Mississippi Outdoor Club

Personal Preparedness and Responsibilities

Trip Coordinator's Duties

International Scale of Whitewater Difficulty

Universal River Signals

Prevention of Spills

When You Swim

Rescuing Others

Hypothermia Prevention

Hypothermia Treatment

River Courtesy

Rescue Equipment

Personal Preparedness and Responsibilities

1. If you're thinking about participating in a club trip, contact the trip coordinator at least 4 days before the trip. Trips that require advance registration, contact the trip coordinator as soon as possible. If you decide not to go on the trip, call the trip cordinator again and let him/her know of your change in plans.

2. Provide your own food, transportation (as necessary) and equipment/clothing. This means being suitably clothed for cold and wet weather and eqipped for the particular trip. This includes carrying a personal first-aid kit and, if required, river rescue equipment.

3. Be a competent swimmer, comfortable in the water, and able to handle yourself underwater and in whitewater depending on the trip classification.

4. Be on time at the correct meeting place for the trip

5. Have a realistic picture of your paddling ability. Never attempt a river where your inability may jeopardize yourself or your fellow paddlers. Be conservative and know and respect river classifications.

6. Keep the shuttle car in sight at all times. If you lose sight, stop-wait-then search.

7. Always wear a good Personal Flotation Device (PFD). A snugly-fitting PFD offers back and shoulder protection as well as the flotation needed to swim safely in moving water.

8. Always wear a solid, correctly fitted helmet when paddling whitewater rivers.

9. NEVER boat alone

10. Secure any rope that may possibly become entangled around your body or limbs. Be especially cautious of small diameter lines such as bailer lines.

11. Be practiced in rescue, self-rescue, escape, extracation and first-aid.

12. If you suffer from a know medical condition, bring appropriate medication and advise others of your condition.

13. Advise family and friends of your exact destination and when you'll be returning.

14. Leave the river and its environment cleaner than you found it.

15. Follow instructions and commands of the trip coordinator.

Trip Coordinator's Duties

1. Be familiar with the river and surrounding area, put-ins, take-outs, and water levels. Obtain maps when needed.

2. Determine the meeting place, time of departure and any group camping arrangements.

3. Make a list of the names and phone numbers of trip participants so they can be contacted if necessary.

4. Select an alternate river to paddle, when necessary.

5. Limit the number of participants, dividing into smaller groups when necessary.

6. Try to screen participants and, when necessary, politely refuse to take any paddler wo you feel is not qualified.

7. Check all boaters for proper equipment; i.e. lifejackets, helmets, spare paddles, flotation, throw bags, and first-aid kits.

8. Lead or assign the lead to a boater who knows the river. Assign a skilled sweep boat to bring up the rear and carry a first-aid kit.

9. Acquaint the group with plans and organization on the river, including the lunch stop, planned breaks, and anticipated hazards.

10. Station skilled boaters downstream at hard or long rapids, ensuring that throw bags are available and set strategically when needed.

11. Respect the right of property owners along the river. Seek their permission to put-in and take-out on their land and thank them for river access and any camping privileges granted.

12. Write a trip report or designate a trip participant to write the report and send it to the club newsletter editor.

International Scale of Whitewater

1. Class I: Easy. Fast moving water with riffles and small waves, few obstructions, all obvious and easily missed with little training, risk to swimmers is slight. Self-rescue is easy.

2. Class II: Novice. Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels which are evident without scouting. Occasional maneuvering may be required, but rocks and medium sized waves are easliy missed by trained paddlers. Swimmers are seldom injured and group assistance, while helpful, is seldom needed. Rapids that are at the upper end of this difficulty range are designated "Class II+."

3. Class III: Intermediate. Rapids with moderate, irregular waves which may be difficlt to avoid and which can swamp an open canoe. Complex maneuvers in fast current and good boat control in tight passages or around ledges are often required. Large volume rivers. Scouting is advisable for inexperienced parties. Injuries while swimming are rare. Self-rescue is usually easy but group assistance may be required to avoid long swims. Rapids that are at the lower or upper end of this difficulty range are designated "class III-" or "class III+", respetively.

4. Class IV: Advanced. Intense, powerful but predictable rapids requiring precise boat handling in turbulent water. Depending on the character of the river, it may feature large, unavoidable waves and holes or constricted passages demanding fast maneuvers under pressure. A fast, reliable eddy turn may be needed to initiate maneuvers, scout rapids, or rest. Rapids may require "must" moves above dangerous hazards. Scouting may be necessary the first time down. Risk of injury to swimmers is moderate to high, and water conditions may make self-rescue difficult. Group assistance for rescue is often essential but requires practiced skills. A strong eskimo roll is highly recommended. Rapids that are at the lower or upper end of this difficulty range are designated "class IV-" or "class IV+", respectively.

5. Class V: Expert. Extremely long, obstructed, or very violent rapids which expose a paddler to added risk. Drops may contain large, unavoidable waves and holes or steep, congested chutes with complex, demanding routes. Rapids may continue for long distances between pools, demanding a high level of fitness. What eddies exist may be small, turbulent, or difficult to reach. At the high end of the scale, several of these factors may be combined. Scouting is recommended but may be difficult. Swims are dangerous, and rescue is often difficult even for experts. A very reliable eskimo roll, proper equipment, extensive experience, and practiced rescue skills are essential. Because of the large range of difficulty that exists beyond class IV, class V is open ended, multiple level scale designated by class 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, etc... each of these levels is an order of magnitude more difficult than the last. Example: increasing difficulty from class 5.0 to class 5.1 is a similar order of magnitude as increasing from class IV to class V.

6. Class VI: Extreme and exploratory. These runs have almost never been attempted and often exemplify the extremes of difficulty, unpredictability and danger. The consequences of errors are very severe and rescue may be impossible. For teams of experts only, at favorable water levels, after close personal inspection and taking all precautions. After a class VI rapid has been run many times, it's rating may be changed to an appropriate class 5.x rating.

