Class II Clinic

I helped out at the Vermont Paddlers Club Class II Clinic this weekend on the Deerfield River. It turns out I know enough to provide basic whitewater canoe instruction/pointers ... who knew? It was demofest weekend, so I got to try out a Spark. Debby need. Well, maybe not need, and maybe not this boat. The canoe I paddle now is too slow, and I am ready for something different.

It was really great to see all of the students improve throughout the weekend, but I was especially happy to see the only two canoe students (tandem) doing great with communicating well and trying to catch every eddy they could. It paid off by the end of the weekend with a successful trip through Zoar Gap.


Saturday night was lots of fun, with a few of the instructors and students gathering at my campsite for dinner. Pasta with veggies, olive oil, parmesian cheese, and grilled chicken. Everyone else from our clinic who was staying at the campground showed up later in the evening for campfire and various campfire desserts. There was the usual toasting of marshmallows, but we also made a treat that I learned from my friends Andrew & Marci while on a canoe trip on the Chochocouane: wrap a piece of Pillsbury Crescent Roll dough/triangle around a stick and cook over the fire, then coat with butter and cinnamon sugar.

All in all, it was a great weekend.