INSIDE THIS ISSUE

The Paddler Tattler
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE
(Click links to jump)
Calendar
January Events
North Chick
Access
TVCC Roll Practice
Movie Night
Winter Workshops
Trip Reports
Yoga with Jackson
Kayak
Sea Kayaking
Overnighters
Curious what this is all about?
Come to TVCC’s Movie Night on
January 24th and watch Nobody’s River,
along with several other paddling films!
Photo Credit: Justin Clifton (nobodysriver.org)
JANUARY 2015
Sun
Dec 28
Mon
29
Tues
30
Wed
31
TVCC Roll Practice @
Downtown YMCA
Thurs
Jan 1
Fri
Sat
2
3
9
10
New Year’s Day
Huckfest @ Baby Falls
Sea Kayaking Florida Trip
4
5
6
7
8
Sea Kayaking Sandhill
Cranes
11
12
TVCC Roll Practice @
Downtown YMCA
18
13
14
Outdoor Chattanooga
Roll Practice @ SAU
19
20
26
27
16
17
Guidebook Party:
Whitewater of SE
Appalachians
21
Board Meeting, 6pm,
Outdoor Chattanooga
25
15
22
23
Outdoor Chattanooga
Winter Workshop: Know
Your Knots with TVCC
28
29
24
Movie Night @ Dumpy’s
30
31
TVCC Roll Practice @
Downtown YMCA
The Paddler Tattler
January 2015
2
Y
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JA EN
EV
January 20th—Board Meeting
***
6pm. (C). All members are welcome! Come see what
the board does during our monthly meetings. Enjoy
dinner and drinks afterwards.
All paddling trips are weather and water dependent. It is
mandatory that trip leaders be notified by phone by the
Wednesday prior to the trip if you plan to attend. This will
allow the trip leader to notify you of any changes made.
January 22nd—Outdoor
Chattanooga Winter Workshop
Series: Know Your Knots
Most events are detailed on the calendar section of the tvcc
website.
6:30pm, Outdoor Chattanooga (Coolidge Park). (C).
Free workshop open to all skill levels. Learn about all
kinds of knots and rope work from Mike Shillinger.
For more information, see page 8.
January 24th—Movie Night
December 28th, January 11th &
25th—TVCC Roll Practice
4-6pm, (WW). Downtown YMCA. Must provide all
equipment. Boats must be clean. TVCC Membership
Required. $5 for ACA Members (with number), $10
for non-ACA Members. For full listing of dates and
details, see page 6.
January 13th—Outdoor Chattanooga
Roll Practice
7-8 or 8-9pm, (WW). Southern Adventist University
Hulsey Wellness Center. $2 fee to use the pool, $10
for non-members for roll practice. For full listing of
dates and details, see page 11.
Contact the trip leader for specific training trip meeting
times.
WW = Whitewater
S = Sea Kayaking
C = Club Event
ON = Overnight Canoe Camping
6pm. (C). TVCC will be holding a club movie night
on January 24th (Saturday Night) at Dumpy’s on
Hwy 64 in Ocoee. Check the Yahoo Group for more
details as the event nears.
In Decmeber, TVCC Member
Chad Christopher became
a part of Team Jackson.
Congratulations!
In the picture to left, Chad
takes a strong boof on his
way to conquering the Triple
Crown on the Green.
Click to see his profile on the
Jackson Kayak Website.
January 16th—Guidebook Release
Party
A celebration for the release of Kirk Eddlemon’s
Whitewater of the SE Appalachians. Check the
Yahoo Group and Facebook for further details.
The Paddler Tattler
January 2015
3
Apply
for ACA
Certification
by Mike Shillinger
TVCC is looking
for club
members that
are willing to
step up and
become part
of the clubs’
outstanding ACA
qualified training
staff. If you are interested in attending ACA Instructor
Qualification in White Water Kayak, White Water Canoe,
Coastal Sea Kayak, Stand Up Paddleboard, and Swift
Water Rescue, now is your opportunity to apply for a club
scholarship.
Applicants should have experience in the venue in which
they are applying and understand the ACA requirements
to become fully qualified instructors. The club is willing
to invest in you! The board will review all applicants and
the Safety & Training Chair will work with the selectees to
schedule upcoming training.
Follow the instructions on the application and return it to
the Secretary (secretary@tvccpaddler.com) no later than
March 1st, 2015.
Click here for the application.
From the
Editor
President’s
Corner
Over the last year especially, I’ve learned that
kayaking requires patience.
Well folks, it’s that time of year…Creeking Season! Many
of us have already gotten in some great runs and PFDs,
and we are just in January! That means we can look
forward to more time on the water over the next couple
of months.
Patience in waiting for the water to rise, and equally
as important, patience in waiting for water to fall.
No matter how many times you refresh the online
gauge, the level is not going to change any faster.
Patience when you’re helping coach others down
rivers for the first time. Patience when you’re
coordinating with a group (or leading it). Patience in
making plans. It’s a logistical jungle out there!
Patience in appreciating the scenery of the river
around you no matter what.
Patience in balancing a paddling obsession with
the people in your life that you love, but who don’t
understand your constant draw to the flow of the
river. Patience in knowing that the rivers will still be
there, because it seems there’s always water when
you have to be somewhere else.
For this month of the newsletter, patience. Patience
when exciting articles don’t quite materialize in time,
and patience when the software doesn’t cooperate.
