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VOLUME 30, NUMBER 4FALL 2003KANSAS PADDLER HOME PAGEwww.kansas.net/ tjhittle"The Official Newsletter of the Kansas Canoe Association" - Four Issues/YrKCA Member Recognized forGood Deedsure that we had the correct place. I put in acall to Chris Collins and left a voice messageTestimonial and Thank You to Bill Catherthat I saw only three tents and no people.[Editor’s Note: This was received as anIn a couple of minutes Chris called backemail to the Kansas Paddler Hometo confirm that we were inPage. Permissionfact at the correct placefrom the author wasand told us to just knockreceived to edit andon the door and that therepublish his email.]should be someonePlease let me tell youinside. He told us that ifabout Bill Cather.no one answered to justIt all began as mygo inside and enjoy thewife and I headed out forair-conditioning while wea kayak float trip fromwaited for the group.Wichita KS around 3 PMWe walked in andthon Saturday, July 4 . Weshouted for anyone home.had hoped to arrive atIn just a few minutes, Billthe Old Goat Ranch byCather came from the4:30 PM for thebedroom and said thatscheduled eveninghe was taking a nap.[Above:BillCatherphotobyJackieRawlingsfloat trip down theHe invited us to makeArkansas River.ourselves comfortable.When weHethenentertainedusfor over 2 hours andreached the Goat Ranch we did not know forBy Russell WarnkyKCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS:PresidentJackie Rawlings - Manhattan, KS785-537-0164 / rawlings@kansas.netPresident-Electvacant[Looking for nominations]SecretaryBelinda Cullen - Berryton, KS785-379-9916 / pcullen@sbcglobal.netTreasurer / Membership Data BaseDon Varnau - Lawrence, KS785-841-1627 / dvarnau@swbell.netSafety-EducationMick O'Shea - Manhattan, KS785-539-2279 / mjoshea@lycos.comInternal AffairsKeith Ratzloff - Manhattan, KS(785) 539-6802 / kratzloff@cox.netMarketingChris Collins - Wichita, KS(316) 942-4339 / stuff2@chriscollins.comAccessories / Video libraryPat Cullen - Berryton, KS785-379-9916 / pcullen@sbcglobal.netActivitiesCliff Long - Wichita, KS316-253-9216 / clifflong@kansasriverrat.comKids ChapterBill McClave - Overland Park, KS913-685-9221 / wlmcclave@yahoo.comNewsletter / Webmaster / Kayak Chapter DirectorT.J. Hittle - P.O. Box 83 - Manhattan, KS 66505-0083785-539-7772 / tjhittle@kansas.netAt-LargeBob Harris - Hutchinson, KS620-662-0346 / riverbob@southwind.netAt-LargeR.J. Stephenson - Tonganoxie, KS913-845-2359 / rjsraft@sunflower.comAt-LargeLarry Storer - Frankfort, KS785-292-4561 / larrystorer@yahoo.comAt-LargeKail Katzenmeier - Manhattan, KS785-776-0964 / kailk@kansas.net(CONTINUED ON PAGE 14)What I Learned on My Summervacation - Trip ReportBy Judy & Mike JonesNotes from a firsttime kayaker[Editor’s Note: Judy& Mike are good Texasfriends of KCA members,Keith & Sandy Ratzloff]experience the outdoors.2. Rocks in theriver are not scary – OK,a little scary, but deadtrees, rootwads, andstrainers, are really scary!The current tends to pullyour boat around a rock,but it drags you right intothose deadly snarls ofroots and logs.3.My[Above: Judy Jones & her pet turtle, George W.]husband’s heart isin pretty goodshape, having1. All my years ofboating, from skiffs tosportfishermen tosailing the Caribbean,didn’t prepare me forthe intimacy onefeels, both with thecontrol of the boat and the closeness to thewater, in a kayak. It is a wonderful way to(CONTINUED ON PAGE 14)Page 1
KCA Octoberfest EventOctober 25th & 26thBy Cliff Long & Eddy BeardRain, sleet or shine, KCA members willbe camping, paddling and eating at BillCather’s Old Goat Ranch, nearMulvane, Kansas, starting the eveningof October 24. Float trips will be planned forSaturday and Sunday.Tent or RV camping allowed at BillCather’s Old Goat Ranch, near Mulvane,Kansas. (Directions to the Old Goat Ranch:From the stop light in Mulvane at K-15 andRock Road go south to the stop sign; turn leftand go to Central and Main [brick MethodistChurch on right]; turn right under the railroadto 130th; turn left and go to Old Goat RanchRoad; turn right to