides, have allowed us to start off the season with a bang.  Their hard work and dedication to improving their skills and having a great time mean that your day on the river will be the best ever.  Come out to Wilderness Voyageurs in the Laurel Highlands for Yough River Rafting at its greatest!

Here is a video of a really good kayaking and rafting trip to the Big Sandy that the Wilderness Voyageurs staff took last Monday. Some of the rookies are really shaping up, so we brought them along to let them strut their stuff. A blast was had by all as the weather was excellent and the water was plentiful and cool.

The other day some of Wilderness Voyageurs' guests had the rare priveledge of taking a guided Big Sandy trip. We are very fortunate this year to have such an awesome, adventuresome staff and clientele.

The Big Sandy is a Class 5 run in West Virginia, but at this point in the season if you are interested in extreme east coast whitewater check out the Upper Yough. There is still a good bit of natural flow in that river, so with the added water from the release you can have an inordinate amount of high adventure fun in the sun!

By the way, video editing sofware is way too much fun, and makes it far too easy to get wacky with creativity. I'm curious to know what people think of the videos they've been seeing on this blog. Please feel free to leave comments!

Lou

Just in our backyard here at Wilderness Voyageurs is the beautiful Middle Youghiogheny, the perfect place to learn to whitewater kayak.  This river begins at the outflow of the Youghiogheny Dam and meanders through 10 miles of lush Pennsylvania Mountainside.  Since very little land along the river is developed this stretch of water can be incredibly peaceful.  With plenty of calm water stretches as well as several class I and II rapids, the day has the perfect balance of excitment and relaxation.

This group of fathers and sons decided to see what all the hype was about and take a 2-day kayak lesson with Wilderness Voyageurs.  The first day was spent learning stroking technique as well as getting to know how the boat responds to these movements.  Like most beginners, these guys found the hardest part was trying to keep the boat going in a straight line.  That afternoon we headed out to the upper section of the Middle Yough where skills such as ferrying and eddy turns were practiced.  The second day was spent on the entire Middle Yough, practicing our strokes as well as maneuvering through class II rapids.  However, mostly we just enjoyed our time on the water and the beautiful scenery of the Middle Youghiogheny.

Rain, rain, don't go away. We love it. If there was to be a time for a trip to visit the yough river in Ohiopyle this would be it. Water levels are outstanding providing high adventure and excitement. Big water rafting cannot be beat and with water levels matching that of the Gauley and New rivers action with much less of a drive. Guest numbers are still low so trips are small and personable. Guides are trying to make the most of the time knowing all too well that low water will be here soon. Kayaking action is at its hight as temperatures rise and the winter rust is shaken off, folks are going big with every opportunity that presents itself. If you are looking for a new run and need someone to boat with the wilderness voyageurs staff have the runs down. The Cheat river continues to hold strong providing huge water action in one of the most beautiful canyons in all of the East Coast. If you are looking for high adventure regarless of what the pesimistic forcaster might say ohiopyle is your place to be to enjoy the liquid sunshine. See you out there. Josh

You see that kayak on the river all the time.  It boofs like a master, it smooths all the hard lines, it surfs like a king.  Its not all the paddler, that boat was sculpted to perform.  Its about time you got in one and tried it for yourself!

If you are looking to upgrade your kayak, or even just wondering what that boat feels like on the river, come try one of our 38 Demo kayaks. 
Pyranha Kayaks:

    Burn: S, M, L
    Everest
    Ammo: S, M, L
    Recoil: S, M, L
    Rev: S, M, M/Long
    Speeder

Wave Sport Kayaks:

    Project: 45, 52, 62
    ZG: 48, 54
    EZG:  42, 50, 60
    Fuse: 35, 48 (coming soon 56)
    Habitat: 74, 80
    Diesel: 65, 75

LIquidlogic Kayaks:

    Ronin: 49, 59
    CR: 80 (coming soon 125, 250)
    Remix: 47, 59, 69, 79
    Jefe: Chico, Regular, Grande
   






Remember that trying new boats only makes you a better kayaker, more easily adaptable to different conditions and different boat styles.  You never know when you will need to borrow someone else's kayak.  Also, manufacturers are constantly innovating old boat designs so that they perform better for today's kayaker.  Don't get left behind because you are so attached to that old kayak. 

