Aston Uni Canoe Club

martynr · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:20 pm Post subject: The bigger one - 2008

All,

As per my recent email (copied below). Please let me know your thoughts.

Cheers
Martyn

2008 – A bigger one?
A quick introduction
We’ve probably all thought to ourselves that it would be nice to paddle further afield than just the French Alps. Since leaving Uni many of us as individuals, have to varying degrees got some good stuff done. To be honest though, as a group we’ve never managed to take it a step further than the Alps.

This year I want to change that and get a trip organised.

The purpose of this document is to get everyone thinking about it now. I want to get everyone engaged and the dialogue started.

A few points before we get started
Before you dismiss this email for whatever reason a few points
1. It is not my intention to ‘piss on anyone’s parade’, or shun the current Canoe Club in anyway.
2. It is not my intention to organise the hardest core trip possible, to the furthest flung corners of the earth. Where and what we paddle are all open to debate by those who express an interest.
3. Nor is my intention to organise the most expensive trip possible, what we organise will be designed to suite the budgets of those who want to go, and remember we can all get hold of the cash if we want to do it...
4. When we go and for how long is also open (although obviously destination dependent), you do have enough holiday if you save enough days now. We’ll even try and accommodate the growing number of teachers.
5. Realistically we’re talking grade 4 boating. You might be rusty now but we have a few months to sort that one out.
6. All welcome.

Some ideas for destinations
My thoughts so far are as follows:

• Austria/Switzerland
• Italy
• Uganda
• Corsica
• Slovenia

I’ve tried to add some thoughts to each destination, but I’m sure as a group we can elaborate on this.

Austria
• Big volume – not necessarily technical, very different to
France
• Reliable water
• July/August/September
• Cheap £300?
• Could be done as an extention to the Alps trip.
• 1 week trip
• Andy and Martyn have been before

Italy
• Pool drop and granite slides
• The ‘in’ place to go boating?
• May
• Very short season, easy to end up out there the wrong week
• Cheap £300?
• Creak boats recommended
• 1 week trip
• Martyn has been before

Uganda
• Big volume but ‘a good roll will get you a long way’
• Playboat territory
• Any time of year
• A must do before they Dam the Nile
• Flights £400-£600 but cheap once there
• Unlikely to be any experience in the group, but know people who have been before and a plethora of info on the Web.
• Suggest two week trip

Corsica
• More technical then big volume
• March – May , Easter trip?
• Levels a gamble?
• 1 or 2 weeks
• Slightly more than an Alps trip? £400?

Slovenia
• Alpine style (looks similar to French Alps)
• March/April
• Cheap – it’s Eastern Europe

All prices are guesses, other destinations are available, suggest away!

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Andy · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:32 pm Post subject:

Uganda gets my vote.

Italy and Corsica have very short, seemingly unpredictable seasons. I have done the Austrian and Swiss Alps already and been properly spanked.

I am up for a trip to Uganda, later on in the year. Like Martyn said, the Nile is going to be dammed and most, if not all, of the whitewater sections will be lost. Some of the big rapids have gone already. There is a good thread on UKRGB promoting Uganda here

In case I haven't sold it already, take a look at this YouTube video. There are loads of other videos of the Nile on YouTube that are well worth watching.

So come on, who is up for a trip to Uganda??

Andy

J-Ro · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 285 Location: B'ham

while the nile is supposed to be pretty good. the people who I have met out here say that the zamb is so much more value for your dollar. the season is from nov-feb really so you can get the low water. any other time of year a lot of the major rapids are unrunnable.

I would definatly be up for a trip here.

J-Ro · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 285 Location: B'ham

either that, or come meet me in california or colarado.

cali is full of great grade 4-5,

colarado is for if you like your creeking on the steep side of very!! again its grade 4-5

martynr · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:10 pm Post subject:

J-ro

When do you plan to be in Colorado/California?

Sounds like an option to consider

Martyn
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J-Ro · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 285 Location: B'ham

the current plan is to head to cali mid april. the season really kicks off in may but I need to buy a car. find cash in hand work etc. Air NZ have a 46kilo baggage allowance so as long as your boat is shorter than 2.5m than it goes in as normal luggage. you would fly into LAX then we'd have to sort out a way of getting up north to the mountins.

I met a guy from Jackson kayaks out here and he lives in colorado in a place called boulder. the season is ,much sorter here and so you just have to go when the snow starts melting. apparently this is late may through to end of june.

J-Ro · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 285 Location: B'ham

oh yeah, im planning on being out there for about 3 months I think

martynr · Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 6:17 pm Post subject:

Jro,

Thanks, we'll consider it.

Cheers
M

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