Patience to know that everything will fit on the page.
Patience is hard. Patience is something to work on in
the new year. There is never perfection (although you
can get close), but it usually works out in the end.
Be patient, and go find that adventure!
Meryl Stark, Newsletter Editor
However, do not let the excitement of creeking let
you forget some basic precautions. Last month I got a
friendly reminder about checking your first aid kit with
some frequency before you need it.
So first I ask, “Do you have a first aid kit?” then, ”Do you
actually carry it with you on the river?” I can say “Yes” and
“Yes” to both questions, because when I went to open
mine when I needed it, the ibuprofen was smashed and
wet and the whole inside of my dry box had water in it.
Upon further investigation mold had begun to grow
so it did not just happen that day. In this instance, I was
fortunate; I was looking for ibuprofen and bandages
and had waited to the take out to look for them. Luckily,
I was able to snag what I needed from my fantastic
crew, whose first aid kits were not wet. As many of us
paddle through creeking season and even for those
waiting until warmer times, when was the last time
your checked your first aid kit? Have you thought about
whether the bag, box, bottle, etc. that you keep it in is
right for you? Finally, what’s missing from your first aid
kit?
Happy & Safe Creeking!
Ashley Teel, Vice President
The Paddler Tattler
January 2015
4
Cain Creek Access
A Project of the NCCC
The Cain Creek Access Project is a $90k
campaign led by the North Chickamauga
Creek Conservancy (with a little help from
our friends).
TVCC Members have collectively
donated $467 to the effort between the
Chattanooga Brewing Fundraiser Event
and Christmas Party.
WHY THIS MATTERS
For years, Cain Creek and North Chickamauga Creek have
served as the entryway for local creek boaters. As it sits just
north of town, North Chick provides an entry in to a long
line of fantastic–and difficult–whitewater. Like so many
local boaters, I ran North Chickamauga Creek and learned
what creeks required and provided, and I enjoy the luxury of
having a challenging 8-mile section of Class IV-V whitewater
that I can run after work when the weather cooperates.
In the last ten years, access
to the creek has shifted
dramatically. We used to walk
past a tattered “No Trespassing”
sign with no resistance. Several
years ago, those signs were
updated and multiplied when
the property became a militia
training center. The access to
the Rock House section has
improved thanks to the efforts
of the Tennessee Department
of Environment and
Conservation, but this more
remote access cuts off some
of the best drops on the creek:
Mandatory Portage, Drainpipe,
Big Splat, and Vortex.
Map of Barker Camp Property that is proposed for purchase.
Tyler Head, a good friend of
the paddling community,
Paddlers enjoy the rapids of the North
Chickamauga Creek. Successful funding of
this project will make this local gem more
accessible.
has graciously allowed us to park on his property, and we
appreciate his generosity. We also see the toll that it takes
on a nice day when the creek is running. While Tyler remains
patient, we foresee the day when the number of boaters or
the behavior of a few compromises this access.
WHAT WE ARE DOING
On Thursday, December 5, we invited the local paddling
community to come and hear about our proposed
purchase of 0 Barker Camp Road. With little notice, we had
a participation of roughly 100 boaters at our gathering,
including folks from Knoxville. We raised an initial $1300
toward the project, and we have several individuals and
organizations who have committed to helping with the
project.
Thursday morning brought some promising news as well.
After hearing of our recent efforts, the Benwood Foundation
offered $10,000 toward the project, contingent on matched
The Paddler Tattler
January 2015
5
funds from another organization. It is our hope that
this contingency can be used to leverage a donation
from another local foundation.
We are very excited about this initial burst of
support, but we realize that this is going to be a long
journey, and we cannot do it alone. We appreciate
TVCC’s support, and we hope that we can keep
communication open as we strategize and move
forward.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
1) Donate — A donation of any amount helps us
get closer to our goal. It also helps us fundraise with
larger organizations that want to see a project have
an impact on a large group of people. If we have
robust local support, we have greater credibility with
larger donors and organizations.
2) Share — Whether by word of mouth or social
media, spread the word about the exciting
opportunity for NCCC and the community. While we
are focused on Cain Creek, we are also investigating
ways to open access to North Chickamauga Creek
throughout its serpentine path to the river. The Cain
Creek property would serve as the pinnacle of the
BlueWay, a series of creek access points that would
serve the entire community.
3) Volunteer — We love our donors, and we cherish
our volunteers. We have a few exciting projects that
will involve a good amount of work hours, and we
appreciate any help we can get. If you are interested
in a volunteer opportunity, contact Tim Laramore at
tlaramore@me.com.
TVCC Presents Winter
Roll Practice!
TVCC’s indoor roll
practice continues
Sunday, December
28th!
LOCATION
Downtown Chattanooga YMCA
301 W. 6th Street
TIME
4 to 6 pm
COST
$5 (with ACA Membership)
TVCC Membership Required
ACA Membership Recommended,
otherwise must be purchased for
the event for an additional $5.
Send Don Fletcher an email by Thursday evening
(dwfletchergt81@yahoo.com) with Roll Practice as the
subject so that we can get an estimated head count – need
10 particpants to hold the session. Include your ACA number
if you have one. Also include if you want to work with
certified kayak instructors. The club will ask for help based on
the replies.
