Sipsey Fork Canoe Page

If you have any comments you want to add about any of the trips please email them to me.  I can't remember everything and need your help.
Email Me: Kdawes@knology.net

Sipsey Fork Canoe Trip '97
March 14-16

This canoe trip was definitely an adventure.  We got to the Thompson Creek put in area just as the rain stopped (around 11:00 am).  This is key to a good trip, especially from where we started, since the river drains so quickly.   There were a total of 5 of us in 3 canoes.  Greg and Myself in one, Jonathan and Chuck in another, and Drew in the third.  This trip was pretty much a first for all of us.  A first on this river and, for most of us, a first on a major over night canoe trip.  We really had no idea what would lie beyond the first bend in the river, but we didn't care.  We should have though.

The picture in the bottom right corner was the surprise rapid from hell.  It capsized two of the 3 boats, claimed a pair or glasses, a Coleman double burner stove, some food, a freshly lit cigar, and a couple of beers.  The water was cold, but not nearly as cold once we got out.  After we made camp everybody went straight to drying off except Drew since his boat was the one that didn't turn over.  I did enjoy the expression on his face though, as I'm sure Jonathan and Chuck enjoyed watching ours.  Anyway, that was one of the coldest nights I can remember.  I know it was one of Greg's because all he had dry to sleep in/with was a blanket and a rain suite.  When we woke up in the morning, all of the wet cloths we laid out to dry were frozen stiff.  I have no idea what the temperature was, but it was definitely below freezing.

Overall, We all had a great time despite the unexpected swim.  We all learned some valuable lessons from this trip.  The Sipsey River had some beautiful and interesting terrain as well as large obstacles to maneuver around/under/over.  If felt as if we were the first to explore this river, a unique experience in toady's world.

Sipsey Fork Canoe Trip '98
March 13-15

This trip was a lot of fun too.  Most of us were more prepared then last year as far as equipment goes.  I know I brought 2 dry bags with most of my stuff in them.  I still had a few items that I couldn't fit. Over all we all had a blast and can't wait till nest years trip.

There were 6 people who went on this years trip.  Some bailed because they thought it might get too cold, but the weather was perfect for early March.   We had four canoes with Greg and myself in one, James and another Greg in another, Drew in one and Dave in the last one.  We all started at the Thompson Creek put-in around 10:00 am.  It was a little on the chilly side. but that was the coldest it got during the entire trip.  Well except the last night when I decided that it was too late (and I was too lazy) to put up my tent.  I hope I can remember where we stopped for the first night because it was a perfect spot.  The second day we canoed to the Sipsey River Recreation Area and took time to get into a heated debate on if we could make it to the Highway 33 take-out.  LOL  We continued on for another hour or so before we decided to camp for the night.  Greg (the one in my canoe) fell into the river trying to get out of the canoe.  Then realized after he got out of the water that the paddle was floating away, so back in he went.  I know that the water was cold since I fell in last year.  Oh yea, about last year.  Drew fell in this year so I guess we are even since he gave us such a hard time about getting wet last year.  LOL   The third day we made it to the Highway 33 take-out pretty early.  I guess I was really wrong about getting to this take-out.

Sipsey Fork Canoe Trip '99
March 12-14

I should have been keeping up with writing these descriptions from the beginning.  Now that it is 4 years later, I don't remember much.  There were 5 of us on this year's trip.  Drew, Chuck and myself each had a canoe while Greg and Dave shared one.  This was the year that Saturday's weather turned bad.  It started raining Friday night, broke just enough Saturday morning for us to pack up camp then started raining again just as we started canoeing. I remember the water was very cold and had  just finish taking the water temperature (48Deg) when I fell in.  I don't remember much about how I got in the predicament that I got in, but the canoe got wedged up against a fallen tree that was perpendicular to the flow of the river.  Water started pouring in from the upstream side of the canoe.  The next thing I remember after the canoe rolled UNDER the tree was clinging to this tree for dear life.  I was in the water up to my chest, but couldn't touch because river was flowing pretty fast.  Basically it was dragging me under the tree just like the canoe.  

Sipsey Fork Canoe Trip '00
March ??-??

Coming Soon...

Kevin & James in one canoe
Greg & Dave in one
Drew in another by himself
Jack in his Kayak

Started raining on us around 9:00 pm Saturday night and never stopped.  After canoeing ALL day in the rain Sunday we arrived at the take out only to find out that Drew's truck would not start.

Sipsey Fork Canoe Trip '01
March ??-??

Coming Soon...

Kevin & James in one canoe
Greg & Dave in another
Jack in his Kayak

Awesome potatoes cooked in the camp fire, didn't even need butter.

Sipsey Fork Canoe Trip '02
March 8-10

Kevin, Wayne, Greg, Jack, Scott and Shannon.  Wayne, Scott and Shannon were all first timers.  Canoed all the way to Highway 33 Saturday because we could not find a camp site.  Got the the take out around 5:00 pm.  The river water flow was at an all time low.  We ended up dragging our canoes way too many times.  At times we were dragging them for at least 25 to 30 yards.

Greg tipped over his canoe causing Jack and himself to fall into chest deep water when he attempted to stand in the canoe to pee (in the water of course).  

NEED PICTURES 

Sipsey Fork Canoe Trip '03
March 14-16

This years trip was the best one yet!  The weather great, hovering in the mid to high 60 during the day and high 40 to low 50s during at night and it didn't rain on us.  That is very warm for this time of year.  James and I were in one canoe, Greg and Brian were in one canoe, Drew, Dean and chuck went solo and Jack was in his kayak.  We had 2 new people join us this year, Brian and Dean.  This was the largest group we've had go on this trip.

The river was flowing pretty good, hell my bath tub holds more water then last years trip.  Greg and I were a little worried about the water level so it seemed like we monitored it like every 4 hours.  :-)  There is a monitoring station located at the recreation area and the information can be accessed using the Internet (see link at top of page).  The water was flowing between 122 ft^3/sec and this was plenty for a good float.

We met Chuck and Dean at the Recreation Area around 7:30 am.  We were running 30 mins late cause James decided to start packing when Drew got to his house at 5:15 am, or was it because he went out drinking the night before.  Actually it was both, but we don't care.  Drew and James picked me up at my house at 6:25 am and we met and Greg Brian and Jack at the Waffle House.  Greg was driving and pulling the canoes.

We started canoeing around 10:30 - 10:45 am.  There were plenty of log jams and Ship Rock rapid was once again a lot of fun.  After our unfortunate mishap the first year with this rapid, I always get really nervous when I start paddle towards it.  It really is an easy rapid to navigate as long as you GET OUT FIRST AND LOOK AT IT!  There was a family camping here and they enjoyed watching us go through.  Drew and Dean elected to walk their canoes through.  We made camp soon after.  Of course it was the same ole spot we have camped at 5 years in a row.  I think we will be looking for a new site next year.

We stopped at the waterfall for lunch around 12:30 pm and passed the Recreation area around 1:45 pm.  We stopped around 3:30 to make camp and found a really sweet spot.  It was very large and very flat with plenty of trees and an easy access to and from the water.  There was a large beach that has plenty of room of all 5 of our boats.  We need to stop here again next year.  It left about 3 hours of paddling for Sunday.  We left Sunday morning early and made it to the take out at Highway 33 around 12:30 pm.  Drew, Chuck and Dean made it by 1:15 pm. 

Some quotes:
Watch your snacks
Good Times
Dirty Sanchez
Cleveland Steamer

more to come...

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