The demo fleet is also available for our kayak instruction.  Learn how to use these boats better from first-timers to upping-the-anty on the Upper Yough. 

It has never been more easy to explore your kayak options right here in Ohiopyle, PA!

Can I just give a shout out to my partner in crime...the baby Burn.  This kayak has done me real good over the past few years.  Through the generosity of my closest friends at graduation, she became mine.  Since then we've experienced many soaring boofs on rivers like the Upper Yough, Blackwater and Otter; carved out beautiful surfs on the Loop, Pigeon, Big Sandy; and sailed over huge waves on the Cheat and Gauley. 



The Burn allows me to be more aggressive on rivers where making the move really matters.  I use the planar hull and carving edges to make crisper, cleaner moves through different river features.  Sometimes it seems like she just knows where I want her to be.  I also find that I have a sharper roll, using the edges as leverage, rather than relying so much on my paddle stroke. 


When surfing, these edges aid in carving back and forth, as well as transitioning when spinning.  If I close my eyes, sometimes I feel like I'm ripping through powder on my snowboard, moving smoothly from edge to edge with each turn. 

Even off the rivers, my Baby Burn makes my life easier.  When hiking through the woods to and from the river I never fail to be grateful for the handle in my bow that allows weight to be distributed between my arm, upper back and shoulder rather than solely on my shoulder.  This also lets me carry more easily on my left shoulder, something I would never have thought to be comfortable. 



I have never had so much love for a piece of outdoor gear before now.  I can teach kayak lessons, play on every river and even take it to the next level with my best friend, the Baby Burn.

No one doesn't like spring here in the Laurel Highlands.  Periods of summer-like warmth dispersed between days of pure rain showers.  Some days are still chilly, but occasionally there is that day where the river is high and the sun couldn't be any brighter.  The Cheat Canyon is known for days like this.

Seeing small streams turn into waterfalls as they drop over the colorful canyon wall on river left as you drop into the crashing waves of the rapid High Falls might be one of the most beautiful sights of all West Virginia river rafting.  The transition into spring also means the full spectrum of the color green is filling in the mountain sides, dotted with bright purple Redbud flowers.   Just another moment where I find myself sitting back in my kayak
wondering how my life got to be this good. 

So there are pretty trees and unique rock formations, but let's be honest, we're here to crash into big holes and fly over the top of huge waves, paddling as hard as we can to avoid a very rough swim.  Here is a taste of one of our rafting trips on this incredibly scenic, always exciting, east coast river.





Don't let spring pass you by this year. Get out on

those rivers while they are running and see what

you're been missing!

...because I sure do.

The Lower Yough has earned its reputation as one of the best and most popular rivers on the East Coast, because it's great fun all summer long.

But now is the time to go! The water is higher and the crowds are fewer in the spring. Bigger fun, less waiting, plus off-season rates. Worried about being cold? Rent a wetsuit or splash top. Besides, you've got edge-of-your-seat adrenaline and paddling like a maniac to keep you warm. Done the Lower Yough a dozen times? Come in the spring; it will feel like your first time.

The same philosophy applies to the class 5 gem of the East, the Upper Yough. Deep Creek hydro station follows the release schedule regardless of natural flow, which means jucier rafting at this time of year. Ask any river guide what's better than the Upper Yough and they'll tell you, "The only thing better is the Upper Yough with more water."

Bottom line: if you are a true whitewater afficionado, or just a summer fan looking for a better ride, then Your Time Is Now.