If you are not a member of ACA, you can join at ACA website
(Be sure to select PAC Individuals and Families) - $30 for
an individual or $40 for a family. You can also join online
for just one roll practice for $5. Either way send your ACA
membership number to Don. Final option is to bring an
TVCC’s first indoor roll practice on Sunday, December
14th was a huge success! 27 paddlers (including some
new members) came to play and practice in the pool.
extra $5 to roll practice– exact change or Don keeps the
excess as a tip.
Insurance only covers participants; therefore, don’t bring
anyone else.
Additional Roll Practice sessions are planned for
January 11th & 25th, and February 8th & 22nd.
**Dates are subject to change, and minimum participation is
required to hold the practice.
The Paddler Tattler
January 2015
6
Movie Night at
Dumpy’s
by Rebecca Hendrix & LaDawn Wolfe
Your NonPaddling Cruisemasters and Vice Prez have been wanting to go to the movies, and
we want you to come too!
Our friend Julie Thorton and Dumpy’s have agreed to let us host a movie night....because
winter days are short, and you can’t boat at night. So come out and have a brew or a few
and enjoy some paddling porn.
We’ve got Steve Fisher‘s latest project, Hanging Spear: Headwaters of the Hudson, Nobody’s
River, and some NRS short films including Ben Marr’s Dream.
Movie time starts at 6pm at Dumpy’s in Ocoee, Tennessee.
You will need a VALID ID and CASH to attend this event.
The Paddler Tattler
January 2015
7
Winter Workshop
Series
Thursdays @ Outdoor Chattanooga
A classroom based workshop series
designed to further connect you with the
outdoors!
injury during outdoor pursuits. The class is a free introduction
to a longer series of classes that Jayne will be teaching during
the late winter and spring.
Thursdays in January & February at 6:30pm
Cost: Free with pre-registration | $15 walk-up
Outdoor Chattanooga
200 River Street (in Coolidge Park)
Cost: Free
For more information, contact Outdoor Chattanooga.
www.outdoorchattanooga.com; 423-643-6888
JANUARY 15—EASE INTO YOGA: AN
INTRODUCTION TO PURNA YOGA
Join certified yoga instructor Jayne Cagle for a gentle
introduction to purna yoga, a practice that focuses on
correcting imbalances and realigning the body to prevent
This free workshop is open to all skill levels and will focus
on basic knots and ropes used on the river, as well as an
overview of the types of anchors and mechanical advantage
systems used in river rescue situations. Everybody will get to
throw a rope and learn to properly re-coil that rope for that
potentially life-saving second throw!
About the Instructor: Mike Shillinger is an ACA Level 4
Swift Water Rescue Instructor and has been involved with the
TVCC Safety Program since 2008.
http://tvccpaddler.com/event/rescue-ropes-knots-and-zdrag-class/
About the Instructor: Jayne Cagle is a Certified Purna
Yoga Instructor at the 2000 hour level. She has practiced
Purna Yoga since 2004 and is a member of the International
Association of Yoga Therapists. Her specialty is inspiring
students to connect with their joyful selves as they move.
JANUARY 22—KNOW YOUR KNOTS: ESSENTIAL
KNOTS FROM Z-DRAGS TO ROOF RACK TIE
DOWNS
JANUARY 29—FIRE BY FRICTION
A primitive skills demonstration by Joshua McKinley, a local
outdoor enthusiast and graduate of Tom Brown Junior’s
Tracker School. Joshua will share his expertise with the
essential skills for creating fire by friction with a bow drill and
with flint and steel and provide information how you can set
up your own friction sets.
Details on February programs will be
published in next month’s issue, or check
them out online!
The Paddler Tattler
January 2015
8
Trip Reports
Where’s the Chairlift Portage Trail
(12/7)
by Meryl Stark
Adventures with our Members
It finally rained on a weekend! With lots on the menu, I found
myself at LRC for the third time, almost exactly a year after my
PFD. It was running bigger than both of my previous runs:
more water, more fluff, more fun! Estimated around 1500 cfs.
This trip was brought to us by Brian Swafford, who’s always
up for some Sunday action, along with Stephanie Whiting
(PFD), JD Keener (PFD), Flyin’ Brian Flaitz, Kenny Warwick,
Doug Peace, Cristy Pennington-Cox, and Nick the Flying
Squirrel C1 from Atlanta (PFD).
Before we started down to the river, I made sure that JD had
someone to follow down the trail, and then I ran off, boat in
tow, in the wrong direction. It wasn’t until I heard JD’s voice
in the distance that I realized the not-so-familiar looking trail
was, indeed, the wrong trail. Fighting gravity, I begrudgingly
schlepped my boat and gear back up the incline, where I ran
into a guy with a bright green boat. He said he was joining us
because he missed his group, and wanted to walk down with
me. Giving full disclosure of my recent mishap, and waiving
all future responsibility for navi-guessing, Nick the C1 joined
us.
Tellico PFD & Baby Falls Hucking
(12/7)
5. Get all the way out of the cold water after a swim; don’t
sit in the water. LOL.
6. I really need to work out more!
We reached the scouting spot for the first Class IV rapid, Eddy
Out aka Blue Hole, and everyone but Nick got out to plot our
courses. The line is straightforward, but dangerous undercuts
taunt wayward boaters. Kenny demonstrated the perfect
line, and everyone followed suit. Even though she was a
little nervous, Stephanie completely rocked it: loose hips and
strong strokes! We broke the rapid down into several steps,
and that helped us run down smoothly.