Universal River Signals

	All Clear:Come Ahead. In the absence of other directions, proceed down the center. Form a vertical bar with your paddle or one arm held high above your head. Paddle blade should be turned flat for maximum visibility. To signal a particular direction or a preferred course through a rapid around an obstruction, lower the previously vertical "All Clear" by 45 degrees toward the side of the river with the preferred route. Never Point Toward the Ostacle You Want Others To Avoid!
	STOP: Potential hazard ahead. Wait for "All Clear" signal before proceeding, or scout ahead. Form a horizontal bar with your paddle or outstretched arms. Move up and down to attract attention, using a pumping motion with paddle or flying motion with arms. Those seeing the signal should pass it back to others in the party.
	EMERGENCY:Assist the signaler as quickly as possible. Give three long blasts on a police whistle while waving a paddle, helmet or life vest over your head in a circular motion. If a whistle is not available, use the visual signal alone.

Prevention of Spills

1. When paddling tandem in a canoe always paddle on opposite sides.

2. Attempt to keep your center of gravity in your boat as low as possible by kneeling in your canoe rather than sitting up on the seats. This is especially important on whitewater rivers or going through rapids.

3. If your boat is sideways to the flow of the current and you're about to hit a downstream obstruction ie. rock, log, etc., lean your boat into the obstruction rather than away from it. An upstream lean is guaranteed to be a wet one and could cause your boat to be pinned against the obstruction.

4. Follow the lead of the more experienced boaters in front of you unless they have instructed you otherwise.

5. Allow for sufficient room in or just prior to a rapid between your boat and the boat ahead of you. This will reduce the chances of colliding with the other boat.

6. Learn to recognize and react to river hazards such as holes, snags, rocks, undercut boulders, rock sieves and horizon lines across the river.

7. If paddling in a tandem canoe or kayak, the stern paddler should follow the lead of their bow partner since they can often see potential hazards first.

8. Never stand in your canoe or grab onto branches of trees.

9. Learn the basic strokes for canoeing and/or kayaking. They are your defensive mechanism against potential problems and hazards.

10. Use the large flat surface of your paddle blade to help keep the canoe or kayak from flipping (called the low and high brace). Grabbing the gunwales of the canoe as you're going through a rapid or over a drop does nothing to help keep the boat upright. Learn to keep your paddle in the water for direction and support even when things get rough.

11. Scout rapids that you are unfamiliar with or when the river is at a unfamilar flow level.

12. On unfamilar rivers stay to the middle or inside bend of the river. The flow of the river is always fastest and deepest on the outside bend of the river. This outside bend is where you'll generally find down trees, and strainers which can be hazardous to the paddler in or out of their boat.

When You Swim

1. Stay with the boat on the upstream end or on top of it unless it is headed for a dangerous place or is interfering with rescue attempts. Leave it and swim when this improves your chances.

2. Be aware of your partner's plight and be prepared to offer assistance if necessary and possible.

3. Hang on to your paddle unless personal safety requires you to abandon it.

4. When swimming in whitewater, float on your back with your feet at the water surface and downstream of your head (the defensive swimming position). When dropping over falls or through narrow areas, ball up in the tuck position to prevent entrapment of arms or legs, then resume the defensive swimming position. When being carried into a strainer (tree branches), move to a headfirst position and try to climb up into the strainer so not to be pulled under it by the water where you could get entrapped. If the rapids are deep and powerful, roll over onto your stomach and swim aggressively for shore. Watch for eddies and slackwater and use them to get out of the current.

5. NEVER attempt to stand in fast moving water that is 18" in depth or greater. You may trap your foot below the surface and be pulled underwater by the current where you could drown.

6. Remain calm and help as much as possible with your rescue.

7. Always follow the instructions or rescuers!! They are usually in a better position to evaluate the situation or hazards and can determine appropriate action to ensure your safety.

Rescuing Others

1. Rescue people first, equipment later.

2. In the recovery of equipment, avoid taking unnecessary risks that might further endanger you or others. Always try to carry a spare paddle.

3. Carefully observe victims of long or difficult swims for signs of hidden injury, shock, or hypothermia.

4. Take a River Safety Clinic if ever offered by your paddling club to increase your knowledge of river safety and rescue procedures.

Hypothermia Prevention

Hypothermia is a condition whereby the body has lost ability to maintain necessary internal temperature and can no longer re-heat itself. In the early stages, the victim feels chilled and may shiver. In more advanced stages of hypothermia, the victim loses coordination, speech becomes slurred and judgement is impaired, among other things. It can easily be prevented by doing the following:

1. Wear proper clothing: drysuit, wetsuit, wool, capilene, pile or a combination; plus a wind breaker layer, like paddling jacket/pants; and protection for the head, such as a helmet and/or wool cap or balaclava.

2. Do not paddle too tough rivers. Know your ability and paddle one class lower than your ability. Avoid flooded rivers.

3. Paddle only short runs with easy access. Roads along a river help.

4. Bring spare clothes, plenty of liquids (no alcohol), extra sugar foods, personal medications, waterproof matches and chemical fire starter, if applicable. Tie them into the boat in a waterproof container or bag.

5. Eat well before trips, get plenty of sleep and pack high sugar foods in with nutritious lunch.

6. Drink plenty of liquids while exercising.

7. Maintain a high level of activity, but do not over-tire yourself.

8. If you find youself in the water, get out of the water ASAP. If you cannot remove your entire body from the water, move as much of your torso and head above water as possible (water wicks body heat away 25 times faster than air). Avoid unnecessary movement as that increases heat loss under water.

