TSRA WINTER PADDLING PREPAREDNESS & SAFETY CLINIC

Many paddlers enjoy our lakes, flat water, and whitewater rivers every year during the warm Tennessee days. But what about paddling in the cooler or cold days of fall, winter and spring? Winter paddling offers several advantages, including the opportunity to paddle rain dependent rivers that you can only paddle in late fall to spring, experience solitude on your favorite river or view wildlife and nature that are often blocked by heavy vegetation during the summer. Have you ever been to TSRA’s Rendezvous and wish you had been better prepared to paddle? If so, this class is for you to help you prepare with the proper clothing, gear and lifesaving skills to face a trip on the river during these cold months.

Our lead instructors are Charlie Wilkerson and Woody Woodall, certified ACA swiftwater instructors, who spend most of their weekends in the summer training first responders. Classroom presentation and instruction with topics including pre-trip planning, hypothermia prevention, how to dress and what is needed for a winter survival kit will be held Friday evening from 6:30 to 9:00. On Saturday, a trip is planned to get on the Buffalo River mid-morning with several stops to practice needed skills including starting a fire for warmth, food or hot water, building a shelter if forced to stay overnight, how to assist an injured or sick paddler down the river, how to treat hypothermia, etc. Once off of the river, we will break camp and head home.

We are very thankful to TWRA for allowing us to hold this clinic at their beautiful Buffalo Ridge Refuge located at 1135 Cuba Landing Road in Waverly, TN 37185. There is a comfortable classroom and plenty of room for camping as well as a very nice bath house and a large covered pavilion if it rains. If you are not up to camping, there are a few hotels nearby in Hurricane Mills, Tn. You will be responsible for your meals.

Attendees must have their own boat and gear and must have good paddle skills. A detailed schedule and list of other items to bring will be emailed prior to the event. The cost of the event is $35 for members and nonmembers. All questions can be emailed to Sally Barr at sally@paddletsra.org.