By Ceil Karvellas

On Friday night, the weather forecast was questionable, and even Saturday morning we wondered if we’d be able to get out on the river. But by our designated meeting time, we all were there in the parking lot at the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge. Kevin Holcomb, Wildlife Biologist at Wallkill, and Evan Castner, his summer intern, were waiting for us.

Kevin gave us an orientation to the National Wildlife Refuge System, and filled us in on the particular characteristics and history of this very special refuge at Wallkill River. We learned that Wallkill is only fourteen years old, and that the NWRS last year celebrated its 100 years anniversary, having been established in 1903 by Theodore Roosevelt. The system is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, under the Department of the Interior.

We put the three canoes and five kayaks on a trailer behind Kevin’s van, and Kevin and Evan drove down the boats down to our launching area behind the headquarters building. By putting in here, rather than at the Route 565 canoe access, we avoided some downed trees and other obstacles.

Once the boats were unloaded from the trailer, Darbie, Sue and I then followed Kevin to the take out, so we could all get back to the parking lot at the end of the trip. Then the four of us joined the others by the river. The path we had to walk down was winding and rocky, and we had to watch our step, especially those of us wearing water shoes. But it was a glorious day, with the sun finally shining and the birds singing. By eleven o’clock, we were on the river and on our way.Initially the current seemed swift, and we had to react quickly in order to wait for all the boats to be launched, especially since there was a big downed tree immediately downstream. Later we would reflect that the current became much easier, once we were underway.

We did see the beaver dams we’d been told to expect, and we had some ripples to get through. Otherwise, it was a perfect, pleasant paddle. Olga and Karen were in one canoe, and Sue and Rosemarie in another. Betty, Charlene, Darbie, Penny and I were in kayaks, and Cathy rode in style in the middle of the lead canoe, with Kevin and Evan.

There was just one tight spot, where we had to decide whether to get down as flat as possible in our boats to go under the trunk of a massive tree across the river or else go around it through shallow water. Those who went under the tree trunk handled that masterfully, while Charlene and I found that we had to get out of our kayaks to get them through the shallows. But no problem!

The trees were alive with birds, and the trip was absolutely beautiful. We saw belted kingfishers, great blue herons, spotted sandpipers, turkey vultures, mallard ducks, Canada geese, and red-tailed hawks as we paddled the seven miles downriver.

The banks of the river reflected the fluctuating levels of the river, especially with the brooks and streams that feed into it. The banks themselves were topped with dark green tufted grass, and we saw bright swatches of spring flowers including yellow flag (iris), as we paddled leisurely down the river. Kevin told us that the white markers we were seeing denoted refuge land and that otherwise the land was privately owned. The refuge is gradually trying to buy adjoining land from willing sellers to add to its holdings.

By three-thirty we were at the take out, and our perfect day of paddling the Wallkill River was over. We’d learned so much about the river and its environs, and we’d had such a great time doing it, that everyone vowed we’d have to do this again!