9. When in doubt, stay home.

Hypothermia Treatment

When hypothermia strikes, recognize the symptoms at each stage. Take the following action immediately:

1. Remove the victim from the water and shelter them from wind. Handle the victim gently.

2. Gently remove the victims wet clothing.

3. Warm the victim using an external source of heat. The victim's body cannot re-wam itself. Warm the torso area first.

4. Place the victim and one or two others, all unclothed, in a sleeping bag or rolled together in a blanket.

5. Warm the victim by placing him/her close to a large fire, or heat water, pouring it over the blanket-wrapped victim. Place heat producing objects, such as hand warmer heaters or heated rocks inside the sleeping bag with the victim. Take care to wrap the object so as not to burn the victim. Do not rub the victims arms and legs in a attempt to warm up the skin! Such stimulation only hastens the flow of cold blood to the heart and throughout the body and can cause more severe damage, even heart attack.

6. A conscious victim should be treated for shock, placed in a supine position wth the head tilted back to maintain an open airway.

7. An unconscious victim should be treated for shock, placed in a supine position with head tilted back to maintain an ope airway.

8. Get medical attention for the victim ASAP. Hypothermia can cause other severe damage, even death

9. Prevention works best so take a Red Cross First Aid course.

River Courtesy

To promote river courtesy, all members of the Mississippi Canoe & Kayak Club are asked to follow and promote the following:

1. Our club shares the rivers with many groups including other boaters, rafters, tubers, hikers, campers, fishermen and wildlife. Try to avoid intruding on each so we can all enjoy the rivers.

2. At the put-in, take-out and all points in between, attempt to avoid damaging the banks of the river or stream. Our presence can lead to increased erosion problems, damage to plant and wildlife and deterioration to the local stream area.

3. Anytime you're on the river, bag your trash and tie it into your boat. Litter detracts from the beauty of the river and can negatively impact wildlife and downstream resources. All club members are asked to help keep our streams clean by carrying and filling a trash bag on each river trip. If each of us picks up letter at the access points and all points in between, our river will be a better place for all to visit.

4. Profanity, drugs and alcohol are not welcome on our rivers. Our Mississippi law enforcement and wildlife officers patrol the streams of the state to ensure violators are dealt with appropriately.

5. If you must build a fire near the river, ensure that it is completely out prior to leaving the site and all evidence of the fire are removed.

6. Anytime we are out of our boats and standing in the water or on the bank of a river, we are on someone's property. Please strive to respect their property at all times. When accessing the river whether it is the put-in or take-out, always obtain permission from the property owner(s), and leave things better than you found them.

7. Changing clothes before or after a river trip should be done at a rest or changing area, in the confines of your vehicle, or in a secluded area. Stripping down next to a busy rural road or highway is not welcome by those that live in the community nor by the majority of the paddling community. Don't give local officials a reason to prevent us from paddling our and other states' beautiful streams. Use your common sense!!.

Whitewater Rescue Equipment

1. Whistle - get one that is small, loud and durable. Good brand is Fox 40. Attach the whistle high on your PFD, but not on your zipper pull.

2. Caribiners - have several (6 to 8) in your rescue bag plus one (parabiner) that has a very large opening to attach to plastic grab loops on many of todays kayaks.

3. Pulleys - have two rescue pulleys in your rescue bag to use in setting up a Z-Drag.

4. Slip Ropes - have eight or ten 6mm ropes each 40" to 48" in length and each tied into a loop using a Double Fisherman's knot for use as Prusiks.

5. Webbing - have 15 to 20 feet of 1-inch wide webbing for use to wrap around trees to which to attach ropes, carabiners, and pulleys.

6. Footwear - wear a good pair of sturdy river sandals in case you need to do any hiking or extensive rescue procedures.

7. Throwbag/Rope - get one that has a 50 to 60 foot colored line. Learn to throw it as well.

8. PFD Rescue Harness - these can be invaluable in a rescue, but you need to know how to properly use it.

9. Knife - get a knife that attaches to your PFD and can be quickly removed when necessary.

10. Matches - carry some matches in a waterproof container.

Note: Some of the above material was developed by the Carolina Canoe Club.

Suggested River Levels for Paddling

The water levels indicated in the tables below are based on the gauge readings on the United State Geological Survey (USGS) website.

Important Note: These are only suggestions based on past history and comments from canoe and kayak paddlers and/or Outfitters on these rivers. Your paddling skills, the river level and age of participants will be a major indicator of the ease or difficulty you will face on most streams in the state. A river flowing at low water level requires skills to avoid exposed obstructions that may normally not be a problem at other water levels. A river flowing at high water levels may be out of the river bank and/or moving very swiftly which can be dangerous to any paddler. A river running at a good water level can still be difficult if the paddler is not well outfitted, has limited or no paddling skills, or has occupants in the boat that are young, or not skilled at paddling. As always, use good judgement and be responsible for your actions.

Update Information: We need to complete some of the blanks in the rivers shown below and provide additional comments/suggestions on water levels presently indicated on these rivers. If you paddle a particular stream, please note the river section, date you paddled it, note what the level was on the USGS website for that day, and send us an e-mail about the quality (low, good, high) of the trip. Thanks!

The following is a list of Retailers and Outfitters that currently offer discounts to MS Outdoor Club members. You should always ask for the discount either at the store or on the telephone when making the reservation/purchase. Each of these Retailers or Outfitters have been sent a copy of the club's membership list but you need to remember to ask for the discount. If you're doing any on-line shopping on a website of an outfitter or retailer below, make sure to write a note in the comments field which says, "please give me the MS Outdoor Club discount." For a while, they may still know us as the MS Canoe & Kayak Club so mention that as well.

Black Creek Canoe - 10% Discount

Endless Rivers - 10% Discount

Nantahala Outdoor Center - 10% Discount

Okatoma Outdoor Post - 10% Discount

Quapaw Canoe Company - 10% Discount

Seminary Canoe Rental - 10% Discount

Wolf River Canoe & Kayak - 10% Discount

Discounts are subject to change at any time. Some Retailers and Outfitters use a current copy of the membership directory to verify membership. You will not receive a club discount if your membership lapses, so be sure to keep your membership current!

The Mississippi Outdoor Club welcomes you to join us on future paddling, hiking, backpacking, climbing, cycling and snow skiing/boarding trips.

