We checked off many boxes for the weekend-long whitewater paddle. Camping (check), campsite yogi bear visits (check), fireside chats&stories (check) and a river to ‘read and run’ (check). Did I mention camaraderie and shenanigans?
We paddled the 13-mile Middle Lehigh on Saturday, which took the eleven of us approximately 4 hours 15 min on 865 cfs in mid 70tes air temperature. On Sunday, we paddled the 9-mile Upper Lehigh with 865 cfs (again) with 10/11 paddlers in approximately 3 ½ hours. Our impromptu eleventh paddler on Sunday was Ed Gertler, who joint us mid-river in his new & sporty Wolverine Alpacka Raft. CCA members that point were Lauren Williams, Brent Harclerode, Virgina N Darpiyem, Mar Solis, and I.
Weather predictions were off for the weekend - luckily - as the rain held off until the very end, and then it rained buckets for the last ½ mile on Sunday.
For group dinner, we ate at “Dom N Alie” in Jim Thorpe, PA, on Saturday night. The place is only 20 min away from the Hickory Run State Park(where we camped). It had inside/outside seating to accommodate our group of 8 without reservations and without a long wait.
Thanks go to Wayne Mercer who proposed the joint club adventure and did much of the organizing. Thanks also go to Darius, Erik, Brent, Paul, and Wayne for shuttling paddlers and boats for both weekend days.
BTW: The temporary bridge at the Rockport River access point was fixed in time for the weekend paddlers/rafters.