NJ Outdoor Women's League - OWLs Go "Wild and Scenic" Paddling the Delaware River

NJ Outdoor Women's League
OWLs Go "Wild and Scenic"
Paddling the Delaware River
September 11-12, 2004

by Ginger and the OWLs on the Delaware

The Delaware Water Gap, one of New Jersey’s most impressive natural features, dominates Warren County’s western skyline where the Kittatinny Mountains have given way to eons of steady persuasion by the Delaware River. This location is where 10 NJ OWL members learned paddling skills and river safety during an overnight camping/paddling trip. Saturday, September 11 we paddled 14 miles from Smithfield Beach, PA to our campground in Delaware, NJ. Sunday we paddled 7 more miles to Belvidere, NJ.

We met at the Hunterdon County Parks Arboretum at 7am to load our boats onto the trailer and pack our camp gear into the bus. Unfortunately, an accident on Route 78 left 6 NJ OWL members stuck in a traffic jam for hours. As April so cleverly stated, "Traffic is like a river - unpredictable." Our guide Jay Langley said he wasn’t at all concerned about the delay. We would easily make up for lost time on the river.

Upon arrival at Smithfield Beach, Jay reviewed safe boating procedures, such as cinching up our PFDs (life jackets) so they wouldn’t slip off in the river current. He explained the correct way to await rescue if we capsized – float on your back, feet first pointing down river. Jay reminded us to watch him and follow his lead down the river. He explained the signals he’d make with his paddle to direct our course away from danger. Betty recalled Jay also taught us to look ahead at the river. The flow alternates between easy flat-water pools then drops over challenging (but very fun, she says) ledges of rapids.

Although the river was on the high side, it crested many hours before we arrived. I quote Jay: "A high river going down is safer to paddle than a high river going up." A high river going up is full of debris floating off the riverbanks that can be hazardous to paddlers. Jay instructed us to stay in the middle of the river to avoid danger of getting the boat caught in trees at the swollen river edge, possibly trapping the occupant under water.

Well-prepared, we launched and paddled down the river with Jay in the lead and his experienced assistant Gene at the rear. As we watched Jay and watched the river, we enjoyed breathtaking scenic vistas of forested bluffs in the Delaware Water Gap under bright blue sky and scattered puffy clouds with sunlight glistening on the water.

Betty in her poke boat.

An eagle perched on a tree river was apparently also enjoying the day. He didn’t seem to mind as our group of 9 brightly colored kayaks and 2 canoes quietly floated by. We turned our heads to take a look at him. Nancy commented, "You need not go far to see an eagle fairly close and in its own habitat. Our very own backyard New Jersey has many opportunities to observe wildlife such as hawks and herons."

Along the Delaware shoreline beavers work, otters frolic and white-tailed deer forage. While skyward migratory birds mysteriously follow their primordial paths along the Atlantic Flyway. New member (and new, New Jersey resident) Susan reports she was educated about the Delaware Water Gap during this her first time on the Delaware.

We paddled right up to the campground and easily pulled our boats out of the water, then lined them up on the river bank for the night. Our boats were secure there and added color to our unobstructed view of the river. We thanked trip coordinator, Tom Rosol, and Jay’s wife, camp coordinator (and excellent cook) for selecting a river’s edge campsite for our NJ OWL members.

Coming off the Delaware River.

We learned a lot about boating that day. Now on land, we’d learn more about camping. We had plenty of time to pitch our tents before dark. Camping tip from Jay: pack waterproof as if it’s always raining, then your gear will always be dry.

Ceil says, "I learned about setting up a tent after choosing a good spot at the campsite, and how important it is to keep your tent zippered and your sleeping bag rolled up to keep critters out." She continues, "Earplugs are a must at a large campground, but you want to take them out when everything gets quiet, so you can hear those great outdoor sounds when you wake up."

Morning light revealed a white-out of dense fog on the river. We took our time breaking camp. Eventually the sun burned through the fog, signaling Jay to gather us around for our second day of paddling. This day’s lesson was on how to use a feather paddle for a more energy efficient stroke. Ann said she never tried this before, and discovered that it made quite a difference.

It felt good to get back on the river with a light wind in our face under a glorious sunny sky, in the pleasant company of NJ OWL members. Lynne reports she learned how to stay dry on the river. She liked the quick-dry fabrics rather than cotton, which became cold, sodden and heavy when wet. She also learned that a surprising amount of water may splash in the boat while going through rapids. A sponge is an easy way to bail out water, she says.

It would be a 7-mile paddle through a series of flat-water pools, ledges and rapids to our take-out in Belvidere. Each rapids became more fun than the last. Ginger reports that Gene instructed back paddling when approaching a large wave to allow the boat to rise over it. In this way, less water will enter the boat.

Sharon and Bonnie in their newly acquired kayaks, along with all the rest of us, practiced what we learned and gained more confidence from our river training. Every member who attended is now better prepared for paddling on any lake or river in New Jersey.

This trip had all the fine qualities NJ OWL is noted for, including a safe and relaxed environment in which someone with no previous experience can learn, do and enjoy.