Members and non-members of the MS Outdoor Club are welcome to participate in club trips and events. Non-members regardless of age must pay $4.00 per day to participate on club trips.

If any of our members are interested in coordinating a paddling, hiking, cycling or other type of trip, contact Karla Steckler at 228-424-2874.

2010 Trips & Activities

Trips still on the planning board include Escatawpa River in George County; Rainwater Observatory Trip to French Camp - Star Gazing; and Disc Golf in June. Stay tuned.

May 8 (Sat) Chunky River Canoe and Kayak Trip - Join us as we paddle he Chunky River near Meridian. This is a very easy paddle. Contact Scott Allen at 601-454-9515 or sallen4@comcast.net.

May 28-31 - Nantahala River Whitewater Paddling Trip - MS Outdoor Club will organize a whitewater paddling trip to the Nantahala River. If you're planning or interested in going, please contact Jim Trunzler. If you know of others who want to go and paddle their own boats or rent and paddle a duckie or raft, have them contact Jim as well. Rental information for the Nantahala is: www.noc.com. Whitewater experience and proper whitewater boats are necessary along with cold water paddling gear. Non-members of the MS Outdoor Club are required to pay a $4.00/day trip participation fee. Contact Jim at 601-331-1071 or trunzlerj@bellsouth.net.

April 2010

April 9-11 (Fri-Sun) - Cartecay River Whitewater Paddling Trip - Paddle some mild whitewater near Elijay, GA. These will be day trips on this mild whitewater river. No whitewater experience will be required. Contact Jim Trunzler at 601-331-1071 or trunzlerj@bellsouth.net.

April 17 (Sat) - Water Fest at the Ross Barnett Reservoir - Check out the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality's website for more details on this water fest - www.mdeq.state.ms.us

April 17 (Sat) - Bluz Cruz on the Mississippi River at Vicksburg - Check out this event on the Vicksburg website.

April 17 (Sat) - 18th Annual Desoto Ranger District (Black Creek) Cleanup - Plan on participating in this cleanup both in the National Forest and on Black Creek. Volunteers get a free T-shirt. Deadline to register is March 29. To volunteer contact Kaye Mansfield at 228-832-2747 or Marilyn Stone at 601-528-6160.

April 24 & 25 (Sat & Sun) - Clear Springs Hiking and Camping Trip Join us as we hike and camp at Clear Springs on the Natchez Trace. This will be a good trip for families with children. This can be a day hike or combine with overnight camping. The bath house has hot showers. Lots of hiking trails in the area. Contact Christine Barron at 601-750-1779 or christine@barronhouse.com.

March 5 & 6 (Fri & Sat) - Battle of the Bayou in Ocean Springs Check out more information on this 12-mile canoe & kayak race - March 6 - on Old Fort Bayou at www.battleonthebayou.com. For more information contact Cynthia Ramseur at 228-875-1032.

March 13 & 14 (Sat-Sun) - Sipsey Wilderness Backpacking Trip - Join us as we go hiking in the Sipsey Wilderness Area in north Alabama. Easy backpacking for the beginners plus great scenery. Contact Jim Trunzler at 601-331-1071 or trunzlerj@bellsouth.net.

March 27 & 28 (Sat & Sun) - Locust For Whitewater Paddling Trip Join us as we paddle some class II & III whitewater on the closest whitewater river to central Mississippi paddlers. You'll need previous whitewater experience plus cold weather paddling gear. Contact Jim Trunzler at 601-331-1071 or trunzlerj@bellsouth.net.

February 25 (Thursday) - MOC General Meeting Join us as we have our quarterly meeting which will be held at Hal & Mals in downtown Jackson at 6:30pm. We'll get together at 6:00pm for drinks and food prior to the meeting so come early. We have several Board Member Candidates to vote on at this meeting so please plan on attending. We are excited to have one or more members of the Kast Iron Kookers presenting a program on Dutch Oven cooking. These guys know how to cook anything with those cast iron dutch ovens. This will be an excellent program so try to attend. Visitors and guests are Welcome!!

November 2009

Nov 13 - !5 (Fri - Sun) - Sipsey Wilderness Backpacking Trip - This is a great backpacking trip through the William Bankhead National Forest in northern Alabama. Three geologic areas come together in this location forming some very unique features including waterfalls, beautiful river, giant boulders, and very unique forest. Get your packs out and your boots dusted off for this great trip. Contact Jim Trunzler at 601-331-1071 or trunzlerj@bellsouth.net.

October 2009

October 24 - Roosevelt State Park Day Hike This is a great day hike for the family and beginner hikers. Get out of the house and join us for this beautiful hike through Roosevelt State Park on several of their trails. For more information contact Christine Barron at 601-750-1778 or christine@barronhouse.com. Trip Rating: Easy.

Oct 31 to Nov. 1 (Sat-Sun) - Escatawpa River Canoe/Kayak Trip - Join us for a really nice paddle on one of the coasts finest blackwater streams. This is a trip for all levels of paddlers. A fine stream on which to paddle and camp. An outfitter is located on the Escatawpa for those wishing to rent a canoe. Contact Ardell Hinton at 601-953-8335 or ardell.hinton@med.va.gov. Trip Rating: Easy

September 2009

September 3 (Thursday) MS Outdoor Club Quarterly General Meeting - The club will have its quarter general meeting at Hal & Mal's at 7:00pm to 8:00pm on Thursday September 3. We hope to have some discussion on activities planned for the Fall plus a guest speaker. Come early at 6:30pm for a meal, drinks and socializing. Guests and visitors are welcome to all our general meetings.

Sept 4-7 (Fri-Mon) - Labor Day Nantahala River Whitewater Paddling Trip - MS Outdoor Club will organize a Labor Day whitewater paddling trip to the Nantahala River on Sept. 4 - 7. There are four campsites reserved for that weekend. If you plan to go, please let me (Jim Trunzler) know. There is a three day mininum for the campsites. I will reserve more campsites if needed. If you know of others who want to go and rent and paddle a duckie or raft, have them contact me, I'll give them the toll free raft rental number for the Nantahala Outdoor Center (www.noc.com). Non-members of the MS Outdoor Club are required to pay a $4.00/day trip participation fee.