I did Baby Falls with the plastic on the bottom, Crack-In-TheRock with the human bit on the bottom, and the bottom of
said rapid with the human bit separated from the plastic bit
after drinking half the river. I’m whipped, but happy!
After more boogie water and Class IIIs, the second major
feature is Bottleneck; also a Class IV. After probing a bit, and
quickly jutting into an eddy on river right, it was time to get
out and scout once more. Just to be safe, we eddied out a bit
Rachel Roman reflects or her PFD (Personal
First Descent) of the Tellico and Baby Falls.
by Rachel Roman
First time Tellico today: taught me some important lessons:
1. You do not have to be upside down for a rock to chew
your shoulder. Ouch.
2. Bracing off the bottom is a terrible idea. Ouch.
3. When Mack says, “Get right!” Make it happen.
4. Don’t forget your offside roll.
The Paddler Tattler
January 2015
9
early, and some of us floated our boats through a protected
pool to a better launch point. Somehow during this process,
I managed to whack my calf on a rock and get a beautiful
black and blue battle wound. It’s not swimming if it was
planned, right?
After my first glimpse of Bottleneck, I confirmed that the level
was meatier than any other time I’d been. Water was foaming
and churning over and through the namesake feature; the
brown color of rock was not visible under the liquid. The
face of the infamous BFBoD (Big Flat Boulder of Death) was
obvious; and the current in the entrance rapid looked extrapushy. Definitely higher than when I ran it last December.
Scouting a rapid is like solving a puzzle, except that you only
have one shot. But you can send a probe down first.Nick and
Flyin’ Brian were up to the task.
I had my suspicions that it would be easier this time, as the
extra water made a wider lane. Nick’s line wasn’t a straight
shot; he thought about boofing the bottleneck but aborted
at the last second.
After watching Flyin’ Brian nail the right line, I was ready. I’d
done it twice before, flipped twice, and rolled twice. The extra
water seemed to make it extra flushy. I scampered to my
boat, and as I launched, I felt some of my confidence wash
downstream. I had spent a lot of time scouting the meat, but
not as much on the entrance. After some deliberation and
trying to ask for beta from the peanut gallery, I picked a line,
and paddled down. I dropped the bottleneck right where
I wanted to, and dug in through the turbulent foam pile
washout, running Bottleneck upright for the first time!
I hung out in the eddy and watched Kenny, Christy, and JD
run it successfully, as well as Nick’s and Brian’s second laps.
Those who portaged and photographed joined up with us at
the bottom. There was definitely a collective post-Bottleneck
exhale among our ranks.
Verdict: Bottleneck itself is easier at higher levels because
the drop and crease start to wash out, and a line towards the
right side of the main drop opens up. However, the entrance
is harder and much pushier. A bad day in the entrance rapid
could mean a very bad day downstream: possibly pinning
above and/or being swept into the BFBoD. Proceed with
cautious confidence.
The remainder of the run was pure fun with excellent
scenery, especially the rock shelves and small waterfalls
coming into the canyon.
If you haven’t been to LRC yet, it’s definitely a good one to
hit. Ocoee First Timers Class of 2014, I’m looking at you. With
the exception of the two walkable Class IVs, it’s a scenic II/
III drop-pool canyon run rife with wave trains and nifty
rock features. A few play spots too. Easily accessible from
Chattanooga, Atlanta, and of course, Bama.
We capped the day off with a scenic drive to the overlook
of the falls, where Stephanie scouted a raft line and ran into
Meryl Stark paddles through the Entrance to
Bottleneck on LRC Chairlift.
(Photo: Doug Peace)
friends from her Grand Canyon trip. It’s a small world out on
the river!
Uphill Hiwassee River (12/10)
by Spence Lycan
Go Joe and some other schmo (OK, Mr. Unknown is probably
a good guy but that Joe-schmo thing was just too good to
pass up) reputedly paddled the Hiwassee from Reliance’s
Polk County Park ramp seven miles upstream to the standard
commercial parking lot put-in ramp. It was said to have been
a pure water adventure, butts in boats, no feets moving no
boats uphill at any point. Eight hours defying gravity, heavy
The Paddler Tattler
January 2015
10
hauling happiness.
Yesterday I did Hiwassee Uphill Light, three and onehalf hours of stinking hell, from the Reliance ramp
until quitting to to eat lunch (canned pear halves in
heavy syrup) and nose-surf a bit at the Bungle Through
the Jungle’s major rapid. The release level was 2,000
and small change, a bit above the standard release
level. Don’t know how much that higher release level
helped with more water in shallow spots, or hurt more
with stronger currents. My kayak was a Corsica S, not
quite eleven feet of happiness. My blade was an Aqua
Bound, straight aluminum shaft, plastic blades, cheap
and durable. Didn’t bother me to whack and whale
with that blade, to better git’r upstream.
To defeat wide-tongue meat, long ferries rewarded
endurance and efficient strokes. Scrambling through
shallows, it was catch-as-catch can, throwing quick
stabs in front of rocks and sedge grass clumps, on
boulders, crabbing off too much wood, flailing to get
further uphill. Rarely pretty, always exhausting. How
long can you defy four, five and seven knots current?
