It’s a new satellite messenger product from Spot, Inc.. It uses a GPS satellite network to acquire coordinates, and then sends its location with a link to Google Maps. All you have to do is push a button. And because it’s satellite technology, SPOT works around the world. 

It’s something any paddler, hiker or hunter should consider having. Check it out here.
  

It may be Pennsylvania’s best kept paddling secret and maybe one of the top canoe camping rivers in the Mid-Atlantic region. The West Branch of the Susquehanna River is one great canoe camping river because of its range, access, scenery, and remoteness. Average canoe camping trips on the West Branch can range from under 20 miles to 80 miles, and if you are feeling really adventurous you could put in somewhere near Shawville, Pennsylvania and paddle all the way to the Chesapeake Bay.

The West Branch is a mostly a tame flatwater river with occasional waves and riffles that are just enough to add some paddling excitement without too much risk, making it a perfect canoe camping trip for a family with younger children. There is one short section of barely a class two rapid called the Moshannon Falls which can be a great ride when water levels are just right. Don’t take the river lightly though, it is a fast high volume river and should be avoided when the levels swell due to flooding or a dam release.

The best time to paddle the river is during the period of April through early June. Normally the river levels are too low after June, although there have been recent years where the water levels were adequate throughout the entire year. The weeks before and including Memorial Day weekend are when paddlers are most active on the West Branch and you’ll possibly have plenty of campsite competition with the locals. However if you choose to paddle the river in early May or several weeks after Memorial Day you likely encounter only a few, if any paddlers.

For more information on canoeing and camping the West Branch and other rivers in Pennsylvania go the Website.   

Last Sunday, just to kill some time, I decided to take a drive out to the Rockport boat access on the Lehigh River. I’ve seen the Lehigh at levels that dissuaded me from paddling. And with all the rain we’ve had over the past few days, and the Delaware River expected to crest in areas, I expected the Lehigh would’ve been at its highest levels. But it wasn’t, and it was actually at a level I think I would’ve enjoyed.

Plenty of releases are scheduled for the Lehigh in 2008 and local paddlers should have a good season.