Upper West River Run in Jamaica, VT
The Upper West River Run is a great way to go kayaking or canoeing on this quintessential Class III run in southern Vermont.
DURATION
AGE
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INCLUSIONS
Overview
The Upper West River Run is a great way to go kayaking or canoeing on this quintessential Class III run in southern Vermont under the guidance of an able instructor.
With just a few releases per year, this gem is worth catching every time you can. The Upper West is a fairly continuous pushy Class III with a few resting stops and lots of great surfing, high-speed eddies, and opportunities to whoop it up in your kayak or canoe.
The instructor will lead a warm-up session before setting out down the river, and will set up a river order. While the day is set up to be experiential and less instructional, students may ask for help on specific skills while paddling the river.
Who Should Take the Clinic
Participants in Upper West River Runs should be strong intermediate kayakers or canoeists with solid river maneuvering, rolling, and self-rescue skills on Class III whitewater. This run is for those who want a chance to gain experience or paddle a new river under the expert leadership of qualified instructors.
You spend somewhere between four to five hours in your boat. You kneel (canoeists) or sit (kayakers) for much of this time. To prepare, stretch your thighs, hamstrings, and torso (back, stomach, shoulders and neck). If you increase your flexibility, you will have more efficient strokes and be more comfortable in your boat.
What Should I wear?
The West River releases in the spring and fall so paddlers should expect a cool run, regardless of the air temperature. When packing your paddling clothes, please plan accordingly. Our clinics run rain or shine.
Wear items such as:
- synthetic long underwear, garments made of polypropylene, Capilene, or some polyester/spandex blend
- fleece or wool socks
- bathing suit
- fleece or wool jacket/sweater (early/late season or if you tend to chill easily)
Other items to bring:
- sunscreen
- sunglasses
- retaining strap for glasses
- nose plugs
- towel
- required medications
- extra money for snacks or T-shirts
What we provide
- boat
- wetsuit
- paddle jacket
- booties
- life jacket
- helmet
- paddle
- sprayskirt
If you own your own equipment, we suggest you use it in the clinic to get used to its quirks.
We also provide a catered picnic-style lunch on all our full day clinics.
The following statement is required by state law: “Before placing your order, please inform your server if a person in your party has a food allergy.”