Sept. 18 - 20 (Fri-Sun) - Reuion Trip to the Nantahala River - The MS Outdoor Club is planning a Mississippi paddlers reunion trip to the Nantahala River in North Carolina. The club has thirteen camp sites available. Approximately sixteen people have committed to attend. Sat. night is a bring a dish supper for all. Please contact Jim Trunzler at 601-331-1071 or trunzlerj@bellsouth.net if you plan to attend.

July 2009

July 3-5 (Friday-Sunday) - MS Hot Air Balloon Championship - The MS Outdoor Club has been invited by the MS Hot Air Balloon Club to help provide ground crew for pilots involved in this competition. Club members participated last year and we all had a great time.

July 224-26 (Friday-Sunday) - Nantahala River Whitewater Paddling Trip - We'll travel over to western North Carolina and canoe, kayak and raft the Nantahala River at Wesser, NC. We'll camp at Lost Mine Campground, cookout, eat-out and paddle the river each day. Local outfitters are available for participants wishing to rent rafts to join the group on the river. Trip Rating: Whitewater - Moderate. For more information contact Larry Estes at 601-924-3689 or jrestes@bellsouth.net.

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.
http://www.ironmanneworleans.com/article.php/courseinfo

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.
$45.00 for 4 class session for first time participants; $40.00 for 4 class session or
$10.00 per single session for returning participants needing more practice and
help; and $6.00 per session for those wanting to practice but no instruction. For more information, contact Jim Trunzler at 601-331-1071 or trunzlerj@bellsouth.net.

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:

March 5 – Beginning Camping – Learn what you need to know about getting started with camping including tents, stoves, sleeping bags, and other gear.
March 12 - Beginning Hiking and Backpacking – Learn what you need to know about the gear you need for day hikes and overnight backpacking trips. We’ll show you a variety of packs that are available, backpacking stoves, boots, water purification, and clothing.
March 19 - Beginning Canoeing and Kayaking – Learn what you need to now about paddling canoes and kayaks. We’ll discuss boats, stroke techniques, paddles, life-jackets, and other paddling gear.
March 26 - Beginning Canoeing and Kayaking – This will be a ontinuation of the previous workshop.
April 2 - Clinic Completion - We’ll finish up discussions on previous workshops and include some discussions and demonstrations on ropes, knots, basic campfire starting, and maps and compass. Advance registration is required.
Advance registration is required for the clinics. To register contact Jan Cossitt with
the Clinton Baptist Healthplex at jcossitt@mbhs.org.

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- Come to a day trip on the Barnett Reservoir. We need to check out a new paddling location on the east side of the Rez north of Hwy 43 off Lake Harbor Road. It's a put-in and return to the same launch point. I'm planning a full moon camp out there in several weeks and need to check out both the paddling and camping opportunities. It's not the open res, it's generally a wetlands area. We'll be finished in plenty of time for the Wine and Beer tasting party tonight. Contact Bob Marsh, for details and directions.

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 - This was the trip that wasn't to be. The MS Sound water temp dropped into the 50's which caused some concern about hypothermia. As an alternative, Mike booked a charter boat to take us out to Horn, however the Capt canceled out near the last minute over weather concerns for the return trip. We camped at Sheppard State park on Saturday night and paddled some of the Pascagoula tidelands. We had a nice time in spite of the obstacles.

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.

August 2008

August 2 (Saturday) - Pelahatchie Shore Park Club Picnic & Paddling Demo - Come join us at Pelahatchie Shore Park on the Reservoir at 3:00pm until to have some fun, paddling and time to visit with each other. We'll have some canoes and kayaks for people to paddle, setup a croquet course for those wishing to try their hand at croquet, frisbee golf, kites and cookout on the grills. Directions: Drive to the Reservoir and take Spillway Road and turn north onto Lakeshore Drive and go 0.7 miles and turn right at the sign for Pelahatchie Shore Park. Look for a pavilion with lots of boats surrounding it.

August 8, 9 & 10 - Discover Whitewater Canoeing Clinic - This is an MOC sponsored clinic for paddlers wanting to greatly develop their paddling skills from flat/moving water to whitewater. This clinic will be conducted on the Nantahala River in NC. Travel days will be Thursday afternoon and Sunday. Paddling days will include Friday and Saturday. Participants will learn how to paddle with greater efficiency, quickly avoid obstacles, perform fun river maneuvers, toss a rescue rope and learn to read the river. Clinic fee is $150.00/person. Includes fees for camping, river access, whiewater canoes and paddles and instruction plus breakfast(2) and lunch(2) in NC. Does not include transportation fuel cost or dinners. Limited to 6 participants. For more information contact Larry Estes at 601-924-3689.

August 23 (Saturday) - Wine, Cheese and Pool Party in Madison at Fitness Depot from 7:00pm to 9:30pm.. Members are requested to bring a bottle of their favorite chilled wine along with a favorite appetizer. We'll also have some soft drinks, cheese and crackers. Bring a camping/foldout chair in case we run short of seats around the pool. Directions to Fitness Depot: Travel towards Madison on Old Canton Road. Go under the Natchez Trace Parkway and go about 1/2 mile. Turn left (the Madison Airport is on your right) onto Ridgecrest Drive and then look for Fitness Depot on the left. Visitors and guests are welcome!!

August 30 - 31 (Saturday & Sunday) - Chickasawhay River Float. We'll put in at the Hwy 513 boat ramp in Enterprise and paddle the 20 miles to CR 512 boat ramp west of Quitman with one night campout. The over-nighter will be primitive camping at a site to be determined along the river. There is a short 3.5 mile day trip available for Saturday with a takeout at the Stonewall Town Park. Trip Rating: Easy. For more information, contact Bob Marsh at 601-853-3419.