My trip wasn’t Pure Paddling, as it included two
Dragons, one Crotch Crunch and two Ledge Leaps, all
involved using four paws to get the Corsica S further
upstream. The draggings were five boat lengths and
two boat lengths, both times stop strapped by the
power of aquatic gravity. The Crotch crunch maneuver
involved sidling next to horizontal tree trunk, standing
up in boat, getting out onto said wooden device,
sliding boat below it, re-entering boat on upstream
side of tree. Ledge leaps involved de-boating, dropkicking the plastic fantastic 29 inches vertical then
re-entering. Every time I chose four paw drive, the
Trip would have been over if I hadn’t gotten out and
wrassled the boat further upstream.
Outdoor Chattanooga
Roll Practice
Fall/Winter Roll and Kayak Skills practice will take place on
select Tuesdays at Southern Adventist University’s Hulsey
Wellness Center. There are two sessions—7pm and 8pm.
Anticipate only being in the water for one session; if it is busy,
the pool gets crowded quickly.
•
•
•
•
January 13th
February 3rd, 10th
March 3rd
April 7th, 14th
Note: Southern Adventist’s dress code emphasizes modesty
and cleanliness. Please wear modest workout and pool
apparel, including one-piece swimsuits.
Hulsey Wellness Center
4870 University Drive
Collegedale, TN 37315
https://www.southern.edu/wellness/Pages/default.aspx
For more information, contact Outdoor Chattanooga.
423-643-6888 or info@outdoorchattanooga.com.
Admission to the pool is $2, and roll class is $10/person for
non-members. Non-members must provide their own gear.
Outdoor Chattanooga annual membership are $75/individual or $125/family. First session is free for new participants.
Boats and gear should be dropped off at the door at the back
side of the Hulsey Wellness Center, to the right of the track,
next to the heating and air units. Outdoor Chattanooga staff
will bring your boat to the pool. Your kayak must be clean in
order to bring it into the pool.
Uphill paddling, sport or masochism? You be the Hoss.
The Paddler Tattler
January 2015
11
Calling for
Help
First Aid with
Larry
Many of our favorite runs, Ocoee,
Nantahala, and Tellico, are roadside.
Assistance is readily available. But
what happens when you are not
roadside and you either don’t have a
cell phone, or there is no coverage?
Even if you do have a cell phone, do
you know where you are? Can you
direct rescuers to your location?
What are your options?
by Larry Boothby
In my recent articles, I’ve talked about the need to potentially
call for outside rescue help. In most US locations that means
911, but we all know that cellular coverage can be spotty
in areas. Especially in the places we like to paddle, not to
mention that most of us are loath to take a cell phone on the
river where it can be easily destroyed.
Luckily in this day and age of modern electronics we have
two options. The SPOT Satellite Messenger, or the Personal
Locator Beacon (PLB). If used properly both of these devices
can save your life, but they are two very different pieces of
technology, so you need to know what distinguishes them.
SPOT SATELLITE MESSENGER
SPOT is a for-profit satellite messenger service. It is used
to send and receive emails and text messages from the
backcountry. As part of the service, it also can send an
emergency call for help using the GEOS satellite system. One
of the advantages of the SPOT system is that it can send a
constant string of GPS position updates that can be accessed
by friends/family through the web. They can literally follow
your trip on an internet map. You can also post on social
media using your SPOT. Some of them have smartphone
interface capability. All of this can be used to assist in locating
you, should you have an emergency.
Some of the down sides include battery usage, fees, and
potential coverage limitations. If it is sending tracking signals
then it is constantly using the battery, and it may die just
when you need to call for help. SPOT service is not free; there
is a subscription fee. You have to pay various fees for different
services including the emergency tracking. They may also hit
you up to buy “insurance”. The system uses on a low power
1610 Mhz transmitter that requires a clear line of site to the
sky. Finally, because the satellites are privately owned, there
is not worldwide coverage, and there is a wait time for the
satellite to pass overhead.
Having said all this, SPOT is and effective tool if used properly,
and there have been many documented rescues made using
the SPOT messenger system.
PERSONAL LOCATOR BEACON (PLB)
Unlike SPOT, PLBs are dedicated emergency devices.
PLBs, EPIRBS (for ships at sea), and ELTs (for aircraft), all use
the world wide COSPAS/SARSAT system. The COSPAS/
SARSAT constellation is a system of both low earth orbit,
and geostationary satellites as part of a search and rescue
program operated by 41 countries. In the US the program is
administered by NOAA.
The Fast Find is an example of a PLB.
For inland emergencies, the US Air Force Rescue
Coordination Center receives and processes the signals from
PLBs and ELTs. The transmitter sends a high power 5 watt
signal on 406 MHz. What this means is that the signal is more
likely to reach the satellite if you are under tree cover or in a
steep canyon, which are areas where we will most likely be
paddling. Like the SPOT, it sends your GPS coordinates, but it
also sends out a distress signal on 121.5 MHz. This signal can
be tracked by aircraft, and they can find you using direction
finders. Some PLBs also come with strobe lights.
Of course, none of this is cheap. My locator cost me $300
when I bought it. That is about twice the cost of a SPOT, but
there is no subscription fee. You do need to register your PLB
with NOAA every two years, and you will have to send the
unit back to the manufacturer for battery replacement. The
dates are listed on the back of the device. This can be costly.
The Paddler Tattler
January 2015
12
CONCLUSIONS
Obviously I’m a fan of the PLB. The system is worldwide, it has
been around for years and years. It is a dedicated emergency
device. The SPOT is a messenger with an emergency
function. It is operated by a private, for-profit company. The
coverage is not worldwide. In my opinion it is more of a
gimmick. Having said that, the SPOT has a good history of
rescues, and has other options that the PLB doesn’t.
