:: Benscreek Canoe and Kayak Club Annual Events

 

 

This list is a work in progress, please check with organizers before showing up.  We are updating this for accuracy as fast as possible.  If any club members have updates to this list, please contact Rick Bloom (rickpb@aol.com) to make additions or corrections.

 

Monthly meeting will be held on February 24th  at 7:00 PM at the Wooden Indian.  Important planning meeting for the Rendezvous.

 

Roll Sessions will be held on four consecutive Sundays starting February 14 (1st Sunday after Super Bowl).  These will be held at the Johnstown YMCA.  Note: the first was held on the 14th and went well despite cold and snow.  The next one will be this Sunday, February 21st at 7:00 PM.  Hope to see you there!

 

The annual Christmas Party was held at the Homestead Inn on Friday, December 4th.  This year’s party was well attended with a great presentation by Len Lichvar. 

 

Note: Trips in May and June are still in the planning stage.  Please check back for more details as we finalize these trips and add more.  Anyone planning a trip is urged to contact Rick Bloom so that it can be posted here ASAP.

 

2010 will start off with the: 2010 New Year's "Good Karma" Paddle.  Meet at 10:00 AM at Carpenter’s Park.

 

 

March 27: Red Moshannon Downriver Race.  Always the last Saturday in March.

 7.1 miles of good class II water.  A great race that has been held regularly for over 42 years.  Contact Ed Bowman (tmo110@netzero.net) at Tussey Mountain Outfitters: (814) 355-5690 in Bellefonte, PA.  The race for canoes and kayaks is at the Peale Bridge (near Grassflat, PA) on Moshannon Creek (aka "The Red Mo.") 

http://tusseymountainoutfitters.com/races.aspx

 

May 1st & 2nd Pine Creek Trip

 

May 8th Stonycreek Cleanup

 

May 14, 15 and 16:  Annual Stonycreek Rendezvous.  Note the new date: construction for the new valve at Quemahoning Reservoir necessitated moving the event to May.  We will be organizing and signing up volunteers ASAP.  Please contact Janice Eastbourn-Bloom to volunteer. 

 

Plans are underway for regular clinics to be held at Whitewater Park on Tuesday after work this summer.  Watch here for details.

 

May 28th Full Moon Paddle on the Que

 

June 3-6 CVC Canoe Sojourn

 

June 13 Middle Yough Trip

 

June 25 Full Moon Paddle on the Que

 

 

Beginners – don’t forget about kayak roll session at Rocky Mountain Kayak in New Stanton.  They begin at 7 PM and are free to members.  Also Jeff Prcyl meets every Sunday now through September at Ferncliff Parking Lot at 11 AM for beginner whitewater instruction.  He then does the Loop of the lower Yough at 3 PM.   Beginner instruction will be plenty.  Again, this is free if you are a member.   Gear can be rented from Jeff at $25/day for all that you need. 

 

 

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Canoe Sojourn - Kiski-Conemaugh Rivers.  June 3-6, 2010.  Four days on the Stonycreek, Conemaugh and Kiskiminetas Rivers.  Includes a raft trip on the Stonycreek Canyon with a potential whitewater release from Cambria-Somerset Authority. The 2009 Sojourn had a record number of participants.  Watch for information regarding the 2010 Sojourn.

 

Kayak Roll Classes sponsored by Benscreek Canoe Club and Rocky Mountain Kayak  – Sundays in February 2010 at the Johnstown YMCA from 7pm – 8:30pm.  Free for club members.  Nominal boat rental may apply.  Please make sure boats are clean before entering pool.

Jeff Prycl instructed a large enthusiastic group at the 2009 roll Clinic.     Click here for 2007 roll class video clip (2 megs - Quicktime.mov).

 

 

                           

Loyalhanna Creek Beginner Whitewater Trip with Jeff Prycl of Rocky Mountain Kayak. Last Saturday in March, 2010 Meeting at the Kingston Dam along route 30 just west of Ligonier.  Saturday is a Class II canoe/kayak trip designed for instructional based paddle for 1st time boaters.  Sunday is not for very first time in a boat.  If you are a true beginner, then you must do Saturday in order to do Sunday.  This is an excellent trip for those just getting involved in boating.  Jeff Prycl from TRPC leads the trip.  Bring plenty of water and pack a lunch as this is a long eight hour day on the water.  Lengthy time will be spent on first aid, safety boating, reading rivers, basic paddling skills.  Anyone needing info or equipment should contact the hotline and leave message.  The BCC will try to supply any and all equipment that a beginner may need including a boat.  Jeff may have an additional day on the Loyalhanna on as well.  Check with Jeff on the date, this post is assuming that Jeff will run the trip like last years, we will change this posting if we hear of anything changing.

 

Middle Stonycreek Beginner Trip  Spring, 2010. (Tentative)

Water and weather pending, we will try to organize a Class I-II trip on the Stonycreek beginning at Kantner and finishing at the Blough Bridge on state route 403.  The Ferndale gauge needs to read 4.6 feet and be over 1000 cfs to be runnable.  This is a beautiful section of the Stonycreek that is great for beginner boaters.  Check the hotline for info and also check the Forum on the webpage for up to date info.  Tentatively meet at the Blough Bridge (bridge on Stony between Hooversville and Hollsopple) at 11 AM on Spring dates.

 

Heatheners/Sinners Trip – Easter Sunday, 2010. Tentative

This is headed by Dave Greenwald from Pittsburgh.  For the past 15 years he has come to Johnstown to paddle the Stony on Easter Sunday.  If high water, they will paddle Shade Creek.  Meet at Carpenter’s Park at 10 AM.   This is a class III trip.

 

Stonycreek Whitewater Raft Trip – Tentatively Saturday and Sunday during our 2010 Rendezvous.  $40.00 per trip, $30.00 for AmeriCorps and Students (note prices are approximate, based on 2009 prices).  Click here for 2007 info.

 

Canoe and Kayak to help Conquer CancerMay 16, 2009.  9:00 AM at the Ritchey Bridge on the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River. A Bedford county effort to raise money to help fight cancer.   www.newD-DAY.org click “Conquer Cancer” page.  Contact Maggie Morgan and Chris Weitzel – (814) 652-6563  cyperbeach@gmail.com   or  Dave Potchak – (814) 766-2802  dpotchak@embarqmail.com This event was a great success with over 100 boats on the river.

 

Casselman River Cruise.   Possible.  Contact Roger Latuch at 814-443-3237 or latuchbrosfms@hotmail.com

 

 

Canoe ‘d’ Que –.  Quemahoning Family Recreation area and Boat Launch.  Summer dates are being considered. Swimming beach now available.  Try canoes / kayaks.  Food on hand.  For more info, call Benscreek Canoe Club at 814-266-4276.