April Slide Show

We are hoping to host an adventure paddling slide show this Spring. There are are few reasons to do this this. First off, there really aren't many slide shows that come to Lethbridge. It would be nice to have have to travel up to Calgary to see one. This would also be a good way to get the entire paddling community out to an event where they can network. This should make it easier for people to get in contact with the club. While we may not break even the first time we do this, it is likley that in the future, this may end up being a good fund raiser. The last reason to do this is to try and get more people coming out to the AGM. We are planning on holding the AGM immediately before the slide show. While I doubt that numbers will significantly increase, this may make the AGM into more of an event.

What I am after is suggestions for a good speaker that you would like to see. While we don't have a huge budget, it would be nice to get a decent speaker that a wide demographic would find interesting.

Pool Sessions

Clay has indicated that the University is again having open pool sessions. They are on Thursday evenings. The time usually changes slightly each month. Currently they are starting at 8:15. You need to pay your pool entrance fee. ORCKA execs will not be staffing these sessions until the Spring. This means no one will be present to collect rental fees for boat use. If anyone is interested in organizing a kayak polo league, this would be a good opportunity.

Sept 11

The swiftcurrent is now releasing. This is a fast moving, easy class II river that starts at the Swiftcurrent resevoir at Many Glacier. It is a short run. WIth the continued rain, many of the other rivers also seem to be flowing.

September

With the rains over this last week, most of the rivers are up. Cataract Creek proved to be entertaining even if most of the run was spent avoiding small rocks on the shallow braided stream bed. Later this month, we should be having our fall social and exec meeting. How does Sept 24th sound? Hopefully we can have a BBQ and some time to toss around stories from the season.

August

Boulder Run below the Oldman Dam is flowing nicely. Oldman River at Ft. McLeod Above 20cms things are nice. On Sat. the surf wave below the bridge was in decent shape, making a fun outing.

I am just trying to figure out if anyone is interested in taking part in an informal river rescue course on the 28th. It would be a full day thing with a number of swims, throw bag practice and some kayak rescue practice. As long as two or more are interested, I will probably still run this. It is not a certified course.

July Trips

Plan your July trips here. With everyone scattering for the summer holidays, there may be no organized club trip this month, but if you are interested in going out on a particular day, post and see if anyone is interested in going.

St. Mary's July BBQ and Paddle

Come on out for a Paddle down the Upper Saint Mary's River, and BBQ on Saturday, July 10th. Meet at Kimball River Sports around 10:30 and plan on being on the river by 11:30. The BBQ will likely be around 4:30 after everyone has had a chance to dry off and retrieve their vehicles.




Everyone is welcome to enter the 'EVERYONE CAN PLAY' Rodeo at Double Trouble for a chance to win COOL prizes (prizes yet to be determined, though may include items such as broken paddles, free rentals, a signed picture of Clay...) so get your helmet ready, limber up those shoulders and see if you can be the one to win "Best Unintentional Cartwheel".




To get to Upper Saint Mary's drive to Cardston, past the Dairy Queen and head towards the States. About 1 or 2 km out of town turn left on Highway 501 and keep driving till the river. As soon as you cross the bridge, turn right onto the gravel road and that is where it will be. Watch for the red 'Kimball River Sports' busses. The run is about 6.4km, Gradient - 3.8m/km, River Grade - II.

If you need to rent a boat, rentals will be available on Thursday, July 8th. You are responsible for transporting your own rental gear.

Post a reply to say if you're coming so we know how much food to get. Bring a twonie for burgers and a loonie for pop

Trips June 22 to 29

Thursday 24 - Upper St. Mary's - Begginner up. Pick up rental boats at 5:00 to 5:15. Meet at Kimball River Sports at 6:30 to 6:45. Finish river at 9:30.

Friday 25 ??????

Saturday 26 ?????

Sunday 27 ???

Monday 28 Siyeh??? - Advanced. An amazing run with lots of portages and scouts. It drops 1500 feet in 4 km. Very low flows. May change to Two Medicine Upper Run. This is a new run (for us) and looks to be in a large canyon the entire way with class III type rapids expected.

July 1st Sun River for an exploratory paddle. 3 days self supported. 15km hike in. Class III ??? email Chris. Clay is going.

St. Mary's Take Out

The Stuart's are just wondering if people can take out at Tim's boat house instead of by the feed lot. They are just getting concerned about an increase of traffic by their house. There are some concerncs about their grand kids playing. I think they are also just trying to stem off the rising number of visitors that are coming down.

Trips June 15-22

Thursday 17 - Upper St. Mary's - rentals from the boat house at 5:15 to 5:30. You will need to have a way to transport the boat you rent. Meet at Kimball river sports (on the road from Cardston to Del Bonita) at 6:30 to 7:00.

Friday 18 - ??? Fernie River Fest ???

Sat 19 - ??? Fernie River Fest ???

Sun 20 - ??? Fernie River Fest ???

Thurday River Sessions

With few beginners coming out on the Oldman River on Thursdays, we are thinking of moving these evening trips to the Upper Saint Mary's. This would mean picking up boats at 5:00 or 5:30, and meeting at Kimball River Sports at 6:30. This would mean trips would finish up at 9:00.

I think there are a couple of questions with this. Is Wednesday better than Thursday? How will Thursday night rentals be affected? Comments? Is the 17th (next week) too early to start?

Trips June 8th - 15th

Thursday June 10th - 7:00 Flatwater Paddle at Boathouse or Upper St. Mary's leaving Lethbridge at 5:00 (call Ben at 327-8148). There will be no club exec on this trip.

Friday June 11th - ???

Saturday June 12th - 10:00 Cameron etc. (advanced)meet at 10:00 at Chris' House next to Tamarach Mall. We will be doing some filming of some drops on Upper Cameron Creek, maybe Hell Roaring, maybe Drywood. Let's have a BBQ after at my place. I will phone and find out if the hot tub at the lodge is working.

Sunday June 13th - ???