Annual Horicon Marsh Trip

Horicon Marsh Sunday May 7, 2017

We will be leading sea kayaks and tandem canoes on Sunday May 7 to the Horicon Marsh. This is a very beautiful scenic trip.

It has been a couple years but 2017 is the year to resurrect the annual Horicon Marsh Trip for Canoes and Sea Kayaks. The Horicon Marsh is 45 minutes from Madison and is the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States. It is the site of both a national and state wildlife refuge. We will look for birds migrating back to the North. We typically see nesting eagles, pelicans, trumpeter swans, and numerous other species of migrating birds. Bring your binoculars and water-proof cameras.

***Questions: If you choose to sign up for this trip, please make sure to respond to the transportation, boat, and safety questions for additional information to help us plan.

***Courtesy Note: If you won't make it, please remove your name immediately and no later than Monday morning May 1 so an alternate can have adequate time to prepare to join us.

Rating: For sea kayak, SK0 rating and completed standard swim test are required. For canoe, canoe lake lesson and completed standard swim test are required. No exceptions.

Meet: Arrive at the Memorial Union boathouse at 8:00am sharp. We will load kayaks and canoes and head out immediately thereafter. We should be back by 6pm.

What to Bring:
Wet suit required for sea kayak (available through the club).

***You need to bring: Paddling jacket (wind breaker), water shoes, swim suit and shirt (NO COTTON), fleese top, non-cotton pants, wool socks, lots of water, sunscreen, sunglasses, lunch to carry in the boat, snacks, warm thermos beverage, extra layers (non-cotton), drybags, warm dry clothes to change into, towel.

The weather and water will still be chilly.

***Please bring $15 to offset the costs of gas and $2 boat use fee. I will collect these before we leave town.

Also bring some extra cash in case we grab a bite to eat on the way home. We love food! :-)

Please sign up on line. If you choose to join this trip, please make sure you let us know if you can drive and carry boats (or not) and how many of each, your paddling options (canoe and/or kayak) as well as any medical concerns so we can maximize safety. We may open this up to a few more people depending on who can haul boats.

Review of the essentials for sea kayak:
boat
paddle
PFD
sprayskirt
paddle float
bilge pump

Review of the essentials for canoe:
boat
paddle
PFD
bailing bucket

See you then/there! :-)