Lou

I just wanted to write and thank Josh and Kaila for guiding me down the Upper Yough. (yes, this is the before picture)  I'd had some Kayak Instruction from Josh in the past and was pretty comfortable paddeling the lower Yough in Ohiopyle.  What wasn't sure of was my ability to do a high adventure run on Class 5 white water.

Well I'm happy to report that the Kayak Instruction and the great Wilderness Voyageurs guides made it a very fun (I didn't say relaxing) day.    Kayak Lessons aren't just for beginners I guess :-)

Lou?  Will you take me to the Top Yough this summer?

I wanted to share this great picture of our Wilderness Voyagers guide Jared on a wild ride through Hienzerling Rapid on the mighty Upper Youghiogheny.   If you are looking for Class 5 White Water Rafting and some real High Adventure Trips, Jared and the rest of our expert guide staff are ready to rock!

Last year the Upper began running on Saturdays too so you don't need to miss work.  If you want to go, book early.  All you have to do is send us an email rafting@wilderness-voyageurs.com

The Upper Yough is an east coast rafting gem.  No other Class 5 white water can compare to the continuous and action-packed nature of the Upper Yough. 

Surfing at National...











Doing back flips into National...



Or an innocent ride in the pickle...

Peace out,
The Zan

Here is a small taste of West Virginia Class 5 White Water Rafting. This creek requires significant rain to run, but on days when the Upper Yough is too high to safely navigate, we have been known to guide commercial rafting trips on the Big Sandy, a class V tributary of the Cheat River.

It's also a favorite kayaking run among the Wilderness Voyageurs staff. Yesterday Susan and I braved the cold and sleet to take in the awesome scenery and excellent rapids. The level was perfect - about 6.5ft on the bridge gauge. We decided to film some of the rapids, and this video is my cut of the footage. Hope you enjoy!

Thanks for watching!

Lou

            One of the most vivid moments I’ve ever experienced in my kayak was on the Upper Santa Maria during a week-long excursion up the Mexican coastline this past February.  River beds here are lined with travertine rock, a calcium carbonate rock similar to coral that is growing as groundwater leaches calcium, making the water a shade of blue I previously believed only to be present in overly the chlorinated pools seen at posh tropical resorts.  Every blue-eyed girl secretly wishes her eyes are this color of blue.  The river began as a flat, seemingly current-less stretch of water miles and miles long.  Miles and miles and miles long…at least 2 ½ hours of forward strokes and increasing doubts of upcoming gradient.  Luckily, canyon walls steepened and we found ourselves navigating through more technical whitewater.  As we approached the take-out, a 300 ft. set of waterfalls emerged, pouring off the cliffs on river left.  A rainbow perfectly framed the view as the sun’s rays pierced the spray created from the falls crashing into the river below.

            After much deliberation three group members, myself included, decided to attempt a crossing beneath the stampeding falls while the remaining three continued up the hillside to meet our driver.  Not knowing if this was actually possible—

water level too high?... curtain of waterfall too close to right shoreline?...spray/wind too strong to paddle though?—we began to paddle into the stormy abyss.  As we sat in an “eddy” between the first and second falls preparing to push through the thickest and strongest section, I struggled to keep my eyes open against the spray that now felt like a Supersoaker pointed at my face.  I continued paddling strong into the vehement wind to prevent slamming against the rock wall to my right or the floating trees to my left, however, I did not move.  First attempt to cross was unsuccessful, unable to decipher up from down, right from left and forward from backward.  Not willing to settle for defeat, I picked myself up, brushed myself off and paddled harder than ever.  Time began to stretch like the trail gum leaves when stepped on by a shoe, leaving me in a river hurricane.  Yet somehow the winds calmed, the spray subsided and the waves dissipated.  I was looking up at the falls from the other side.  Six miles of flat water to take-out, with a strong head, wind couldn’t even take away my smile.       

