BOC 2023 SUMMER PADDLING SCHEDULE, GUIDELINES FOR HEALTHY AND SAFE PADDLING and DATE FOR ANNUAL CONSIGNMENT CANOE & KAYAK SALE

The Brattleboro Outing Club (BOC) will host 15 paddle trips, from April 22nd to October 4th. Details are posted below. Phone during trips: (207) 703-6668

Paddling is good for both body and soul. It allows us to exercise, as well as getting into nature, away from the 4 walls, into a clean, safe and open environment.

During this time of COVID, it is especially important to protect ourselves, as well as those around us. Safe & healthy paddling requires us to be more conscious of our surroundings and actions. The following guidelines are offered to help make us all more responsible paddlers:

…Follow all CDC guidelines, as well as State & local requirements regarding masks, physical distancing and group sizes when & where appropriate.

…Be totally self-sufficient; able to load, unload and move your own boat/board. In the event you have to ask for help, or offer help, be conscious of physical distancing.

…ALWAYS WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET (PFD) WHILE PADDLING!

…If you are not able (or don’t know how) to rescue yourself in the event of a tip-over, and the water is deeper than your waist, PADDLE NEAR THE SHORE, where you can swim or walk your boat to safety. Requiring rescue endangers both you, and the person coming to your aid, since physical distancing parameters will be compromised.

…Be self-sufficient, and responsible. Keep track of your own trash/recycle, and LEAVE NO TRACE.

The 2023 Paddling Schedule features 15 trips on local reservoirs, lakes, ponds & rivers in, and around the Brattleboro area. The Northern most outing is North Hartland Lake, Hartland, VT (at the down-stream end of the Quechee Gorge). On the East is Spoonwood Pond, Hancock, NH (a place motorboats can’t access). The Southernmost water is Tully Lake, Royalston, MA, and in the West is Somerset Reservoir, Northwest of Wilmington, VT. Lots going on in that big circle.

BOC trips are FREE, and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC; just show up at the time & place noted, with a boat/board, and all the safety gear (and lunch) necessary for a day’s outing. Life jackets (PFDs) are required. Please note the recommended gear list at www.BrattleboroOutingClub.org click on SUMMER PADDLING.

Descriptions of all ‘flat water’ trips can be found in the AMC Quiet Water books for VT/NH and MA/CT/RI; both 3rd Ed. River trips are shown on the CT River Paddlers’ Trail Maps, 2nd Ed. Meeting locations provide a place to car & boat pool.

Although there is no BOC sponsored camping trip this year, camping is available at/near 7 of the our paddling locations: Spoonwood Pond, Tully Lake, Grafton Pond, Somerset Reservoir, and at/near, all 3 CT River locations. Paddlers wanting to include camping in their outing are advised to plan early. Reservations are required in most locations. CT River camping is first come, first served, and locations are identified on the CT River Paddlers’ Trail Map, 2nd Ed.

2023 Planned Trips

APRIL

Apr 22^nd, Saturday- EARTH DAY- CT River, Hinsdale Setbacks, NH…meet at 9:30, Walmart’s parking lot (Rte 119), Hinsdale, NH (songbirds, waterfowl, raptors, beavers, turtles, picnic lunch on an island, etc)

Apr 23^rd, Sunday- Same trip as the day before, and same meeting location & time.

MAY

May 17th, Wednesday- Tully Lake, East Branch Tully River & Long Pond, Royalston, MA…meet at 9, in the Walmart parking lot (Rte 119), Hinsdale, NH. If you’re camping, or coming from the South, call (413) 824-6613 to coordinate link-up. We will enter Tully River, off of Hill Rd. (songbirds, waterfowl, beavers, turtles, etc)

May 20th, Saturday- CT River: Hoyt’s Landing, down river, to Herrick’s Cove, VT…meet at 8:30, South end of Hannaford’s parking lot, Putney Rd, Brattleboro, VT. If coming from the North, meet at Hoyt’s Landing, off Rt 12; Exit 7, I-91, at 9:15. This trip will be one-way, down stream, and will require spotting cars at the end, at Herrick’s Cove. We’ll visit coves, marshes, wetlands & at least one bald eagle’s nest. (songbirds, waterfowl, raptors, beavers, etc)

