I have not yet decided if I will continue all the way to the Chesapeake bay. High water generally increases difficulty due to faster flow and increased hazards such as low bridges, floodwater debris, and low hanging trees. So I have started to put them up on my Instagram. 3211 North Front Street, Suite 301-A,
We made good time in the fast current (the water level was at 2.8 at Karthaus that morning, and it climbed steadily to 3 feet the next 3 days). I have uploaded only a few, but in the next few days I will add more from past trips. A PFD (personal flotation device) and signaling whistle are required per PA law to have onboard your vessel at all times. 2023 Covered Bridge Photo Contest Returns! That winter, on my way to my brother's cabin in PA I went out of my way to stop at the Main St. Cafe. I was never in any danger. Videos: I have had a hard time uploading my videos to the website. I was channel surfing at home one day and I stopped when I saw Vincent Price's face in an old black and white movie. This is an average speed of about 5.4 miles/hour. I'll write more details when I write the Sugar Run PA to Meshoppen PA page (hopefully soon). First things first, make sure your boat has the proper registrations and launch permits. Check it out. When in doubt, you can perform a basic inspection of the PFD. Native Americans as well as Americans of European origin in colonial times and right up to the 1800'sused the Susquehanna as a highway to transport goods and people makingthe river a kind of unifying thread connecting towns and villages along its course. January 25 update). 06/09/20. As a matter of fact I learned of one that extended from the western branch of the Delaware to a line one mile from the Susquehanna (In the area of Sydney, Oneonta). In this video we kayak on the Susquehanna River from the Conowingo Dam to the Lapidum Boat Ramp in northeastern Maryland. But, to be frank, after thinking about it for a while I have decided that it may not be that useful for those sections that have dams (because the dam causes a dramatic drop all at once rather than spread out over the course of the river. This now puts me at about 272 miles paddled so far with about 44 miles left to go in order to finish the Northern branch. I did have some trepidation, and I would not have done it if there where people who depended on me. I then told her that I needed a ride to Ouaquaga and was willing to pay someone to drive me there. I am not sure how much of the river I have done so far. Harrisburgs rich culture and history make it an ideal destination for art lovers. So, how did it happen? And, discovered many interesting and useful things; including how heart valves work. I thought I had already passed the best scenery when I paddled thru the Endless Mountains area last year. What I try to do with the history section is to pick an event that is not widely known, but that helps us to understand what the area was like at a particular time and thus give us a better understanding of American history. He answered "unpredictable" He then sent me a chart that is put out by NOAA (more on this later in the A Little Help From My Friends page) that showed the current river depth and predictions for the next couple of days. I think it's a little more than 70 miles and I should be able to finish it in three or foursections. Focus on your safety first. The distance and speed was possible because the river was high due to recent rains. After navigating the Narrows along the river left, paddlers should immediately cross to the river right. Shickshinny PA (where I left off on my last trip) is about 50 miles from Sunbury PA where the Northern and Western branches meet. Portage of Kayaks and Peddlers have their own equipment. Site identification number Each site in the USGS data base has a unique 8- to 15-digit identification number. Not all launches require a permit, but when in doubt, the best option is to purchase one. The power company uses off peak electricity to pump river water to the storage pond. The river passes close to the center of the city of Lancaster and ends at Safe Harbor along the Susquehanna River, approximately 16 miles north of the Mason-Dixon line. By Dominic Cuc" In rivers, the water that you touch is the last of what has come, and the first of that which comes" Leonardo DaVinci. On this trip I achieved two milestones: 1) I crossed over the 200 mile mark. I'm also tempted by the Delaware river. 5 STARS!! 2) I did it in only 3 hours which makes this the fastest I have travelled on the Susquehanna; 5.7 miles per hour. Here you can see more experienced kayakers traversing in and around the boulders and fast moving water. And on my next update I will tell you about my next project. The average time to kayak a mile is between 20-30 minutes, depending on river conditions and personal abilities. As the river winds thru the Endless mountains of PA, I find this section to be the most scenic that I have experienced so far. But what I found is that the rapids come at about the same frequency, but are bigger and scarier. Anyone operating an unpowered boat, such as a kayak, canoe, or standup paddleboard, who wishes to use a PA Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) or a Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) boat access, including those at state parks, may either register their boat or purchase an annual launch permit. (PC: Five Mountain Outfitters Co.) Our services are available along the Susquehanna River in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Not because of some extraterrestrial being trying to send us a message; as was suggested by many on social media. For assistance on how to read a river gage, click here. The Salmon river and the Susquehanna river are about the same length (around 450 miles). Bicycling Packages On Tuesday and Wednesday (August 15 and 16) Northeast PA was deluged with heavy downpours that flooded streams and washed away several roads. The two last sections are the most scenic sections of the river (so far) and very historic. Check to see that the straps are in good working order and not frayed, look at the shoulder straps to ensure they are not worn or torn, and test the floatation with a simple squeeze to confirm that it will rebound and that it has not shrunk within the fabric. Then, the way I understand it, once that happenstime travel is possible from the point in time that the machine was activated on forward. It seems that as I get further and further down river the dangers increase. I have made some good progress on the Shickshinny to Bloomsburg page, but I have only the very basics for the final page Bloomsburg to Sunbury. Make sure that your PFD is suited to your weight and body type, and check that it is within the factory date (i.e. On the water We've got everything you need to explore the water including single and tandem kayaks. FAQs for details. Not only is it located right in our backyard, but it has a host of landscapes, history, and fauna to explore while on the river. All Rights Reserved. No guarantee about the future ones. Since the last update I have returned to the river and achieved the following: 1) I explored Hiawatha island and added a page to the site. We are open April 29th throughOctober 29th. Site