Missouri Whitewater Association Clinic (trip report) 4/17

The clinic had a good turnout this year. The total came to about 70 students and 50 safety boaters/instructors. Everything kicked off at 8 am Saturday morning. We were lucky to have great water levels for both days. Saturday was overcast, but the rain moved in Sat. night. Sunday saw on and off rain with the water rising throughout the day. We had a lot of fun with good company over both days. The students learned a lot and, like always, so did the instructors and safety boaters. All of the credit for the photos goes to John Niebling. Thanks John.

Safety boaters meeting in the morning (photo by John Niebling).

The clinic groups start to take shape

Running Cat's Paw

My group discussing lines and options for Cat's Paw on Sunday

Trip Report: Saturday on the Saint Francis

We showed up for a great saturday on the Saint Francis river near Fredericktown, Mo to find bridge-level water, great friends and amazing weather. We got in a quick first run down from millstream gardens, and then followed it up with a second run of the same stretch. It had been a while, so the water felt great. The Saint is quite a gem tucked away in the Ozarks. We really do have some amazing stuff here in Missouri.

Some views from the put-in

Big Drop

Ran into a lot of fellow paddlers at Double Drop

Cats Paw

Cats Paw 

Welcome

Hello everyone and welcome to The Alpine Shop in Columbia's blog. I am going to kick things off with the first post. It is an invite to come paddle with us at Stephens Lake on May 3. Check back for updates. I will post a trip report from the Missouri Whitewater Clinic after the weekend of the 18 and 19th. We will get some other people posting as well. Have a good day.


Fellow paddlers,

We have a date set for our Alpine Shop in Columbia's Canoe and Kayak day at Stephens Lake. The date is Sunday, May 3 at 1:00pm. We will be out at the lake paddling around and answering questions. This is a free event! We will have hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill. There will be a tv/dvd player to show paddling videos (feel free to bring any you have or have made...we will try to play them). This is designed to be a meeting of the paddling community in Columbia and surrounding areas. You are encouraged to bring your own boats but not required. If you don't have a boat, please just show up with a swimsuit and we will help you get in a boat to give it a spin. As I said before the event is free, we will have a donation jar for the Rainbow House here in Columbia. For those of you not familiar, they are a local children's emergency center. Here is their website: http://www.rainbowhousecolumbia.org/


Directions to Stephens Park (we are at the Gordons shelter)
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/ParksandRec/Parks/index.php

If you have any questions, call us up at the Alpine Shop or e-mail me at

jholdmeier@alpineshop.com

See you on the water!