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Welcome Paddlers, Hikers, Cyclists, Climbers, and Skiers/Boarders
If any of our members are interested in coordinating a paddling, hiking, cycling or other type of trip, contact Larry Estes at 601/924-3689
May 2009 May 9 (Saturday) - Cookout at The Breakers on the Reservoir - A cookout has replaced the Crawfish Boil at The Breakers. Plan on getting there around 4:00pm and hanging out till around 8:00pm - there's a full moon. Bring a favorite meat dish to cook on the grill. We'll provide the grills and charcoal and you bring your beverages and plate/cutlery, etc. We hope to have some extra boats for people to test paddle. See you there. April 2009 April 5 Ochsner's Ironman New Orleans The first annual Ochsner's Ironman will be held at Lake Pontchartrain, New Orleans, on April 5th. The event coordinator, Bill Burke, needs 40+ kayaks, complete with paddlers, as safety craft to monitor the race. The swimming portion of the race will begin at 0730, the morning of April 5th. Bill wants a kayak on the water every 150 feet for the length of the course. Mr. Burke is prepared to make a sizable cash donation to the Phatwater, as well as assisting with event organization, provided the Phatwater organization supplies him with safety boaters for his event. Kayaks are not a part of the race, will only serve as a safety boater. Special Phatwater '09 T-shirt for those of you who commit to being present, in a kayak. An additional Ochsner's Ironman T-shirt and free breakfast are provided. The event should conclude by 1030 to 11 a.m. Braxton Barden (braxton.barden@gmail.com) is coordinating MOC participation. Kayak Instructor Training This is not an MOC sponsored event. Patti Carothers, RN, ACA Kayak and Canoe Instructor Trainer, is offering kayak instructor training Intro class April 4-5 in the Houston area, and possibly June 6-8 in the Rockport area. She can be contacted through http://www.paddlesports.com/ April 18 (Saturday) - Nature Day at the Clinton Community Nature Center - This annual festival offers something for everyone. Bird & nature walks, live birds of prey, reptiles and other animals. Educational & informational booths, children’s activities, plant sales, food and much more! 9:00am-3:00pm. April 18-20 (Sat-Mon) - Chattooga River Whitewater Paddling Trip - Join us for a serious paddle on one of the south's most scenic whitewater rivers and the challenges of class II to IV rapids. Prior whitewater experience is necessary if paddling a canoe or kayak on the Chattooga. Others can join us by way of renting rafts or duckies at the NOC Outpost at the Chattooga. For more information contact Jim Trunzler at 601-331-1071 or trunzlerj@bellsouth.net. March 2009 March 1 - Noxubee NWR Day Paddle Trip - Come out and experience the beauty of Bluff Lake. If weather is too bad to paddle, we can explore some of the refuge's hiking trails. Contact Braxton Barden if interested. braxton.barden@gmail.com March 7 & 8 (Sat-Sun) - Alabama Backpacking Trip - This trip will be to either the Sipsey Wilderness in northern Alabama or another hiking trail system in Alabama. We'll leave Mississippi on Friday afternoon and return on Sunday afternoon. Participants will need a backpack, tent, sleeping bag, backpacking stove, hiking boots and related backpacking gear. For more information contact Larry Estes at 601-924-3689 or jrestes@bellsouth.net. March 10 (Tuesday) - MS Outdoor Club's Quarterly Membership Meeting - We'll gather at 6:00pm for drinks, food and socializing at Hal & Mal's Restaurant in downtown Jackson. The meeting will begin at 7:00pm with general club updates on trips and activities followed by a presentation by Lewis Oswalt on his recent trip to the Grand Canyon. Visitors and guests are welcome to attend. March 21-22 (Sat-Sun) - Locust Fork Whitewater Canoe & Kayak Trip - Join us on our first whitewater trip for the 2009 season. We'll campout near the river on Friday and Saturday and run the river on Saturday and Sunday. This is a good beginner/intermediate whitewater river for those who are interested in taking on the challenges of whitewater and have had some prior whitewater instruction by the club. For more information, contact Jim Trunzler at 601-331-1071 or trunzlerj@bellsouth.net. March 27(Friday) - Club Social Happy Hour - This is the first of our Club's Social Happy Hour events. We'll meet at Pelican Cove Grill on the Reservoir in Ridgeland. Come join us and help us kick off this monthly Social Happy Hour. We'll get together from 6:00pm till. The phone number for Pelican Cove is 601-605-1865. Hope to see your there and ask for the MS Outdoor Club group. March/April - Kayak Roll Clinic - Learn how to roll your kayak in the safety of an indoor pool. Instructors will work with you on the basics of rolling your kayak. Kayak, paddle and spray skirts are provided for those without gear. March & April - Outdoor Clinics - The MS Outdoor Club with support from the MS Baptist Healthplex in Clinton will be conducting several clinics. The clinics will be held in one of the first floor meeting rooms at the Clinton Baptist Healthplex at 7:00pm to 8:00pm. The clinics are free to MS Outdoor Club and Baptist Healthplex members. Clinics are as follows: February 2009 February 21-22- Sunflower Overnight Canoe Trip from Anguilla to Holly Bluff - We'll paddle through part of the Delta National Forest, the only bottom land hardwood national forest. Contact Braxton