In the long run the SPOT is more expensive, due to the
subscription cost. Another thing to consider is waterproofing.
My PLB does not float. The company makes a float kit for
mine, and newer models are available. You can find all of
these devices on the internet or outdoor retailers. There
are several manufacturers of PLB’s and the SPOT is not the
only satellite messenger on the market, but it is the most
popular. I personally own a McMurdo Fast-Find 210. It has a
50 channel GPS receiver, transmits 5 watts on 406 MHz. It has
the homing signal on 121.5 and has an LED strobe. It will fit in
a shirt pocket or in my Green Jacket. I’ve carried it in the back
country of Wyoming and Colorado. It gives excellent peace
of mind.
Christmas Party & Canned
Food Drive
by John Hubbard & Meryl Stark
Following our annual tradition, TVCC Members once again gathered on a dark December evening at the Tennessee
River Gorge Trust’s Pot Point House for the Christmas Party. Thanks to Pat Keller and Eric Fleming for organizing, and
to Ben and Beth Johnson for setting up and cooking the meat!
Close to 100 people showed up to revel in the holiday spirit and enjoy the meal. Folks gathered around the large
tables inside, and swapped lies around the bonfire outstide.
Spence Lycan even led a paddle down the TN River to the cabin earlier in the day.
In addition to spreading cheer amongst ourselves, canned goods were also collected to benefit Metropolitan
MInistries. A big thank you to those who participated in the food drive; those who are less fortunate this holiday
season will be a bit better off due to your kindness and generousity.
If you opt to purchase one of these systems, I hope that this
information is helpful. Stay safe on the water!
The Paddler Tattler
January 2015
13
Jackson Kayak’s Yoga for Paddlers
Side Stretch for Your Lower Back and Hip
This article, by Jackson Kayak’s Anna
Bruno, explains and demonstrates how
to stretch your SI (Sacroiliac) Joint and
Quadratus Lumborum muscles, both of
which are stressed by kayaking.
You can find the original article on the Jackson Kayak blog
here: http://jacksonkayak.com/blog/2014/08/18/yoga-forpaddlers-side-stretch-for-your-lower-back-and-hip/
by Anna Bruno
When we sit in a kayak, our hips are typically below our
knees, and our pelvis is tilted forwards underneath our
ribcage. This position causes your hipflexors your iliopsoas
muscle strains to contract, and can put immense strain
on your quadrutus lumborum, a muscle that runs parallel
to your spine, connecting your 12th rib and your pelvis.
The posture we assume when we sit in a kayak actually
contradicts the natural position of your spine and pelvis, and
can lead to tightness, pain and discomfort across your lower
back and SI joint that is common in many kayakers.
Your SI (sacroiliac) joint is a complicated beast. It is located
in your lower back at the junction of your pelvis, and your
sacrum—a section of fused joints at the base of your
spinal column. We use our SI joint to lift our legs or pull
them forward, such as when we walk, as well as moving
from sitting or standing. Our SI joint is responsible for what
allows us to tilt our pelvis, and is engaged every time we
get in or out of our kayaks. While the Injury to your SI joint
through impact (running waterfalls) or repetitive stress (such
as kayaking all day, every day) can cause Sacroiliac joint
dysfunction, a fancy name for chronic tightness and a dull
ache across the lower back and hips.
bony spurs on the outside of your spinal column. While
the Quadratus Lomborum doesn’t have the same function
or importance of the Psoas, if one of these twin muscles is
affected by tightness or injury, the other one is too.
Today I want to share one of my favorite stretches to target
this region. It is easy, and great for beginners as it doesn’t
require loads of flexibility. Even if you have never injured your
SI joint, I recommend giving this stretch a try.
The Quadratus Lomborum bends the body sideways and
back towards our midline. These two muscles lie next to
each other, and interact greatly. They even share the same
origination point on the same costal processes, the little
Start in a seated position. Allow your left leg to extend out
long, rotated so your kneecap is facing up. Bend your right
knee, and bring your right insole to meet you left inner thigh.
Your right kneecap should be pointed out to the right and
the toes on your left foot are flexed, reaching back towards
your belly button.
Inhale, lift your torso up out of your hip socket, creating
length and space in your spine. Exhale. Place your left
The Paddler Tattler
January 2015
14
forearm on the ground
to the inside of your left
inner thigh, palm down. I
like to bend my arm at the
elbow, and keep my elbow
towards my thigh, without
bypassing my kneecap. If
your arm doesn’t reach,
don’t worry. Simply place
your palm down and keep
your arm parallel to your
leg.
How Many
Paddle School
T-Shirts Do You
Have?
Inhale, and sweep your
right arm into the gap
between your left armpit
and thigh. Exhale, and
allow your right arm to
open your chest as it
reaches up to the sky. Your
left ear can drop down
towards the ground and
your gaze looks up at your
top hand.
I have no idea when
TVCC started offering
t-shirts for students
and instructors at
paddle school. In
fact, I have no idea
when paddle school
first started. I do
know that paddle
school was a mature and well organized event when I
went for the first time in 1994 with my son Peter. And
thus started the continuing saga of my involvement in
TVCC.
If you have shoulder issues,
I recommend tucking
your right thumb into
your armpit and leading
this stretch with your elbow. You may feel the stretch intensify if you think about pressing your
elbow back behind you, as if it was coming up against and invisible wall.