July 2008

July 10 (Thursday) - MS Outdoor Club General Meeting. Come join us as we have some good food and drinks at Hal & Mal's Restaurant (the Red Room) in downtown Jackson at 7:00pm till 8:30pm. We'll discuss trips and activities planned over the summer. Visitors and guests are welcome.

July 10 (Thursday) - MS Outdoor Club Board Meeting. Board members of the MS Outdoor Club will meet at 6:00pm at Hal & Mal's to discuss official club business.

July 12 (Saturday) - Canoe Instruction Workshop for Beginners and Novices. This instruction workshop will take place on the Strong River south of Jackson. The workshop will include basic information on paddling strokes and maneuvers, equipment needs, safety on the water and proper loading and transportation of your boat(s). The workshop will include as needed, some paddling methods for whitewater canoeing. The cost of the course will be $45.00/person with all equipment provided and advanced registration is required. For more information contact Larry Estes at 601-924-3689.

July 12-13 (Saturday and Sunday) Lower Pearl Float and Camp Out. We’ll put in at Hwy 28 near Georgetown and paddle the 27 mi to Wanilla water Park with one night camp along the river. Day trip is not available, no put-ins along the way. Trip rating is easy. Contact Bob Marsh at 601-853-3419.

July 19 (Saturday) Bethel Road Bike Trail Ride. Ride the mountain bike trails of the Mississippi Gulf Coast just south of Wiggins, Ms. Please bring water, snacks, sunscreen, and more water. We'll meet in Hattiesburg at the Long Leaf Trace Gateway and carpool from there to the trail head, about 30 min away.
I have a few extra bikes and an extra helmet if needed, just call and contact me to reserve. Plan to spend 3-4 hours or so on the trail, but we will be riding a
pretty easy pace due to the humidity. For more information on the trail, please visit - http://trails.mtbr.com/cat/united-states-trails/trails-mississippi/trail/PRD_168
737_4558crx.aspx. Trip Rating: Easy to Moderate. For more information, contact Mike Goldman at hgoldman@mfgn.usm.edu or 601-480-0127.

July 26-27 (Saturday and Sunday) Red Creek Float and Camp Out. We’ll put in at City Bridge Road east of Perkinston and paddle the 15 mi to Hwy 15 nr Ramsey Springs with one overnight camp along the way. Day trip is not available. Trip rating is easy with adequate water and the trip will be modified if there is inadequate water. Contact Bob Marshat 601-853-3419.

June 2008

June 6-8 - Rock Climbing Workshop near Chattanooga, TN. This will be a two day climbing clinic through Granite Arches in Chattanooga. The clinic will include basics of climbing, safety, gear and top rope setup. There should be plenty of time for climbing and repelling. A group of 5 or more will cost us about $65 to $85 per person per day for the climbing instruction. There is a $50.00 deposit required if you want to participate. For more information contact Larry Estes at 601-924-3689

June 6 (Friday) - Buffalo Peak and Crossroads Film Society brings you - Kavu Weekend - Kayaking film, live music, and kayak frolic. Buffalo Peak invites you to KAVU weekend, June 6th and 7th. Friday night, Bill Ellison and Temperance Babcock will be playing at Hal and Mal's from 6:30 to 8pm. Following the music, professional kayak paddler Seth Warren will speak and introduce the award-winning film, "Oil + Water." This film follows two world-class kayakers and their friends, as they embark on the longest-ever petroleum-free road trip. Tag along with them on their journey from Alaska to Argentina in a retro-fitted Japanese fire truck, named "Baby." Check out the website at http://www.oilandwaterproject.org/Oil_+_Water_-_The_Movie_-_The_Adventure.html This is not an MOC coordinated event.

June 7 (Saturday) - KAVU Day at Mayes Lake to paddle a kayak, toss some disc golf, hike a trail along the Pearl or just hang out. So come by Mayes Lake from 11:00am to 3:00pm. This is not an MOC coordinated event.

June 13-15 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) Horn Island Weekend. We’ll put in at a public beach near the St. Andrews Golf course between Ocean Springs and Gautier. From there it is 6.25 miles to the nearest point on Horn. We’ll explore the western end of the island. Saturday will be a day of leisure and we’ll return on Sunday. These are preliminary plans subject to change. The success of this weekend depends on weather and water conditions. This trip is rated difficult because of needed paddlers’ skills and stamina in potentially rough seas. Contact Bob Marsh at 601-853-3419.

June 21 (Saturday) - WaterFest 2008 - Come to WaterFest 08, a free family-oriented event with educational and entertaining activities, events, live music and food for everyone. See the much acclaimed Watershed Harmony musical puppet show, participate in fun run, short or long distance kayak races, see the helicopter fly-in, classic cars, and much more. Free hotdogs, watermelon and drinks (while they last!). Lakeside Park, Northshore Parkway at the Barnett Reservoir. Fun Run for kids starts at 10 AM at the Reservoir YMCA, Opening ceremony for other events of WaterFest 08 is at 1:30 with helicopter fly-in. Awards and closing ceremony at 7 PM. If you want to volunteer to help even for an hour or two--free cool t-shirt, etc., contact Janet Chapman at 601-961-5266 or email at Janet_Chapman@deq.state.ms.us. We are still short some volunteer staffing." Attention MS Outdoor Club members. We need some volunteer help at our new cool club display. Call Larry at 601-924-3689 or jrestes@bellsouth.net if you want to help out.

June 28-29 (Saturday and Sunday) Black Creek Fish/Camp Out.
We’ll put in at Janice Landing on Saturday morning and do a slow fishing float to Fairley Bridge Landing with one overnight camp along the way. Trip is a total of 10 miles and is rated easy. Contact Bob Marsh at 601-853-3419.

May 2008

May 3 (Saturday) - 27th Outdoors Inc Canoe & Kayak Race & Festival in Memphis - This is a great event to attend and participate. Go to their website - http://www.outdoorsinc.com/Outdoors-Inc-Canoe-and-Kayak-Race.cfm - and get more details about this Saturday event. This is part of an overall Memphis in May festival. Early registration is $35.00/person (before April 28) and regular registration is $40.00/person. Cash and prizes of $15,000 will be awarded. This is not an MOC coordinated event.