Barden if interested. braxton.barden@gmail.com February 21 - Day trip on the Rez - Check the Trips and Events page for details. We'll be finished in plenty of time for the Wine and beer tasting party. February 21 (Saturday) - Wine & Beer Tasting Party - We had such a good time at the last Wine Tasting Social we decided to have another one but add beer to the list. We'll have the party at Fitness Depot in Madison at 551 Ridgecrest Drive. We'll start around 6:30pm and end around 9:00pm. Members are asked to bring a favorite party dish to feed 6 to 8 people. The club is working out the details on the wine but if you have some special micro-brewed beer, please feel free to bring some to share with everyone. The club will provide plates, cutlery, napkins and cups. Please invite a guest(s) that might be interested in our club activities. January 2009 January 3 (Sat) - Hike and Lunch - We'll do a short morning hike at the Clinton Nature Center (just east of Clinton Parkway)then head over to Lenny's Sub Shop for a sandwich. We'll meet at the Clinton Nature Center parking lot at 10:00am. for a nice hike through this wonderful natural area then on to Lenny's following the hike. Contact Larry Estes at jrestes@bellsouth.net if your interested or just show up. January 10 - Roosevelt State Park Day Hike - Join us for a easy hike at Roosevelt State Park east of Jackson near Morton. We'll do one or more of their established hiking trails and also look into investigating this trail for a service project later on this spring. For more details about meeting time and location contact Larry Estes at jrestes@bellsouth.net. January 17-19 - Horn Island Paddle and Camp Out - We'll launch from the public boat ramp in Pascagoula on Saturday morning and paddle to Horn with a stop on Round Island. We'll camp and explore Horn and return on Monday the 19th. If the seas and weather are not inviting on Saturday, we'll have an alternate destination. Experienced kayakers please. If interested in this trip contact Bob Marsh. Snow Skiing Trips - The club will be leading a snow skiing and snow boarding trip to the Salt Lake City ski areas on January 29 to February 5. Click on Information Flyer and Detailed Information Sheet for more information on the Salt Lake City trip. If interested in this trip call Larry Estes at 601-924-3689 or Larry Estes. 2008 Trips. December 2008 December 11 (Thursday) - Club Christmas Potluck Dinner/Meeting - Come join us for a great dinner with club members and guests. The dinner/meeting will be at 6:30pm at the Church of the Creator in Clinton. Directions: Turn at Clinton Raymond Road off I-20 (the second Clinton Exit going west). Then go 0.75 miles from the interchange and look for the church on the left. Bring your favorite dish to feed 6 or more people, plus a serving spoon and your own plate, drinking cup and utensils. Tea will be provided or you can bring your favorite beverages. See you there. December 20 & 21(Sat-Sun) - Homochitto National Forest Camping, hiking, and biking. We'll meet on Saturday at the Homochitto National Forest in SW Mississippi and share a weekend of hiking, biking and tale telling. Two of the 4 trails of the Clear Springs Trail System are now open following the wrath of Hurricane Gustaf. The Richardson Creek Trail is 7 miles long and is highly recommended. Mountain bikes or hybrids are suggested. The Clear Springs trail is about a mile long and circles the lake. Camp with us or come down for the day. Fees for the use of the area are shown on the webpage below. Contact bob.marsh@yahoo.com for details. There is also an 1100 acre lake for fishing and canoeing/kayaking. This National Forest has it all. November 2008 November 8-9 (Sat-Sun) - Sipsey Wilderness Backpacking Trip - We'll hike for approximately 12 miles through the Sipsey Wilderness in Bankhead National Forest in northwestern Alabama. This is one of the prettiest hiking areas in the state of Alabama. Trip Rating: Moderately Easy. For more information, contact Larry Estes at 601-924-3689. November 11 (Tuesday) - Snow Skiing & Snow Boarding Workshop - The club will be conducting this workshop from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at the Clinton Baptist Healthplex in Clinton. The Healthplex will have someone discuss physical fitness and workout program for snow skiing/boarding. The club will discuss issues of equipment needs, what to expect and general expenses related to snow skiing and Sportique in Ridgeland will provide some general information on clothing. November 22-23 (Sat-Sun) - Mississippi River Paddling Trip - Vicksburg to Port of Port Gibson - We'll meet at the Vicksburg waterfront 10 AM Saturday morning to unload and launch by about 10:30 AM, have lunch on Racetrack Towhead, and arrive Middle Ground Island at about 4 PM for camping. We'll explore the Island Saturday evening and Sunday morning, lunch on the Island, and launch early Sunday afternoon. We should arrive Port of Port Gibson in less than an hour depending on where we camp. Someone will meet us at the Port of Port Gibson on Sunday with a truck. We'll load all gear on the truck and shuttle back to Vicksburg arriving there at approx 2;30 to 3 PM to transfer gear to your vehicles. Trip is rated easy. Contact bob.marsh@yahoo.com if interested. If you know someone in Vicksburg or Port Gibson who might could help with the shuttle please let me know, just in case we need more than one shuttle vehicle. November 26-29 (Wed-Sat) - Buffalo River Arkansas Canoe/Kayak & Hiking - We'll rent a cabin near the Buffalo River and do day trip paddling on the river plus some easy day hikes in the Buffalo National River National Park. Trip Rating: Moderately Easy. For more information, contact Jim Trunzler at 601-331-1071. October 2008 October 3-5 (Friday-Sunday) - Whitewater Reunion Trip - This will be the last whitewater paddling trip for the year. We'll reunite with other Mississippi paddlers from around the southeast to see each other, paddle, and have some great food and drinks. Last year will be hard to beat but we'll give it a shot. To reserve a campsite at Lost Mine Campground, contact Jim Trunzler at 601-331-1071. October 7 (Tuesday) - MS Outdoor Club General Meeting - We'll meet on Tuesday October 7 at 7:00pm at Hal & Mals Restaurant in downtown Jackson in the Red Room. We'll be voting on three new members to the MS Outdoor Club Board of Directors so please plan on attending and cast your vote. We'll have Andrew Whitehurst from the Dept of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks as our guest speaker. Andrew will speak on issues related to public waters, trespassing, boat ramps and access, state scenic streams and other topics that should be of interest to club members and guests. Come early and order a meal and drinks or socialize with the group. Visitors and guests are always welcome at our meetings. October 11 (Saturday) - Phatwater Kayak Challenge - The challenge is held each year on the Mississippi River from near Port Gibson to Natchez. Volunteers are needed at this event. Two "set up" volunteers are needed as well as two volunteers at the put-in location. They need to be in place around noon on October 10th, and stay through the night. Camping available at this site and RVs welcome. For more information, contact Keith. Also check out their website at www.kayakmississippi.com. October 17-19 - (Friday-Sunday) - Natchez Hot Air Balloon Race/Festival - Several balloon pilots have requested assistance from the MS Outdoor Club members to assist them in ground crewing for them. Several members have participated in this and other Hot Air Balloon events and they are loads of fun so please plan on participating if you can. If you want to be a ground crew member, contact Larry Estes at 601-924-3689. October 18 (Saturday) - 20th Annual Mississippi Coastal Cleanup - This is the cleanup that was previously scheduled for September 20th. The deadline for volunteers to register has been extended to Monday September 29. If already signed up, no need to re-register. This event is organized by the MS Dept. of Marine Resources and MS Marine Debris Task Force. For registration or more information, contact Lauren Thompson at 228-523-4053. October 24-26 (Fri-Sun) - Cumberland Trail Backpacking - Trip Cancelled - Great Smokies Mountain Backpacking Trip will take its place - information to come. - This will be a two night backpacking trip on the Cumberland Trail (CT), a Tennessee State Scenic Hiking Trail. Please go to www.cumberlandtrail.org/ for more information about the trail. Details of the trip are still being planned but coming soon. Trip Rating: Moderate - due to elevation change and rocky terrain. For more information, contact Mike Goldman. September 2008 September - Kayak Roll Clinic - The club is hosting another kayak roll clinic starting in September. Class dates will Tuesday nights on September 2, 9, 16, and 23. Anyone interested needs to immediately contact Jim Trunzler at 601-331-1071. The classes will meet from 7 to 9pm at the Lakeland Courthouse pool. For new students: $45.00 for 4 sessions, for previous students who need more instruction $10 per night and for kayakers who want to practice in the pool $6.00 per night. September 26-28 (Friday-Sunday) - NOC's GAF Event at Wesser NC - This is the Nantahala Outdoor Center's annual festival on the Nantahala River in western North Carolina. There will be literally thousands of outdoor gear on sale from the NOC and other organizations and individuals with booths. You'll find canoes, kayaks, backpacking equipment, camping gear, outdoor clothing and much more. This is your perfect opportunity to buy some used affordable gear for your trips. There is also the Annual Club Cup Competition between numerous whitewater paddling clubs. The MS Outdoor Club (formally the MS Canoe & Kayak Club) won the event last year and we need members to join us in the competition to hold the cup title for another year. We'll have campsites reserved at Lost Mine Campground so call now to reserve a campsite. We'll also be paddling the Nantahala one last time before Fall/Winter sets in. You can also rent rafts and inflatable kayaks (Duckies) if you want to participate but have little or no whitewater experience. For reservations, contact Larry Estes at 601-924-3689. September 20-21 (Sat-Sun) - Black Creek Canoe/Kayak Trip - We'll put in at Brooklyn, MS just east of Hwy. 49 on Saturday morning and take out a Fairley Bridge on Sunday. We'll camp along the way on one of several sandbars. This trip is approximately 29 miles, all of which is in the Desoto National Forest and most of it in the Black Creek Wilderness Area. Black Creek is Mississippi's only Wild and Scenic River. Saturday "day trips" of 7.5 miles or 17.5 miles are possible with advanced arrangements with trip coordinator. Trip Rating: Easy. For more information contact Bob Marsh at 601-853-3419. Permanent Link -> |