the corner of 120th andyou’re there.)Suppers (Friday and Saturday) will bepotluck. Other meals are on your own. Bringphotos & tell stories of your summer trips.Bring a chair or a pad, words to your favoritecampfire songs, and a musical instrument toshare around the campfire. Bob Gress,Director of the Great Plains Nature Center,will make a presentation, “Great Wildlife onthe Great Plains”, at the Octoberfest.For more details, contact: Cliff Long atclifflong@kansasriverrat.com or (316) 2539216 between 7:30 and 9:00 PM weekdays.Looking for and Finding the River ChannelBy Chris CollinsIn the Midwest we often float andpaddle canoes and kayaks on shallowsandy bottom rivers such as theArkansas and the Kansas. The ability to findand stay in the channel can be the differencebetween an enjoyable float and an exhausting experience. Under normal water levelconditions, these rivers contain shallowwater, lots of sandbars and a narrow channelwhere the water is deeper.Study all the tips and try to confirm themeach time you float. No individual tip willwork well by itself. Always look for two ormore reasons why the channel should bewhere you think it is. If you judge incorrectlyor a tip appears to fail, try to figure out why.I recently found the deeper water on theinside of a river bend and when I looked forthe reason, I discovered the river bottom hadbecome hard and rocky.This article covers rivers with bottomsthat consist of loose sand. Loose sand iseasily moved and shaped by the current.The included tips will not work with rivers andstreams that have hard or rocky-bottomssuch as found in the Ozarks or those riverswith little or no current to shift the sand andPage 2cut a channel.Basic River Dynamics:Water, like all moving objects, has thepropensity to move in a straight line untildeflected or forced to turn. When movingwater comes to a bend in the river, the bankon the outside of the bend becomes thedeflector that makes the water turn. Thewater runs faster on the outside of the bendand usually cuts a deeper groove in thesandy bottom known as the channel. Theriverbank on the channel side frequentlyappears steep because the channel has been[Above: KCA member - Jutta Zastrow & grandson- "looking for the channel"]cutting away at the soft soil near the bottomand the top keeps caving into the river. Thisis where landowners frequently dump variousitems to stop the erosion. The oppositeoccurs on the inside of the bend where thewater runs slower and sand bars develop. Ifthe river bend switches directions then thecurrent will cross the river at the end of onebend and be deflected by the next bend. Ifthe river straightens out or has no obviousbends, the channel can meander around ordissipate until the next clearly defined bendin the river.Where the water flows rapidly, thesurface usually reflects the depth conditionswith ripples or waves. This is causedbecause as water flows over an unevensurface (the river bottom, objects, etc.)turbulence is generated in the form of waves.These waves are reflected on the surfaceand appear as ripples. If the water is deepenough, the waves dampen and/or disappearbefore they reach the surface. The closerthe bottom or the object is to the surface themore apparent these waves are. Wavesgenerated by wind are added to the wavesgenerated by the bottom. The resultingripples are bigger over shallow water andsmaller over deeper water. The shiny watertip described below works even if it is windy.Channel Finding Tips:Tip #1: Where there is a well-definedriver bend, the channel will be found on theoutside of the turn. Higher and steeperbanks are usually found on the outside ofturns. Lower banks and sandbars are usuallyfound on the inside of turns. The outside ofthe turns is also likely to contain log jamsand strainers, so exercise great caution toavoid those extreme hazards while trying to(CONTINUED ON PAGE 13)
