New President Chris Shih

I hope everyone had a great paddling season this year! Last weekend we had our annual KCCNY meeting and dinner, and I continue to be incredibly grateful for our paddling community - it was a pleasure meeting a number of legacy members, and welcoming a few new members to the club as well. Furthermore, I’m …

Whitewater Resources for New Paddlers

Following a successful beginner class this past weekend (9 students - all accounted for, no severed limbs), I wanted to share some resources: KCCNY links, other clubs, message boards, stores, and instruction opportunities. Hope these are helpful, and feel free to comment with questions and additions! KCCNY KCCNY Website: The main KCCNY website. Upcoming club …

The Rhododendron Roll – River Bank clutter, a Safety Consideration

Following the latest Duck Boat tragedy, I thought about the end of a recent boat chase and the potential entrapment in strainers. Between a group of us, a swamped kayak was bullied to shore, in amongst Rhodendron shrubs clogging the bank. This location appeared reasonable to us to get the boat and paddle onto a …

What I learned the hard way about paddling

Or beginning whitewater paddling... As far as safety, I don’t need to tell any of you that strainers and cold water are your big enemy, not rocks, flipping or swimming. Part of pulling off a combat roll is being comfortable under water….and a big part of being comfortable underwater is not freaking out when you're not …

KCCNY Beginner Weekend – June 2015

This year's beginner weekend was a great success. Perfect weather, intrepid students, great lunches (thanks to Ellen), and successful river runs by all. Lots of interest in continuing instruction and we already have some follow-up trips on the schedule. Thanks to all the instructors, helpers and students for making it a great one, and special thanks …

Paddling Resources

This is mainly geared toward new paddlers, but I thought it might be useful to others... KCCNY, you already know about. Use the forum to organize trips, buy/sell gear, ask questions, post anything paddling related. If you haven't already, please become a member so we can keep having beginner weekends, pool sessions in the winter, …

Into the Deluge

A couple of years ago, a mirco-cell thunderstorm stalled over the town of Florida, Ma. and nearby areas. The news service reported that over 7 inches of rain fell in the two hour duration of the storm. I chose that day to invite my Uncle on a paddle trip down Fifebrook. A year later I …

Beaverfest 2014

This account of the Beaverfest was written and paddled by Mark Hrubant Friday August 29th, noon… I call the caretaker at Soft Maple campground & ask if he will hold a site for me as I am driving up from Bingo. While enroute to Croghan I learned there will be six of us camping for the …

Trouble on the Toe

I don't see it until I am at the lip of the drop, the large trunk wedged diagonally in the slot. Its really nasty on the upstream side, a frothy mess, barely bigger than my boat, with the current pouring over the lip and slamming the rock on the right before surging beneath the trunk. …

New Training Coordinator Announced

After 10 long years as Training Chair, Jack Moskowitz turned the position over to Jessica Osedach at the KCCNY annual meeting and dinner in November. During his tenure as training chair, Jack remained an active and engaged instructor to all who sought help, both formally and informally. The KCCNY training program has grown and improved …

Moose River Chapter 2: In Which I Join the Swim Team

The water picks up speed as I enter the narrow channel that marks the entrance to the right side line of Shurform rapid. I'm running right down the center of the channel. away from the curler that lurks just to my left, hoping to catch an unsuspecting paddler and send them down the center of …

Big Water Gauley

A roar of the water assailed us as we left our car and walked through the parking lot. Up ahead, the massive earth and rock dam rose nearly 400 feet up from the river bed, holding back the clear waters of the 2700 acre Summersville Lake. Water poured into the river through an enormous pipe …

It’s fun and easy to be a KCCNY Trip Coordinator

Have you looked at the KCCNY trip schedule and wondered why there were so few trips posted? That’s because we rely on volunteers to post trips. So many of you paddle the rivers and look for KCCNY trips to join, but few of you volunteer to be the Trip Coordinator. Without those volunteers there would …

Boston Marathon

Laura and I thank all of you for kind words and expressions of support following the tragic events at the Boston Marathon this year.  I wanted to share with you my post on the Boston Athletic Association Boston Marathon Facebook page in the immediate aftermath of the bombings: I was runner bib number 20859, one …

Esopus Creek – Preserving Cold Water for Whitewater and Angler Recreation

It's the time of year we look forward to being out on the river to renew and recharge after a challenging week; I've never contemplated the content of an email while navigating a rapid. I've enjoyed the Esopus Creek and what the town of Phoenicia offers since 1978; it's just good for my soul. But …

Fun at the Esopus Whitewater Funfest!

KCCNY started the Esopus Whitewater Funfest four years ago to enhance and expand the traditional Esopus Slalom race held the first weekend in June every year for the past 47 years. It’s a club tradition and driver for the June whitewater release on the Esopus River in Phoenicia NY (Catskills). This year it is June …

Rescue on the Neversink Part II: The Saga Continues

I told Fran that I would rewrite the rest of this if she worked at Paddlesport so I guess I've got to finish. Heres what happened next....... It was an easy choice to make, I abandoned Nate's sodden craft, hoping that Neval might be able to grab it and went after her boat It was …

Rescue on the Neversink

"Nate is out of his boat!" We had pulled up on a beach to scout the entrance to the gorge on a cold day in mid-March. The river was running high, around 1400cfs and the temperature was in the mid 30s. The water was cold, chilled by the remaining snowmelt from the ski area at …

Winter Paddling- Costa Rica

I read Andy’s article about paddling the Shohola in the winter and thought I would share an opposite point of view on the subject of paddling in the winter- Go somewhere warm! Shorts and flip-flops work for me. This January I paddled in Costa Rica with some friends. I have wanted to do this for …

Winter in the Shahola gorge

The mid afternoon January sun sends shafts of sunlight streaming into the gorge from the upstream entrance as John and I sit in an eddy waiting for the rest of the group. Above and around us, solid rock walls rise straight up from the narrow river bed, climbing 30' or more to reach the snow …

Personal 1st Descents 2012

As the year comes to a close its always kind of fun to look back at the rivers we paddled. Besides, there is no water anywhere and there's not much to do besides read about boating. 2012 was kind of a down year for me. I had only 2 personal first descents,  the Stoneycreek and Tygart. Not too …