Beginner Whitewater Kayaking Trip Labor Day Weekend (Aug 30th – Sept 2nd)

Beginner Whitewater Kayaking trip Labor Day Weekend (Aug 30th – Sept 2nd)

Let’s end the summer with one more awesome adventure!

Do you want to see the north woods from an entirely different perspective? Do you want to learn some new skills and meet some wonderful people?

Join us for the annual Hoofer Labor Day Weekend whitewater trip.  

It is three days of paddling, three nights of camping, and a wonderful introduction to whitewater paddling!

This is a beginner whitewater trip where we will focus on the basics and build on the skills acquired during R1 trips. This includes eddy turns and ferries. In addition we will also discuss identifying river features and hazards, how to run rapids, surfing in features, and simply how to have fun on the water.

In the evening we will camp out cooking dinner around the camp fire and telling tall tales of our heroic whitewater adventure from the day. Alec said he may even show us the secret to making a perfect “smaco” on the camp fire!

Requirements

You have completed a Kayak Lake Lesson, passed a swim test & obtained an R1 rating in a kayak.  If you haven't met this requirement yet, we hope to offer lessons throughout the summer months. Please contact the whitewater chair if you need to set up some leasons! whitewater@hooferouting.org

Cost

Cost will be around $45 to 65 depending on where we will be camping. Stay tuned.

You will also need money for dinner on Friday night on the way up and dinner on Monday on the way home.

Questions/Comments/Contact

Bryan Wathen at bawathen@wisc.edu

We need your help!

We are looking for students to volunteer for the organizing team. If you're interested in how to organize any type of event, this is a great introduction! I will give you as much guidance as you need.  Please email me: Bryan Wathen at bawathen@wisc.edu

We need safety boaters and instructors! If more safety boaters and drivers sign up, we can open the trip to more participants!

Tentative Plan     

-We will meet at the Memorial Union boathouse at 4pm Friday August 30th to load gear and depart from Madison  

-Stay at Hooferland Friday-Monday Paddling beautiful rivers Saturday, Sunday, and Monday

-Return to Madison Monday evening

What to bring

On the river, bring swim suit, non-cotton synthetic shirt, footwear, water bottle, sunglasses with a strap, strap for prescription glasses, nose plugs, dry bag for packing a lunch (optional) and large towel or large beach towel.  For colder temperatures bring thermal undergarments, light wool or synthetic sweater, paddling jacket, wet suit.  The club has a few paddling jackets and wet suits available.

For off the river, bring health insurance card, driver's license, extra money, rain jacket (rain pants optional), shirt, pants, shoes, socks, pile jacket, hat & gloves for cooler temperatures, flash light or LED head lamp, sunscreen, bug dope or mosquito head net, drinking cup or mug, bowl, knife, fork, spoon, (plastic sandwich container - optional), personal toiletries (toothbrush, tooth paste, ear plugs...), camp pillow, sleeping bag, mattress pad, personal tent or Hoofer club tent.