Activities Calendar"KCA Members - we need your trips & events"The KANSAS PADDLER Home Page contains the FULL trip and activities schedule. Some events dates & times may have changed ormay not be listed in the KCA Newsletter, so check it out at: www.kansas.net/ tjhittle/October 11-12, 2003, North Fork of the White River, MO (Class I-II). For details, contact Cliff Long at (316) 253-9216 or clifflong@kansasriverrat.com.October 25 - 26 - KCA OCTOBERFEST FLOAT - Camping at Bill Cather’s Old Goat Ranch, near Mulvane, Kansas. (Directions to the Old Goat Ranch: Fromthe stop light in Mulvane at K 15 and Rock Road go south to the stop sign; turn left and go to Central and Main [brick Methodist Church on right]; turn right underthe railroad to 130th; turn left and go to Old Goat Ranch Road; turn right to the corner of 120th and you’re there.) For more details, contact Eddy Beard atebeard@kansasriverrat.com or weekdays at (785) 266-6891. See the KANSAS PADDLER Trips Page for more breaking details.November 8 - KCA Board Meeting - 12:30 PM; Any KCA member is welcome. Come for lunch (Please RSVP to 785-537-0164 or rawlings@kansas.net) Jackie Rawlings/TJ Hittle residence, 700 Gillespie Drive; Manhattan, KS.2004January 17-25 - Costa Rica Paddling Trip - This is being organized through Gecko Expeditions, a USA guiding service for paddlers. For details, cost, anditinerary contact T.J. Hittle at tjhittle@kansas.net or (785) 539-7772February 7 - KCA Annual Meeting & Kayak Chapter Party - 3:00 PM -KCA Board Meeting; 5:00 PM - Annual Meeting & Party - (Please RSVP to 785-5370164 or rawlings@kansas.net) - Jackie Rawlings/T.J. Hittle residence, 700 Gillepsie Drive; Manhattan, KS. Look for more details in the WINTER Issue KANSAS PADDLER.ByGreen River,WY - Red & Swallow Canyons Trip ReportCliff LongTaylor Flats Bridge and Campgroundwas the gathering spot for our groupplanning to run the Green River fromFlaming Gorge Reservoir to LodoreRanger Station. While congregating at campwe were invited by a member of theBLM staff at the Jarvie Ranch to come view amoose that hangs out in the area.By late June 22nd Les and PattiImboden, John and Jean Weiss, Gwen andGeorge Moudry, Pam and Sean Broderick,Rob Long, Caitlin Jolly, Mick Farrell, BobKrenz, and I had managed to find each otherfor our adventure. There were a couple ofproblems. The reservoir was only releasing827 cfs, which we found to be adequate,barely. The other problem was that theweather was very non typical for desert atthat time of year. The daily highs were in thelow fifties, the wind was blowing, and itrained nearly constantly.The morning of the 23rd we drove to thelaunch ramp below Flaming Gorge Reservoir.This is such a busy ramp they had a guydown there to gripe at you if you took morethan thirty seconds to launch and get yourvehicle headed back to the parking area. Thewater here is so clear they call this area theaquarium. The early part of the trip was niceclass II drops. Past where most of thefishermen take out is Red Creek Rapid (classIII). Red Creek was flowing two inches deepand two feet wide due to the last several daysof rain which turned the Green River red. (I(CONTINUED ON PAGE 9)[Left: Chris Collins (KCA MarketingChr. & Jackie Rawlings (KCAPresident) show off one the two KCABanners that the Board recentlyapproved to help support the increasedmember activity in city & regionalriver festivals, special events, KCAactivities, and awareness events.Contact Chris or Jackie to reserveyour date for the new KCA Banner]Page 3
President'sColumnBy Jackie RawlingsI hope you all had a good summer. Theextreme heat and lack of water keptmany of us from doing very muchpaddling in Kansas. I was fortunateenough to be able to go to Idaho and be partof a wonderful trip down the Salmon River. Aspecial thanks to Craig Geary, Cliff Long,Doug Sell, and Lynn Lyon. Without theirparticipation, I couldn’t have gone. Be sureand read Cliff & Doug’s article about the trip.This fall several communities are havingRolling Down the River Festivals. OnSeptember 13 th we helped St. Georgecelebrate their first celebration since buildingtheir new river park. Sadly there was notenough water in the Kaw for us to do thefloat we had planned. However, we had threeexcellent presentations. Dan Mulhern, fromthe US Fish & Wildlife, talked about endangered species on the Kaw. Jim Sherow,Professor of Environmental History at KState, talked about the history of the KawRiver and Dave Murphy, longtimeRiverKeeper for Friends of the Kaw, talkedabout the future of the Kaw. We followed thisup with an enjoyable rescheduled float on theBig Blue River, below Tuttle Creek Reservoir[Above: Jackie Rawlings - pictured during a pastKCA Rendezvous - photo by T.J. Hittle]and a great campout. What could have beena disappointing day turned out to be veryworthwhile and enjoyable.On September 21 st , Lawrence had theirRolling Down the River Celebration and onOctober 4th , it will be in Manhattan. KCAmembers have been at each of these staffingour education and awareness booths. Wenow have two new color KCA Banners thathave improved our visibility. KCA membersfrom Clay Center are participating in theircity’s festival too. We hope you enjoyedseeing KCA.I’m sure many of you have noticed the“Dredging Issues” page on the KANSASPADDLER Home Page this fall. Hopefully bythe time this issue is out, we will havelearned that the Corps of Engineers hasmade the right decision to allow a publichearing. It never ceases to amaze me thatthose who are in a position to do the rightthing to protect our natural resources need torealize that “The People” are watching themin order for them to do the right thing. Sincewater is probably the most valuable resourceon the planet, our rivers should not beabused just so one industry or another canmake larger profits. Make your views knownabout clean water.I want to welcome two new KCA Boardmembers, Keith Ratzloff, Interior Affairs andChris Collins, Marketing Chairman. KailKatzenmeier has moved to fill in an At-LargeBoard position. Thanks in advance for yourwillingness to serve.Hope to see many of you at the KCAOctoberfest at the Old Goat Ranch outsideMulvane, Kansas October 25 and 26. Itshould be fun. Don’t forget the New MemberContest running to the end of June 2004! Getnew members and be eligible for prizes. Seethe summer issue of the KANSAS PADDLERNewsletter or the KANSAS PADDLER HomePage for details.Salmon River, ID - Trip Reports #1 & #2By Doug Sell (#1) & Cliff Long (#2)[ARTICLE #1] There were fourteen of usin seven rafts & two funny shaped boats.Trip members included Cliff Long, Craigand Rebecca Geary, their sons Trenton andColton, Bob Krenz, Bill Cather and hisnephew Cary, Lynda Lyne, Jackie Rawlings,Lynn Lyon, and Doug Sell. T.J Hittle andDave Murphy were along as rescue boatersin some kind of funny looking boats with theend all squashed and kind of humped up inStore Hours: Monday/Thursday 9:00-8:00Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday/Saturday 10:00-6:00Sunday 12:00-5:00Page 4the middle whitewater kayaks, I believethey’re called. Although we needed norescue, Bill Cather got the honors for comingthe closet while splatting his cataraft into alarge rock in the middle of the river.On Monday, rigging day, it was 113degrees in the shade. “Stay off the boatramp, or you’ll have a case of the “catarrh”.“Catarrh” is endemic in Idaho. The onlyknown cure is to bathe in the hot springs.This was the advice of Dr. Lynn Lyon, ourgroup’s resident expert on “catarrh”. [Editor’snote: “Catarrh” is the name for the group’srunning joke and fictitious disease knownonly to Dr. Lynn Lyon.]The river level was .4’ and crested inlate May at 10.5’. Now THAT must have beensome big water! However, there was plentyof water for our purposes. The rapids weremostly in the Class II-III, which meant that itwas all fun, spunky, little joy rides every 1/4mile or so. The water was also a perfecttemperature for swimming. One of the latestraft accoutrements is the beach umbrella. It’squite a sight to see a gaily-colored umbrellabobbing madly through a set of largestanding waves. Everybody on the trip gotalong just great. The food was fine. Wildlifesightings included a bear cub, numerousbighorn sheep, unconfirmed osprey, grouse,