May (10 to 12 days) - Buffalo River Canoe & Kayak Trip. We'll paddle the nearly 150 miles of the Buffalo River in northern Arkansas. If you're interested in doing this trip - in whole or in part - please let us know. Paddling the whole river from Boxley on the Buffalo River to Norfork on the White River will take between 10 and 12 days with resupply at three or four locations. If you wish to meet up with us at a particular location along the route, and paddle for only several days, that is possible as well. This trip will take place in early May. Trip Rating: Moderate. For more details and information, contact Larry Estes at 601-924-3689.

River Cleanup Week - Mississippi Power Company has been doing an annual cleanup on some of the rivers in the state. They have invited the MS Outdoor Club to participate. Here are the details. Wednesday May 14th - Back Bay Biloxi - 7:00 to 3:00 at Popp's Ferry Ramp with lunch provided. Thursday May 15th - Pascagoula River - 7:00 to 2:00 at Little River Marina with lunch provided. Friday May 16th - Jourdan River - 8:00 to 3:00 launch site TBD with lunch provided. Saturday May 17th - Okatoma Creek - Time TBD at Okatoma Outdoor Post with lunch provided. There will also be a cleanup on Chunky River and Turkey Creek but dates have not yet been announced. For more details and information, contact Flinda Hill at 228-897-6402. This is not an MOC coordinated event.

Friday & Saturday May 16 - 17 - Balloon Ground Crew Training - Come join us as we offer our members a chance to learn how to get a hot air balloon up into the sky. We'll be meeting Friday night at 6:30pm at the home of Larry & Rhea Estes at 409 Patio Place in Clinton to watch a 1-hour video - refreshments provided - followed by a short discussion. On Saturday morning we'll join up with one or more hot air balloon owners and participate in some hands-on hot air balloon setup and tether/flight. We're working with Tim Slattery, an owner/pilot of a balloon, as part of this activity. This should be a lot of fun!! If you're interested, you must let us know so we can get your name on the list of participants. To sign-up, contact Larry Estes at 601-924-3689 or jrestes@bellsouth.net. For additional information about the Mid-Mississippi Balloon Club visit their website at http://www.msballoonchamps.org/. Directions to Larry and Rhea's house: Travel west on Hwy. 80 from Metro Center in Jackson for about 2 miles. Turn right onto Masonic Drive at the traffic signal between the Wal-Mart and the Strip Mall both on the left. Go one block and turn right onto Hathway Drive. Go one block and turn left onto Patio Place. Go two blocks and look on the left for 409 Patio Place. From I-220 turn the exit for Clinton Blvd. Turn left at the signal onto Clinton Blvd and go about 1.5 miles. After passing under the railroad tresle, turn left at the second street which is Patio Place. Go about 0.2 miles to 409 Patio Place on the right.

Saturday May 24 - Long Leaf Trace Trail Ride - We will be leaving Hattiesburg in the AM from the Long Leaf Trace Gateway Southern Miss for a 30 mile round trip ride. This ride will take us from Hattiesburg to Sumrall Ms. Paved trail, no motorized traffic (bikes and foot traffic only), and pretty well shaded. This is a great ride. We will stop in Sumrall for lunch. The entire trip should last no more than 4 hours including lunch. One or two extra bikes are available, and there are bikes for rent at the Gateway Southern Miss station. Easy riding, come join us. For more information contact Harold Goldman at 601-480-0127.

May 31-June 1 (Saturday and Sunday) Upper Pearl Float and Camp Out. We’ll put in at Edinburg and paddle 8 miles to Battle Bluff Road and the 12.7 miles to Hwy 35 near Carthage. Day trip available for either day. This trip is contingent on water level and an alternate put-in will be made if water is too low. Specific plans will be announced as the date approaches. Trip rating is intermediate. Contact Bob Marsh at 601-853-3419.

April 2008

Kayaking Roll Class - Another round of Roll Classes will begin in April. The schedule is as follows: Tuesdays April 8, 15, 22, and May 6. The classes will meet from 7 to 9 PM at the Lakeland Courthouse pool. For new students: $45.00 for 4 sessions, for previous students who need more instruction: $10.00 per night, and for kayakers who want to practice in the pool: $6.00 per night. For more information, contact Jim Trunzler at 601 331-1071.

April 5 (Saturday) - Pickin' and Paddlin' Festival - This festival will be located at LeFleur's Bluff State Park. There will be several canoe and kayak races, music, and plenty of food plus a 5K run. This is not an MOC coordinated event.

April 12 - 13 (Sat-Sun) - Chattooga Whitewater Canoe & Kayak Trip. The Chattooga River is a Wild & Scenic River in Northeast Georgia on the Georgia and South Carolina state line. We'll depart on Friday and return on either Sunday or Monday. This is a technical whitewater river so prior whitewater experience is required. Trip Rating: Whitewater - Difficult. For more information, contact Jim Trunzler at 601 331-1071.

April 18-20 (Fri-Sun) - Deer Island Paddling Trip. We'll camp at Shepard State Park near Gautier, Mississippi, arriving Friday. We'll embark from the beach at the Old Lighthouse in Biloxi at 9am Saturday for a float around Deer Island. Lunch on the Southern tip of the Island, with an occasional break to stretch legs, cool off in the water, etc. The trip should take anywhere from 4 to 6 hours depending on the goals of the group and weather. The trip rating is moderate. Additonal campsites are still available at the state park. This trip is also open to those who want to drive down Saturday morning and make it a day trip. Remember to bring water, sun screen, and bug repellant. The biting flies can be tough on the Island. Call Steve at 601-853-4979 or 601-502-3120 between 7am and 2pm (I work evenings) for more info.