 

            Remember that experiences like this can be yours too with kayak instruction right here in the Laurel Highlands of southwestern Pennsylvania.  Learn from instructors that travel all over the world to kayak and are excited to share this passion with everyone.  Kayak lessons in Pennsylvania are a held in one of the best places here in Ohiopyle with whitewater ranging from gentle Class I to more advanced Class V, allowing you to advance your skill level as a beginner or a more advanced paddler looking to fine tune your skills on more challenging rivers.  Hope to see you on the river and discover the world through the eyes of a kayaker!!!

As appealing as paddling the Top Yough at freezing temperatures may be, for most of us warm blooded creatures there is another option. For the last two winters Wilderness Voyageurs has had representation (Kaila Woodside and Josh Lawrey) in the white water paradise of Costa Rica. With its steep volcanic mountains, ample rainfall and warm tropical temperatures, Costa Rica makes for a terrific white water destination for those seeking action packed adventure trips or to shake the winter rust off those paddling muscles.

Did I mention its warm. Actually that can be an understatement. Much of Costa Rica is considered by most as "Tropical rainforest", but that does not remotely do it justic. Within its borders, Costa Rica boasts one of the most biologically diverse and ecologically important areas in the world. If one were to take a walk from the East cost and start walking inland up into the mountains they would travel through many different "life zones" depending on the amount of rain and sunlight the area receives. It is like changing the channel ever thousand feet or so. Starting in low land wet forests so dense that they are impenetrable to gigantic pre-montain forests full of life then up into the wind swept scrub of the highland volcanic mountains.

Costa Rica's wildlife cannot begin to be described in this blog. Nearly 900 species of birds constantly challenge even the most seasoned birders. Monkeys, sloth’s and large cats are always on the minds of eager tourists waiting to catch a glimpse. It is also astounding that 10 percent of the world's butterflies and 15 percent of the world's amphibians make this there home. Simply AMAZING!

The Eastern slope or Caribbean side receives the most rain as Easterlies carry warm wet air up the mountains and dropping it as it cools. Whole mountain ranges can be clouded for months dumping prodigious amounts of rain. Over 300 inches in some places. That is over 21 feet of rain and only one way to go, Down! The white water is amazing and numerous rivers/creeks have never been run.

Commercial white water rafting trips are very popular with the large amount of foreign tourists that visit this spectacular place. It is also very popular with snow frightened raft guides and photo boaters seeking refuge and winter employment. Which is what I was after. I worked for Rios Tropicales, the most prominent commercial white water company in all of Latin America. They have an amazing set up and raft over 300 days a year.
 
Wilderness Voyageurs' extensive raft guide training and diverse river work opportunities provide for very marketable skills down there. Raft trips are always guide in boat and safety boaters assist all trips. The two main rivers that are run are the Pacuare and Reventazon. Both are excellent sections that vary dramatically with water levels. October through January is the best time to run on good water , but they will drop sharply off in December. Still a lot of fun. The Pacuare is class 3-4 with continuous technical rapids on a 17 mile single day trip. You can split it up and stay at Rios Tropicales' Pacuare Lodge. Beautiful only way to say it. Waterfalls, zip lines, toucan’s, sloth’s, swimming holes, gourmet food provided by the guides and so much more. 

The Reventizon is big fun and has 3 sections from class 4-5 and down to a nice tropical birding float. The Tico "Costa Rican" guides are very skilled and fun. They make an honest living entertaining and educating clients on many unique adventure trips offered. They work hard and long days often having to ride the shuttle bus to and form work 3-5 hours a day.

Over 80 percent of the people on the trips speak English, but knowing a fair amount of Spanish is very helpful. Tico's are very generous and being able to speak with them only helps you make your way around this beautiful place. Don’t worry about driving, not that you would want to there as they are horrendous drivers, but you can get around easily by bus.

If you have the opportunity either to work or just to travel, a trip to this place will provide an experience like no other. Please visit our river friends of Rios Tropicales and join us back at Wilderness Voyageurs to share your  white water adventures with us. WV guides, you need to get there.
See you back at the Yough

PURA VIDA!
Josh Lawrey