Hold and breathe here for 5-10 breaths. Exhale as you lower your arm, bring your left foot in
to meet your right foot, coming into a butterfly stretch before extending your right leg and
beginning the stretch on the opposite side.
Jai Bhagwan and Happy Paddling!
Anna
by John Hubbard
I have nineteen shirts from the 21 paddle schools from
1994 to 2014. Missed three schools from 2008 to 2010.
But magically, someone gave my daughter the 2009
t-shirt in size medium for a donation and she gave it to
me.
So, who has been to an earlier paddle school? Who
has more t-shirts? The gauntlet is laid.
And if you want to see the t-shirts, go to this link.
They are archived on the club’s Google Drive. The
image above is one of my favorites, the 2009 version.
The Paddler Tattler
January 2015
15
Sea Kayaking 2015 Calendar
Jan 10th—Sandhill Cranes,
Hiwassee Refuge
We’ll meet at 10am at the Hiwassee River
Wildlife Refuge Ramp and paddle up to
see the Sandhill Cranes who will be resting
there on their migration from Wisconsin to
Florida. 2.5 hour paddle. If interested, contact
Eric Fleming by 4pm on Thursday, 1/8, and
check email for final details.
Jan 15th-22nd—Florida Keys
Challenge
Mike Graves is in charge of this trip. It’s a
week-long 115 mile paddle from Key Large
(first key) to Key West. $850, which includes
vans to shuttle camping gear, all meals,
and evening entertainment. Paddling 11
to 17 miles per day. RSVP if intersted. More
information and signups available here.
March 28th. Harrison Islands. Eric.
April 11th-12th. Coosawattee River, GA.
Day or camping. (C). Eric.
April 25th. Chickamauga to Reeds Rd,
GA. (C),(S). Eric.
May 2nd. Sale Creek. Eric.
May 16th. Soddy Creek. Eric.
May 23rd. Oostanaula River, GA. (C),
(S). Eric.
May 29th-31st. Paddle School.
June 6th. Graysville to Camp Jordan. (C), (S). Eric.
June 14th-21st. Buffalo River, Arkansas. Ben.
June 20th. Wolftever to Demo Day at Harrison
Bay. Eric.
June 27th. North Chick and Dam Lock Through.
Eric.
June 28th. Waterfront Triathlon Support. Taylor.
July 11th. Ocoee #1 Dam to Two Rivers
Campground. (C), (S). Eric.
Sept 5th. TVCC Meeting, Elections, and
Camping. OAR. Don.
Sept 6th. Wolftever Creek. Eric.
Sept 12th-13th. Elk River Overnighter. (C), (S).
Uwe.
Sept 19th. Harrison Bay North. Eric.
Oct 3rd. TN River Rescue. Jim.
0ct 10th. 10 mile TN River Swim support boaters.
(S). Karah.
Oct 10th. TVCC Ocoee Whitewater Race.
July 25th. TN Riverpark Cookout and sunset
paddle. (S). Eric.
Oct 17th-18th. TN River Gorge Overnighter. (S).
Ben.
July 26th. Big Brother/Big Sister Raft Trip
Support. Hiwassee River. (C), (S). Jim.
Oct 24th. Hales Bar. Eric.
Aug 8th. Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge. Eric.
Aug 9th. Dam Triathlon Support Boaters. Taylor.
Aug 15th. West Chick, Reeds Road to Dietz Road,
GA. (C), (S). Eric.
Aug 15th-16th. Lake Jocassee, SC. Overnighter.
Richard.
Aug 22nd. Cookout and sunset paddle to Bat
Cave. Eric.
Sept 5th. Girl Scout Raft Race Support Boaters.
Lower Hiwassee. (C), (S). Taylor.
Nov 7th. South Chick, Sterchi Farm. Eric.
Nov 14th-15th. Etowah River Overnighter. (C),
(S). Jamie.
Dec 12th. Club Christmas Party.
Dec 27th-Jan 1st. Annual Florida Trip.
All dates and places are subject to change. All paddles are
in Tennessee unless otherwise noted. Check your email the
night before a trip for any changes. All paddles are rain or
shine.
C = Indicates Current, but no more than Class I Rapids.
S = Indicates a one-way trip requiring a Shuttle.
The Paddler Tattler
January 2015
16
Overnighters 2015 Calendar
March 28th-30th—Toccoa
River 3 Day Trip
Contact Carolyn Rand. CarolynMRand@
gmail.com; 423-400-2590
April 11th-12th—Upper
Coosawattee River (WW)
Whitewater overnight trip; Class II-III for this
weekend. Trip Leader: Don Bodley. Contact
Carolyn Rand. CarolynMRand@gmail.com;
423-400-2590
April 11th-12th—Lower
Coosawattee (Flat)
Will be with a GA Paddling Club. Contact Eric
Fleming.
May 2nd-3rd—Talking Rock
Trip Leader & Contact: Uwe Zitzow.
uwezitzow@comcast.net.
May 10th-15th—Cahaba River
in Alabama
Contact Buddy Wise. Bwise.legal@yahoo.
com;
205-672-9025
May 23rd-25th—Big South
Fork 3 Day Trip
Memorial Day Weekend. Trip Leader:
Don Bodley. Contact Carolyn Rand.
CarolynMRand@gmail.com; 423-4002590
May 29th-31st—Paddle School
Register online at tvccpaddler.com.