April 20 (Sunday) - Okatoma Creek Paddling Trip - Jen Sidley will be coordinating a paddling trip on Okatoma Creek near Hattiesburg this Sunday. They'll meet at the Seminary bridge at 9am or call and setup a car-pool or caravan down. The water level should be perfect for this trip and everything along the rivers or getting into full color. For more information on the trip contact Jennifer Sidley at 601-454-9507 or organic_jen@yahoo.com.

April 19 (Sat) - Rescheduled to May 17 due to high water on the Mississippi - BluzCruz p/o Vicksburg RiverFest. Mississippi River race/float, 22 miles, Tara to Vicksburg. For more information, visit the Bluz Cruz website at http://www.bluzcruz.com/. This is not an MOC coordinated event.

April 22 (Tuesday) - Earth Day Celebration - We are readying our club's table top display for our participation in this year's Earth Day Celebration. The event will be held at the Mamie Fowler Boyle Park (adjacent to Smith Wills Stadium) on Tuesday April 22 from 9am to 3pm. There will be music, food, nature art and crafts, activities for children, exhibits and more. Come out and support the celebration of Earth Day. If you would like to help at the Club's display, please just show up and be apart of the activities. For more information about the Earth Day Celebration event, contact Anna Lee Dillon (Planning Committee) at 601-383-4160 or annaleedillon@gmail.com. This is not an MOC coordinated event.

April 26 (Sat) - Desoto National Forest - Black Creek Ranger District - Cleanup Event - The club will be looking for members and guests interested in participating in this annual cleanup within the Black Creek Ranger District of the national forest. The club will probably float a section of stream and pick up trash in and along the river. Generally about a 5 mile trip with trash bags, lunch and t-shirt provided. If you're interested in putting your name on the list of participants, contact Larry Estes at 601-924-3689. This is not an MOC coordinated event.

March 2008

March 1 & 2 (Sat & Sun) - Sipsey Wilderness Backpacking Trip. We're going to north Alabama to the William Bankhead National Forest & Sipsey Wilderness for some really fine backpacking. Three geologic areas come together in this area of Alabama giving it some great qualities including waterfalls, tall cliffs, rugged features and unique flora/fauna. We'll camp overnight in the wilderness area on Saturday and hike out on Sunday by noon. You'll need a tent, backpack, sleeping bags and backpacking stove. Trip Rating: Moderately easy. For more information contact Larry Estes at 601-924-3689.

March 7-9 (Sat-Sun) - Lake Paul Johnson and Black Creek. We'll camp, float and hike over this weekend. Specifics will develop as the time approaches depending on Black Creek river gauge, the weather, and member/guest interests. Initial plans are to set up camp at Paul Johnson on the 7th. Two events are scheduled for the 8th, either float the Black Creek from Dantzler to Brooklyn or hike a portion of the Black Creek Wilderness Trail. On the 9th we'll float from Brooklyn to Moody's Landing or paddle some of the 300 acre Lake Geiger. Fees are required at State Parks for camping, and boat launch on a per day basis (http://home.mdwfp.com/parks.aspx). Trip Rating: Easy. For more details and information, contact Bob Marsh at 601-853-3419.

March 15 & 16 (Sat-Sun) - Locust Fork Whitewater Canoe & Kayak Trip. The Locust Fork is a whitewater river in Alabama about one hour north of Birmingham. We'll campout on Friday night and do day trips on both Saturday and Sunday. Trip Rating: Whitewater - Moderate. For more information, contact Jim Trunzler at 601/892-4492.

March 21 - 22 (Fri-Sat) - Leaf River Canoe & Kayak Trip. Paddle from Hwy 28 to Hwy 588 or about 25 miles. This is a two day-trips or one overnighter. We'll meet in Taylorsville (place to be determined) to work out the shuttle needs. The approximate mid-point is Hwy 84 east of Hot Coffee. The Friday camp site will be in reasonable vicinity of Hwy 84 for those who want to day trip. Trip Rating: Easy. For more details and information, contact Bob Marsh at 601-853-3419.

March 25 (Tuesday) - Club Board Meeting - The Club's Board will meet at 6:30pm at Hal & Mal's in Jackson to discuss issues and activities.

March 27 (Thursday) - MS Outdoor Club Quarterly Membership Meeting. We'll meet at 7:00pm to 8:30pm at McLaurin Heights United Methodist Church at 325 Mary Ann Drive in Pearl (601-939-2163). The presentation will be by Kristi Sather-Smith of Raymond on their hiking trip in Peru on the Inca Trail. Kristi has put together a great presentation on this great hike they did this past Fall. The directions to the meeting location/church are attached. We'll also be discussing upcoming trips and activities being planned so please come out and join us.

February 2008

February 23 & 24 (Sat-Sun) - Leaf River Canoe & Kayak Trip - We'll paddle from Hwy 18 to Hwy 28 or about 18 total miles. This is two day trip or one overnight camp out. We'll meet at Raleigh (place to be determined) on morning of the 23rd. We'll then shuttle vehicles to CR80 and to Hwy 28 depending on overnight or day-trip options. Then we'll put-in at Hwy. 18 by approximately 11 am. The camp site will be up river from CR80. Day trippers on the 24th can join us at CR 80 at about 9 am. Trip Rating: Easy. For more details and information, contact Bob Marsh at 601-853-3419.

Janurary 2008

January 21 (Monday - Martin Luther King Holiday) - Day Hike at Roosevelt State Park. This is an easy hike on one of several trails at Roosevelt State Park near Morton just off I-20. For more information contact Jen Sidley 601-454-9507.

River Service Trips - The Club needs to gather names of those interested in assisting in accessing some of the river put-in and take-out locations. Some of these, especially on Black Creek south of Hattiesburg and Red Creek near Wiggins are in bad shape due to Hurricane Katrina. If any of our members are interested in the late fall and later this winter to assist in tree cutting and debris removal we'll neeed your help. If you have access to a good chainsaw that will be helpful as well. To help, contact Larry Estes at 601-924-3689.