The Base Camp » Helena Flat Water Paddling Club

Helena Flatwater Paddle Group–Oct 5

Tim — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 13:58:12 +0000

Hey paddlers,

It was an incredibly beautiful evening at the Reservoir last week, and aside for the new hatch of very hungry mosquitoes at the put-in, we had a wonderful paddle for about an hour and a half. Hopefully the weather forecast of significantly cooler temperatures and rain doesn't happen so we can enjoy the Reservoir again this week. Meet on the water at 6:00 at the Helena Reservoir on York Road.

See you there.

Susan

Helena Flatwater Paddle Group-Sept 28

Tim — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 18:37:16 +0000

We are meeting at the Helena Reservoir this Tuesday at 6:00 this week. It's still paddling season!

Susan

(Directions: The Reservoir is on York Road at the top of the hill on the left, after you pass the golf course and Lake Helena Drive)

Helena Flatwater Paddle Group-Sept 21

Tim — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:18:58 +0000

The weather scared most of us of from going out last Tuesday, but one intrepid paddler reported that the sun came out for an hour to warm things up enough for a pleasant paddle in a stiff NE breeze. No one else showed! So we will try again at the same location this week.

Meet at the new Fishing Access Site on Lake Helena off Lincoln Road. I believe that it is about 4.5 miles on Lincoln Road rom the I-15 exit. It is at least a mile past the old lake access at the wildlife refuge (or something like that). There is a Fishing Access sign and it is just past a driveway. You could also get there from Lake Helena Drive, past the Causeway, turn left onto Lincoln Road and it won't be too far from there. We plan to be on the water at 6:15.

Susan

P.S. Starting next week we will meet at 6:00, probably at the Helena Reservoir.

Helena Flatwater Paddle Group Update Sept 7

Tim — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:52:52 +0000

Hi paddlers,

We are still paddling on Tuesday evenings and will continue to do so until Nov. 2, the last week before Daylight Savings ends!! This Tuesday we plan to meet at York Bridge and be on the water by 6:15. Hope to see you all there.

Susan

Directions: York Bridge Fishing Access is located approximately 15 miles east of Helena on York Road and 2 miles past the Devil's Elbow Campground. If you get to the bridge, you have gone too far.

Helena Flatwater Paddle Group-Aug 31

Tim — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:57:56 +0000

Hi paddlers,

Four kayaks and a canoe showed up to paddle a very calm Gates of the Mountain last Tuesday. It was a good evening.

This Tuesday we plan to meet at Chinaman's Gulch Campground on Canyon Ferry Lake and start paddling at 6:15. Hopefully this rainy weather will pass by then. A

Susan

Directions to Chinaman's Gulch Campground: Drive out on Canyon Ferry Road (either from Custer Ave in town, or from Spokane Creek Road off Hwy 12.) Cross the dam and follow the road around past the Visitor Center and Dam Maintenance Buildings. About 2-3 miles from the dam, you will see a right turn at the top of the hill for Chinaman's Gulch Campground. (If you get to Kim's Marina you have gone too far.) Drive down to the water at the end of the road. (Warning: there is still major construction on Canyon Ferry Rd. for several miles, just after the roundabout at Lake Helena Drive. Spokane Creek Rd. at the junction of Canyon Ferry Rd. is also under construction but you have lots fewer miles to drive on torn-up road surfaces. It is definitely the best route to CF Lake.)

Helena Flatwater Paddle Group-8/24/10

Tim — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 15:51:21 +0000

Hi paddlers,

Great evening paddling from Riverside Campground last Tuesday. We had about 8 or 9 kayaks and a couple of canoes out with us.

This week we are going back out to the Gates of the Mountains one more time. We will try to get on the water a little before 6:15, if possible.

Susan

Directions: go north on I-15 to Gates of the Mountains exit. Take road down past the Hilger Ranch to the marina. Note: There is a $3.00/vehicle launch fee at the marina.

Helena Flatwater Paddle Group 8/17/10

Tim — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:45:06 +0000

Hi paddlers,

Last week 8 kayaks and 2 canoes showed up at Black Sandy, sure that we could beat the weather and have a nice paddle!! But the weather didn't cooperate. We had paddled up to Hauser Dam and then the sky started to rumble and after about 15 minutes of that, the lightning started. So we took refuge off the water in the woods for about 45 minutes before making a fast paddle back to the dock.

This week we decided to go somewhere the group hasn't gone to before, though some of us have done it on our own. We plan to meet at Riverside Campground below Canyon Ferry Dam and paddle north toward Lakeside, as far as we feel like going before heading back. Meet at 6:15 on the water.

Directions to Riverside Campground: Drive out on Canyon Ferry Road (either from Custer Ave in town, or from Spokane Creek Road off Hwy 12.) Cross the dam and follow the road around to the Visitor Center and Dam Maintenance Buildings. Turn left on Jimtown Road. Follow it down the hill to Riverside Road and the campground.

Warning: there is major construction on Canyon Ferry Rd. for several miles, just after the roundabout at Lake Helena Drive. Spokane Creek Rd. at the junction of Canyon Ferry Rd. is also under construction but you have lots fewer miles to drive on torn-up road surfaces. It is definitely the best route to take.

See you on the water.

Susan

Helena Flatwater Paddle Group-8/10/10

Tim — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 15:12:14 +0000

Paddling this coming Tuesday is at Black Sandy at 6:15. Come on out! The more the merrier!

Directions: Take Lincoln Road about 4 miles from I 15 until it Ts; then go left about 3 miles on Hauser Dam Road to the lake. Black Sandy is right there, where you see the lake, before you head up to the dam. You can also come up Lake Helena Drive. Pass the causeway and it will eventually become Hauser Dam Road and take you to Black Sandy.)

Susan

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General info for folks new to the group:

Our flatwater paddling group is a group of folks who informally get together on Tuesday evenings for a couple hours to paddle on various open bodies of water in the Helena area We've paddled at the Regulating Reservoir, from York Bridge going both north & south, from the Causeway on Lake Helena Drive, out at Canyon Ferry, and at the Gates of the Mountains. We try to be on the water by 6:15.

People need to have their own boats, life jackets, paddles, etc. and be able to be responsible for themselves. You should also be pretty comfortable on open water and in dealing with wind and occasional choppy water. It's a fun, sociable group of people and we all enjoy paddling for fun and recreation. We also enjoy getting more people involved in kayaking.

Each Tuesday evening we decide where to meet the following week and I've volunteered to e-mail reminders about the meeting spot. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me.

Helena Flatwater Paddle Group Update-8/3/10

Tim — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 05:51:23 +0000

Hi paddlers,

Last week only 3 people were brave enough to believe that the weather would not be a problem and went out to Canyon Ferry. I know I thought it looked bad and decided against going, though I knew I would regret it and I did when I heard from Scott, Gregg, & Wendy that they had had a nice evening. Oh well!!

This week we are going up to Gates of the Mountains, meeting at 6:15. We will paddle as far up the canyon as we can and still make it back before it gets too late, though people can turn around whenever they want.

Directions: go north on I-15 to Gates of the Mountains exit. Take road down past the Hilger Ranch to the marina. Note: There is a $3.00/vehicle launch fee so it you can carpool, do so. We might be able to combine some of us on a kayak trailer, so let me know if you are interested.

Susan

Helena Flatwater Paddle Group Update 7/26/10

Tim — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:07:49 +0000

Hi paddlers,

Paddling at York Bridge last week brought out about 15 kayaks and a canoe. It was a great paddle up the canyon. This Tuesday, meet at Chinaman's Gulch campground on Canyon Ferry Lake. We will see you on the water at 6:15.

Susan