June 14th-21st—Buffalo River in
Arkansas (Week Long)
Clear warm water, camping on clean rock bars.
Beautiful cliffs. Contact Ben Johnson.
johnsonbbd3@aol.com.
June 28th—Waterfront Triathlon
Volunteering
Meet at the GPS Boat Dock at 6:30am. Contact Taylor
Watson. TaylorWatson@comcast.net.
July 11th-12th—Little TN River
Contact Carolyn Rand. CarolynMRand@gmail.com;
423-400-2590. (Back up plan is TN River Blueway
with camping at Pot Point House.)
July 25th-26th—Rescue Rodeo & Big
Brother/Big Sister Rafting
Camping at Hiwassee Outfitters between these two
events. Contact Jim Ledbetter. 1jimled@gmail.com.
your gear to the campsite on an island, so you don’t
have to carry it in your boat. Trip Leader: Jim Warner.
rockhunter1953@gmail.com.
Sept 5th—Girl Scout Raft Race
Club meeting with elections to follow.
Sept 12th-13th—Elk River
Contact Uwe Zitzow. UweZitzow@comcast.net.
Sept 26th-28th—Toccoa River 3 Day
Trip
Contact Carolyn Rand. CarolynMRand@gmail.com.
Sept 27th—Ironman Triathlon
Volunteering
Oct 3rd—TN River Rescue
Contact Jim Ledbetter. 1jimled@gmail.com.
Oct 10th—Ocoee Race
Oct 25th—Boo Run (Ocoee)
Nov 14th-15th—Etowah River
Aug 9th—Sports Barn Triathlon
Contact Jamie Wendt. jwendt@epbfi.com.
Contact Taylor Watson. TaylorWatson@comcast.net.
Dec 27th-Jan 1st—Weeklong Florida
Trip
Aug 11th-20th—Boundary Waters
Contact Ed Parks. eparkseven@yahoo.com; 423-4009530
Aug 15th-16th—Lake Jocassee
Canoes, Sea Kayaks, and anything that floats. Travel
time not included in dates. Contact Pat Carver.
PatCarver1055@yahoo.com.
Crystal Clear lake with waterfalls. The outfitter takes
The Paddler Tattler
January 2015
17
Our Mission
The Tennessee Valley Canoe Club brings together those interested in canoeing,
kayaking, and related activities; increases the knowledge, safety, and appreciation
of paddle sports for those who are interested; and supports conservation and
preservation of recreational waterways.
Membership is open to persons of all ages. Both families and singles are welcome.
The club’s activities include:
TVCC Yahoo Group
All club members are invited to join the club’s
online paddling forum. The Yahoo Group is a
The Paddler Tattler is the monthly
publication of the Tennessee
Valley Canoe Club.
great place to find out about paddling trips in
The Paddler Tattler invites submissions of
addition to those posted in the newsletter, post
articles, trip reports, videos, and any other
pictures and trip reports of your latest adventures,
news or information of interest to the paddling
or just find someone to go paddle with.
community.
The only requirement for the forum is active
Submit an electronic copy no later than the
membership in the club. To join, go to http://
20th of each month to the newsletter editor by
groups.yahoo.com/group/tvcc/ and click on
emailing editor@tvccpaddler.com. Submissions
“Join This Group”. Please be patient and allow a
may be edited.
• Whitewater & flat water kayak and canoe training
few days for the page administrator to respond
• Whitewater & flat water river trips for all skill levels
and accept your membership. Send an email
Past issues of the Paddler Tattler can be accessed
to the group moderator at tvcc-subscribe@
online at:
yahoogroups.com with your name. See you on
http://tinyurl.com/tvccpastnewsletters.
• Water safety & rescue training
• Extended canoe & camping trips
the river!
• Annual & monthly meetings
Sea Kayaker Email List
• Community service
The TVCC Flatwater Flotilla uses an email contact
list to send out information about upcoming
events. To be added to this list, please send
2014-2015 Officers
an email the TVCC Sea Kayak Cruise Master at
President
Safety Chair
Don Fletcher
president@tvccpaddler.com
Vice President
Ashley Teel
vp@tvccpaddler.com
Assistant Vice President
LaDawn Wolfe
assistantvp@tvccpaddler.com
Treasurer
Debby McRae
treasurer@tvccpaddler.com
Secretary
John Hubbard
secretary@tvccpaddler.com
Newsletter Editor
Meryl Stark
editor@tvccpaddler.com
Webmaster
Teri Zur
webmaster@tvccpaddler.com
River Conservation Chair
Jim Ledbetter
conservation@tvccpaddler.com
598eric@gmail.com.
Mike Shillinger
safety@tvccpaddler.com
Public Relations Chair
Katie LaRue
publicity@tvccpaddler.com
Cruisemaster I, Class II/III
Spence “Dogpaddle” Lycan
cm1@tvccpaddler.com
Cruisemaster II, Class III/IV
Brandon Koch
cm2@tvccpaddler.com
Tennessee Valley Canoe Club
P.O. Box 11582
Chattanooga, TN 37401
www.tvccpaddler.com
Cruisemaster III,
Overnighters
Carolyn Rand
cm3@tvccpaddler.com
Cruisemaster IV, NonPaddling
Jen Maxwell & Rebecca Hendrix
cm4@tvccpaddler.com
Cruisemaster V, Sea Kayaks
Eric Fleming
cm5@tvccpaddler.com
The Paddler Tattler
January 2015
18