III ) and stopped at Barth Hot Springs. Thehot springs were an interesting climb butand large flocks of chukar, a ground dwelling,enjoyable. We visited the Jim Moorepartridge like bird, too stupid to fly away fromhomestead and SAW A BLACK BEAR!. Wehumans, and three nonpoisonous snakes.made a stop at the resort at MacKay Bar forThere were also several historic cabins,a round of milk shakes. The fourth day waswooden pack bridges, jet boats, and a maltmild rapids and a camp above Upper Sheepshop at MacKay Bar.Creek. We had a good rain while in campLynn Lyon showed exceptional style byand enjoyed the shelter provided by Craigrunning Salmon Falls backwards. Dave tookand Lynn’s canopies. Dried Meat Rapid (III- the big water run on river left. Colton andIII ) was the only major rapid for those of usTrenton finally finished their books, but onlynot taking out on the fifth day. T.J., Dave,after running into his Dad’s raft in one ofJackie, Doug, Linda, and Lynn went onseveral new and yet unnamed rapids.downstream to take out at Carey CreekDave Murphy hiked everybody’s legsBoat Ramp. The rest of us camped atdown to the nubs, but only after hiking inVinegar Creek Boat Ramp, which reallythunderous lightning and a blinding raindoesn’t have a place to camp except instorm. Next time I need to rememberthe parking area but we were supposedthree important things about hiking:to meet four people there. While there1 ) Take plenty of waterwe got to watch the Shepp Ranch using2 ) Use hiking bootsa large jet boat as a truck to haul bailed3 ) Take a rain coat when it lookshay to the ranch. While at Vinegar Creeklike rain is coming.we learned that the rainy weather weWe also stopped at a hot springshad received had started several morebelow Salmon Falls with a fine, hot,wildfires, caused a blowout up thedeep, pool where we soaked in the coolMiddle Fork of the Salmon, and a mud/part of the morning. There are otherrock slide on the road to Cornsections of the river below our take outCreek that blocked it. Were our[Above: L-R: Doug Sell, Dave Murphy, Lynn Lyon, Bill Cather, TJat Carey Creek that look just as fun asvehicles moved out from the put inHittle, Cary Heiserman, Linda Lyne - photo by Jackie Rawlings]the section we did. Cliff, Bill, Carey,before the slide?Bob, and the Geary family went on toAt Vinegar Creek Christa andfloat down to Hammer Bar, well belowSteven Eschelman joined us. WeRiggins, ID. It rained the last day and cooledthe Salmon River creating a new rapid. Thisheaded downstream through Vinegar Creekthings off for a while. Doug drank the mostyear Kitchen Creek and the Salmon RiverRapid (III - IV-) and camped at Spring Creekbeer and still got off the river with part of ahad very high early runoff washing out someBar that night and enjoyed running water tosix-pack. Did I mention the water was justof the road to Corn Creek, until about the endrefill water jugs and clean up. Day sevendelightful?of June emails between Craig, the Northtook us by the Little Salmon River and intoFork Ranger, and I kept us guessing aboutRiggins. We stopped at the Riggins Boatthe road. Then we were told that the roadRamp and got ice and groceries. While inwas repaired so we could get to Corn Creek.town I called River Shuttles (800-831-8942)T.J. Hittle, Jackie Rawlings, and Daveand was assured that our vehicles were outMurphy met me early at Spring Creekbefore the slide had closed the road. LeavingCampground. After a little scouting and a tripRiggins the rapids pick up again and we ranto a hot spring that T.J. knew of we decidedTime Zone (IV), Chair Creek (III), and Trapsto run from camp to Cove Creek, about 10Creek (IV) before making camp. During thismiles of mostly class III water. T. J. and Daveday we passed and were passed by thekayaked while Jackie and I watched theirmuddy water from the blowout on the Middleantics from my cataraft
air-conditioning while we waited for the group. We walked in and shouted for anyone home. In just a few minutes, Bill Cather came from the bedroom and said that he was taking a nap. He invited us to make ourselves comfortable. He then entertained us for over 2 hours and Testimonial and Thank You to Bill Cather [Editor’s Note: This was .