JUNE

Jun 7th, Wednesday- North Hartland Lake, Hartland, VT…meet at 8:30, South end of Hannaford’s parking lot, Putney Rd, Brattleboro, VT. If coming from the North, meet at the North Hartland Lake boat ramp, adjacent to the swimming area, at 9:30. (songbirds, waterfowl, raptors, beavers, deer, beaches, etc)

Jun 11th, Sunday- Somerset Reservoir, Somerset, VT…meet at 8:30, Coffee House, Wilmington, VT (Jct of Rtes 9West & 100South), or at the CAR-TOP launch area, at the end of the access road. This is a large body of water, subject to strong wind, big waves & long distance paddling; NOT a trip for small boats. (songbirds, waterfowl, raptors, beavers, otter, moose, bear, beaches, etc)

Jun 21st, Wednesday- SUMMER SOLSTICE- Spoonwood Pond, Hancock & Nelson, NH…meet at 8:30, South end of Hannaford parking lot, Putney Rd, Brattleboro, VT (or at the boat ramp to Nubanusit Lake, on Kings Highway, off NH Rte 12, at 10).

(songbirds, waterfowl, raptors, beavers, etc)

Jun 24th, Saturday- Harriman Reservoir, Sunrise Paddle & Potluck Breakfast, Wilmington, VT…meet at 5:30, Royal Diner, Marlboro Rd (Rte9), West Brattleboro, VT (or at the Coffee House, Wilmington (Jct of Rtes 9West & 100South) at 6). (songbirds, waterfowl, beavers, beaches & a quiet lake, etc)

AUGUST

Aug 13th, Sunday- Gale Meadows Pond, Winhall, VT…meet at 9, at the West River Provisions store (old Jamaica Country Store), Jamaica, VT on Rte 30. (songbirds, waterfowl, beavers and floating sphagnum islands, etc)

Aug 16th, Wednesday- CT River, Vernon Dam, VT, to Northfield, MA…meet at 8:30, in the Brattleboro High School parking lot, 131 Fairground Rd, off Canal St (Exit 1, I-91). This will be a one-way, down river trip, requiring car & boat pooling, and a car shuttle. (songbirds, waterfowl, raptors, beavers & beaches, etc)

Aug 30th, Wednesday- Harriman Reservoir, Center Section, Wilmington, VT…meet at 8:30, Coffee House, Wilmington, VT (Jct of Rtes 9West & 100South), or at the Great River Hydro, Ward’s Cove Picnic Area, off Rte 100South (turn right, at the stables), at 9. This is a large body of water, subject to strong wind, big waves & motorboat wakes; NOT a trip for small boats. (songbirds, waterfowl, raptors, beavers & beaches, etc)

SEPTEMBER

Sep 20th, Wednesday- Somerset Reservoir, Somerset, VT…meet at 8:30, Coffee House, Wilmington, VT (Jct of Rtes 9West & 100 South), or at the CAR-TOP launch area, at the end of the access road, at 9:30. This is a large body of water, requiring long distance paddling & subject to strong wind and big waves; NOT a trip for small boats. (songbirds, waterfowl, raptors, beavers, otter, moose, bear, beaches, etc)

Sep 30th, Saturday- Grout Pond, Stratton, VT…meet at 9, Coffee House, Wilmington, VT (Jct of Rtes 9West & 100South), or 10, at the pond (off Rte 100North and Kelly Stand Rd/West Wardsboro-Arlington Road). (Fall foliage, waterfowl, raptors, beavers, etc)

OCTOBER

Oct 1st, Sunday- Leader’s Choice (wherever the colors are peak)…Meet at 9, south end Hannaford parking lot, Putney Rd, Brattleboro, VT. (Fall foliage, waterfowl, beavers, etc)

Oct 4th, Wednesday- Sunset Lake & South Pond, Marlboro, VT…meet at 9, Royal Diner, West Brattleboro, (Rte 9), VT. (Fall foliage, waterfowl, raptors, beavers, back roads, etc)

There’s a list of recommended items to bring along on every paddle trip here on the website. Be sure to look it over; there are new additions.

The Annual BOC Consignment Sale of human & wind powered watercraft is scheduled for Saturday, May 13th…OUTSIDE, RAIN or SHINE, at 464 Putney Road, Brattleboro, VT. More info is here and in local media.

For more information please contact Larry at (802) 254-3666, or Lmacyak@gmail.com or text (207) 703-6668.