name This is the official name of the site in the database. The average time to kayak a mile is between 20-30 minutes, depending on river conditions and personal abilities. A guided kayak tour includes a professional Valley to Summit guide showing paddlers the way, and kayak rentals are for those who want to rent a kayak and enjoy the sights on their own. The current version of the beloved local landmark is about 25 feet tall and weighs about 4 tons. Pack a lunch (or buy it here). Highlights include paddling past the geologically notable Chickies Rock and exploring the historical & architecturally stunning Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge all while navigating cool rock formations near the water surface. They are at Falmouth,. Click here to learn more and reserve your spot today. This is a bit of a short stretch so you'd better be prepared to walk your kayak back to put-in a few times. I did not know what to expect in this area. This highway connects Binghamton NY and Albany NY, and it crosses the Susquehanna river at many points where I have already paddled. Since then I made two more runs, Towanda, PA to Sugar Run PA and Sugar Run PA to Meshoppen PA. It was a very fun paddle and I did not encounter any trouble along the way. Five stars to Ardee and his crew! That day, as I prepared for the trip, I text Keith at Endless Mountain Outfitters and asked him what he thought the river would be like on Thursday. Our first midnight moonlight trip was the best time I had with a large group of friends. The rivers and bay water temps have climbed into the mid 50's. Shad fishing continues to improve throughout the Susquehanna River with lots of hickory shad and some American shad too. It is a good idea to place the vehicle that can transport boats at the end so that you can remove one shuttle trip and not have to go back for the boats. I just added a new page titled "Harding PA to Wilkes-Barre PA", but for now it contains only the very basics. You might also want to place valuables in a drybag that can be fastened securely to your vessel. Wear clothing that is quick drying (no cotton) and make sure to bring along plenty of drinking water. The movie Dragonwyck was based on a novel of the same name and was set in the mid 1800's, the time when this system was coming to an end. That's fine with me. Easy paddling for beginners or families, the Conodoguinet Creek is a great option with shallow waters and a wide channel. Appropriate clothing for the weather, dry change of clothes, sneakers or river shoes, sun protection, hat, bathing suit and towel. To receive these emails, sign up here. ! River levels are low and may signify a drought. I decided to paddle back but the current was too strong for me to make any headway, but when I paddled off to one of the banks the current was practically gone and I paddled upstream with very little effort. Thrill to the sights of wildlife from beavers to bald eagles. The maker of the arrowhead was interrupted by an emergency, like a raid by an enemy tribe; or maybe it wasn't turning out too good and he just tossed it. Also, a lot more rapids (nothing dangerous) than most of the other sections I paddled. Anchored By Power-Pole Susquehanna River Event. The most well-known section of rapids is called the Dauphin Narrows. That land was purchased from the native Americans that lived there at the time and I think they wanted to keep the Susquehanna for fishing and transportation. Also keep an eye on the weather forecast. 2) In May I paddled the section of the river from Nichols NY to Athens PA. About 15 miles. It's usually at 2". During the summer of 2012 I paddled 2 sections with the help of a friend (Colliersville to Sidney, about 20 miles; Sidney to Ouaquaga about 24 miles), and another section on my own (Ouaquaga to Oakland, PA, about 15 miles) and by the end of the summer of 2012 I completed about 135 miles of the river (from Cooperstown NY to Oakland PA). By continuing to use our site you agree to our privacy policy. Susquehanna Kayak and Canoe Rentals also has a second location at Frances Slocum State Park in Wyoming. I'm also tempted by the Connecticut river here in New England. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. So, when traveling downstream stay in the middle, when traveling upstream stay along the bank for less resistance from the current. I will take info from the book that correspond to the sections I paddled and add them to the site. I just completed another section (from Apalachin, NY to Nichols, NY) that I estimate to be about 17 or 18 river miles, and I am motivated to update the site. Not only is it located right in our backyard, but it has a host of landscapes, history, and fauna to explore while on the river. No wonder that the Native American name for the Salmon river is The River Of No Return; the current, over much of its course is too strong to allow paddling up stream. Last Friday, July 12, I paddled a 14 mile section between the Hanover Township river access (just below Wilkes-Barre) to the Shickshinny river access. But, its a good reminder of how easily one can make a mistake in trying to save time. Its a bit sobering to actually be at the very place where years earlier a terrible and bloody incident happened. Anyone operating an unpowered boat, such as a kayak, canoe, or standup paddleboard, who wishes to use a PA Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) or a Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) boat access, including those at state parks, may either register their boat or purchase an annual launch permit. You can check out some of his art at. But, its still interesting info and gives me an opportunity to write about a topic that needs to be considered. I hope to do so very soon. I did a little research and found out that in the 1600's the Dutch authorities in what was then known as New Amsterdam would grant large tracts of land and the title of Patroon to certain individuals. With the completion of this segment I have paddled about 271 miles, and have about 50 miles to go to finish the Northern branch. I have to update the site so as to add the following sections: Ouaquaga to Oakland, PA; Oakland to Binghamton; binghampton to Apalachin. Plenty of water on the Susquehanna this year and you're bound to have a fun day. The clear calm shallow waters are perfect for a quick swim or an island picnic. Like I wrote above, I think I know. Ideal levels for paddling the Susquehanna River depend on your route. But, I think its important to realize how dangerous a frozen river can be. Nothing says "time" like a river. Soon I will be adding a page that I will title "Hanover Township to Shickshinny" that will detail the section. On the contrary, I think that accepting the ups and downs of life can be very liberating. June 1-4, 2023. I have been debating what I should paddle next. The same is true for the river. If you prefer to spend your summer days on the water, the Susquehanna River is perfect for kayaking, canoeing, boating, and fishing. Like the Susquehanna, the Delaware has two branches that come together; the Western branch and the Eastern branch. Whenever I drift my boat turns around and I end up facing backwards. 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