Intro to moving water kayaking on Black Earth Creek

PREREQUISITES: No prior Outing Club trip experience necessary. Participants should be comfortable with swimming and being underwater briefly. 

This trip is intentionally a very small group because we have such limited daylight. 

OUTCOMES: 

The goals of this trip are to be safe, have fun, and learn something! 

Black Earth Creek is a scenic trout stream in the Driftless Area, and a nice place to learn the fundamentals of river paddling. 

By the end of this trip, you should be familiar with moving water fundamentals, including eddy turns, ferries, and peel-outs. We will also discuss the basic moving water hazards: strainers and snags/foot entrapment. 

SCHEDULE: 

Meet at 4:35 pm at the Hoofer Boathouse, lower level of Memorial Union. 

By 5:30, leave for Black Earth Creek 

By 6:30, arrive at the Olson Road put-in. 

By 7:00, start paddling. 

By 8:30, reach the Two Bridges/ Wolf Run trailhead in Mazomanie. 

By 10:00 pm, return to Madison

WHAT TO BRING: 

Please bring shoes that you are willing to get wet and that will not fall off in the water. 

Dress for being immersed in water. You can wear activewear layers, or wetsuits are available which you can borrow from Hoofers (or bring your own). Definitely plan to be completely soaking wet! 

Bring a towel and a full change of dry clothing, including a dry pair of shoes. We will leave those in the car for afterwards. 

COVID PRECAUTIONS: Most of this event will occur outdoors. Hand sanitizer will be available.

DUE TO NEW CAMPUS POLICY, MASKS ARE REQUIRED WHEN RIDING IN A CAR WITH OTHERS.