An easy and very useful knot for common use in the outdoors is the mooring hitch. It’s more secure than other knots such as the slippery hitch and easier to untie than the typical square knot most of us use.

There is a great animation of the mooring hitch on the Website Net Knots.  

Here is a Youtube video link of the mooring hitch.

The USGS announced they will be removing several stream gages from rivers in Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland. This action is due to the lack of funding. The rivers being affected in Pennsylvania seem to be located on the upper Susquehanna River, the West Branch of the Susquehanna and its tributaries such as the Sinnemahoning, Clearfield Creek, and several others. 

This action makes me wonder if these gages really ever provided any relevant data to the USGS at all. Do these gages really provide any relevant data other than waterflow measurements for the paddlers and fisherman? For more info go to the Moshannon Blog USGS Gages being removed.

Knot tying is something many of us neglected to learn because the basic square knot, or our own adaptations of the square knot, are usually adequate in most cases. But the truckers hitch knot is one good knot to learn because it is useful for securely latching down canoes, kayaks and other objects on top of the vehicle, it’s quick tying and quick release.  

Watch the video on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywqx_3TLSd8

Afraid of Your Kayak? Take a Whitewater Kayaking Class!
Whitewater kayaking is a very exciting sport but if you’re one of those paddlers who’s been reluctant to take up the sport of whitewater because of the dangers involved, I urge you to put your fears behind you and try it.

Possibly the greatest fear of most beginner whitewater kayakers is the fear of being trapped upside down in your kayak. To many paddlers this fear can be so overwhelming that it could interfere with your enjoyment of the sport. And it is a legitimate fear. Although rare, there are cases where a wet exit might have prevented drowning. But there is hope for you, and the easiest way to conquer your fear of being trapped upside down underwater wedged inside that cockpit is by taking a whitewater kayaking class.

Taking a kayaking class with knowledgable, confident instructors will increase your confidence in only the first few hours. The first thing you’ll probably learn in a basic whitewater kayaking class is the ever important wet exit. Learning the wet exit can be a stomach churning experience if your anxiety is high - like mine was. In my case I had been canoeing for about twenty years and had been tour kayaking for about five years, but having never actually done a wet exit I was petrified of being rolled in a rapid or current. But once you learn the proper way to wet exit you’ll be surprised at how easy it really is. Once you pop that skirt you simply take you kayak off just like taking off your pants. The water lubes your body and gravity does most of the work. To get the confidence you need you’ll have to practice wet exits until it’s second nature. You know it’s second nature when you can relax underwater for a few seconds before executing your exit. You’ll want to get to the stage where you can attempt a roll several times with confidence that you can wet exit any time you want.     

Once you master that wet exit your paddling experience will change dramatically. Ferrying across fast current and doing peel outs will be much more fun. And you’ll find that as your skill level and confidence increased so will your willingness to increase the level of challenge and risk.  

Check out the Northeastern PA Kayak School near Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. They give a two day course covering all the basics, and the instructors are great. You’ll know how to do a wet exit, bracing and maybe even how to roll and surf waves by the end of the course.

A Great Canoe Camping Resource
Canoe Camping - USA, a true canoe campers resource.

With information on over 40 canoe camping float trips, the Canoe Camping - USA Website is one of those unique sites that provides a gamut of useful paddling information acquired through actual paddling experience. Loaded with information, you’ll discover a river to paddle in any region of the United States and learn how to plan an extended float trip.

River information provided:
Delaware River
Green River
Yukon
Missouri
James River
Buffalo
Pee Dee
Roanoke

And much more. Give them a visit at http://www.canoe-camping.org/